On April 29, on the occasion of the first World SIDS Day (Small Island Developing States) proclaimed by UNESCO, the Jacques Rougerie Foundation – Académie des beaux-arts co-organized a major event alongside the delegation of Palau, fully aligning this initiative with the Academy’s mission of international outreach and transmission.
The day began with the inauguration of the exhibition “Palau: Ocean Insights for the Architecture of Tomorrow”, in the presence of Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, Sania Elkadi, Ambassador of Palau to UNESCO, and Jacques Rougerie.
Combining projects developed through the Foundation with photographs from Palau, the exhibition conveyed a strong message: the future of island territories can continue to be built on their ancestral lands, provided that architecture draws inspiration from vernacular cultures and projects them into the future through a dialogue between art, science, and innovation in service of these territories.
Numerous international delegations attended the event, including the ambassadors of Armenia, Morocco, Honduras, and Fiji, alongside UNESCO’s Director-General. Guests discovered several projects from the International Architecture and Innovation Competition, showcasing concrete responses to the challenges of submersion and the transformation of island territories.
The day continued with a high-level roundtable gathering ambassadors, experts, and institutional representatives to discuss the major challenges faced by SIDS: rising sea levels, territorial resilience, and the preservation of island cultures.
Through this international initiative, the Foundation reaffirms its commitment to placing architecture at the heart of responses to global challenges by supporting the search for concrete solutions for island territories threatened by submersion.
Through its actions, the Foundation also extends the mission of the Académie des beaux-arts: fostering dialogue between disciplines, transmitting knowledge, and supporting the emergence of new visions for present and future living environments.
The Foundation warmly thanks Sania Elkadi for her exceptional commitment, as well as all partners and delegations who contributed to the success of this first edition.
Special thanks to Sophie Rougerie for the design of the exhibition, and to the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation for providing the photographs.
Photo credits: Lorenzo Specty