International Conference World Habitat Days 2025: Wood for a Green Future
As part of this year’s Urban October – Month of Design, the central international conference of World Habitat Days 2025 will take place on Tuesday, 7 October 2025, at the Center Rog, Ljubljana, under the title “Wood for a Green Future.” The conference will highlight wood as the material of the future, exploring its role in sustainable design, architecture, urbanism, and the creative industries.
The event will open with a keynote address by Prof. Nada Rožmanec Matičič, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Design, followed by welcome speeches from distinguished guests, including:
- Bernard Likar, BA Sc., Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia – Wood Industry Cluster,
- Emeritus Prof. M. Arch. Peter Gabrijelčič, Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana,
- Distinguished Prof. Gjoko Muratovski, PhD, Chief Innovation Officer, ICONA Design Group / AIAT, Australia,
- Assoc. Arch. Takehiko Iseki, Zaha Hadid Architects, London, UK.
The main part of the programme will feature a wide range of scholarly contributions, addressing topics such as wood industry transformation, biophilic design, heritage research, student visions, and sustainable urban practices. Presentations will be delivered by:
- Asst. Prof. Veronika Gruden Bole, Faculty of Design, Ljubljana,
- Assoc. Prof. Maks Merela, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana,
- Lucija Erjavec Primožič, PhD candidate, Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana,
- Asst. Prof. Inge Kalan Lipar, Faculty of Design, Ljubljana,
- Marjan Poboljšaj, Co-Founder Superform, Ljubljana,
- Assoc. Prof. Arch. Maria Tămășan and Călin Lucaci, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Romania,
- Asst. Prof. Arbresha Ibrahimi and Assoc. Prof. Marija Miloshevska Janakieska, International Balkan University – Skopje,
- Prof. Ernesto Fenollosa Forner and Susana Iñarra Abad, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain,
- Elena Rausse, ISIA Roma Design, Italy.
The afternoon will continue with two Design Talk sessions, conceived as an extension of the conference and a platform for open discussion.
- Design Talk 1: Between Science and Art in the Field of Creative Industries
Opening contributions: Prof. Nada Rožmanec Matičič and Prof. Gjoko Muratovski.
Participants: Takehiko Iseki (Zaha Hadid Architects), Prof. Dragan Ćalović, Prof. Dušanka Komnenić, Barbara Gunčar (KCDM 4.0), and Prof. Peter Gabrijelčič. - Design Talk 2: Back to Basics?
Exploring the role of design and designers in addressing complex societal challenges, moderated by Steiner Valade-Amland (Three Point Zero, Denmark).
Participants: Assoc. Prof. Jordan Berginc, Asst. Prof. Robert Klun, Sr. Lect. Petra Kocjančič, Asst. Prof. Inge Kalan Lipar, Prof. Piet Vandewalle (Thomas Moore University, Belgium), Asst. Prof. Almina Duraković Korošec, with Aleš Gabrijelčič (Outsider Magazine) hosting an interview with Prof. Gjoko Muratovski.
The conference “Wood for a Green Future” will bring together leading international and domestic experts, researchers, professors, architects, and designers to explore the future of design with wood from diverse perspectives. The event represents an important opportunity for academic dialogue, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the exchange of ideas among professionals, students, and the wider public.
Follow us!
See the program for Tuesday, 7th October at Rog Centre:
