WORLD HABITAT DAYS 2025
THE FUTURE, WITH A SCENT OF WOOD
World Habitat Day is marked on the first Monday of October each year and is recognized by the United Nations to reflect on the state of towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.
On 6 October 2025, the Global Observance of World Habitat Day will be linked to, urban crisis response. The theme will focus on addressing multiple crises affecting urban areas, including climate and conflicts that are contributing to inequality, and promote existing tools and approaches to effective crisis response.
The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our habitats, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.
This international event focuses on promoting wood as the material of the future in the context of sustainable urban living and design. It will feature a rich program of conferences, exhibitions, workshops, and roundtables, aimed at engaging professionals from industry and academia, students, youth, and the general public.
[WHD PROGRAMME 2025 (pdf) HERE]
SEE WHD 2025 CATALOUGE HERE!
Monday, 6. 10. 2025
09:00 - 13:00
Venue: Lab for Visual Communications
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Prof. Jovanka Mladenović, DA
Faculty of Contemporary Arts, Serbia
CHLOROPHYLL RESISTANCE: URBAN HERBARIUMS THROUGH THE LENS OF VISUAL ARTS
12:00 - 13:00
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
OPENING CEREMONY
OPENING SPEECH:
Prof. Nada Matičič, univ. dipl. ing. arh.,
Acting Dean Faculty of Design, Ljubljana Slovenia
WHD – UNITED NATIONS @HABITAT, FOR A BETTER URBAN FUTURE
HONOURABLE SPEECH:
Prof. Jasna Hrovatin, PhD., Vice Dean for Science and research,
Culture of Living, Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
THE FUTURE, WITH A SCENT OF WOOD
Asst. Prof. Mojca Perše,
Vice Dean for Artistic Activities, Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
PRESENTATION OF THE STUDENT EXHIBITIONS
Jurij Dobrila,
Designers Society of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Radovan Arnold, BA
Industrial designer, Board President of Brumen Foundation, Ljubljana, Slovenia
EXHIBITION 1:
STUDENT WOOD PROJECTS
13:00 - 14:00
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
DESIGN TALK: FROM THE CONCEPT TO DESIGN MANAGEMENT
Moderators:
Assoc. Arch. Takehiko Iseki,
Zaha Hadid Architects, London, UK
Emeritus Prof. M. Arch. Peter Gabrijelčič,
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Prof. Nada Matičič, Acting Dean, Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Participants:
Professors of Architecture and Design and Design Students
Aleš Čakš, Chief Editor of Goodlife Magazine, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interview for Goodlife Magazine with
Assoc. Arch. Takehiko Iseki, Zaha Hadid Architects, London, UK
14:00 - 14:30
COFFEE BREAK
14:30 - 17:30
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Design Management Slovenia
(Competence Center for Design Management 4.0.)
Assoc. Arch. Takehiko Iseki,
Zaha Hadid Architects, London, UK
COLLECTIVE IMAGINATION: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR DESIGN AND INNOVATION
15:00 - 19:00
Venue: Lab for Visual Communications
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Prof. Dušanka Komnenić, PhD.,
Faculty of Contemporary Arts, Serbia
THE SHAPE OF WORDS: ILLUSTRATE IT WITHOUT PICTURES
Tuesday, 7. 10. 2025
8:00 - 12:00
Venue: Lab for Visual Communications
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Prof. Dušanka Komnenić, PhD.,
Faculty of Contemporary Arts, Serbia
THE SHAPE OF WORDS: ILLUSTRATE IT WITHOUT PICTURES
10:00 - 10:30
Venue: ROG center, Trubarjeva cesta 72, Ljubljana
Hosted by Asst. Prof. Blažka Muller, PhD.
WORLD HABITAT DAY CONFERENCE
“WOOD FOR A GREEN FUTURE”
OPENING SPEECH:
Prof. Nada Matičič, univ. dipl. ing. arh.,
Acting Dean, Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
URBAN CRISES RESPONSE
HONOURABLE SPEECH:
Emeritus Prof. Rado Bohinc, PhD,
President of EMUNI University, Piran, Slovenia
Bernard Likar, BA Sc.,
Representative of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia – Wood Industry Cluster, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Emeritus Prof. M. Arch. Peter Gabrijelčič,
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture, Ljubljana, Slovenia
INNOVATIONS AS A PRODUCT OF ARTISTIC AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Distinguished Prof. Gjoko Muratovski, PhD
Chief Innovation Officer ICONA Design Group / Australian Institute of Advanced Technologies (AIAT) Adelaide SA, Australia
Assoc. Arch. Takehiko Iseki,
Zaha Hadid Architects, London, UK
10:30 - 12:00
Venue: ROG center, Trubarjeva cesta 72, Ljubljana
Hosted by Asst. Prof. Blažka Muller, PhD.
Conference Contributions:
Veronika Gruden Bole, MSc.,
Vice Dean for Quality Assurance and Social Responsibility,
Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
PROJECT PRESENTATION: DANUBE REGION WOOD INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION MODEL TOWARDS INDUSTRY 4.0 (DRWO 4.0)
Assoc. Prof. Maks Merela,
University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Wood Science and Technology, Vice Dean for the field of Wood Science and Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
WOOD AS A TIME CAPSULE OF THE PAST - MODERN APPROACHES TO CULTURAL HERITAGE RESEARCH
PhD Candidate Lucija Erjavec Primožič, MA Design
Visual Communications & Interior Architecture, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture, Ljubljana, Slovenia
BRINGING NATURE TO WORK: THE IMPACT OF BIOPHILIC DESIGN ON EMPLOYEES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Asst. Prof. Inge Kalan Lipar, univ. dipl. ing. arh.,
Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
URBAN EXPRESSIONS IN WOOD STUDENT PROPOSALS FOR THE USE OF WOOD IN URBAN SPACE
Marjan Poboljšaj, univ.dipl.ing.arh.
Co-Founder and Principal Architect, Superform, Ljubljana, Slovenia
WOOD – WHERE SPACE, PEOPLE AND STORIES MEET
Assoc. Prof. Arch. Maria Tămășan, PhD.,
Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Romania
RESTORING THE PAST, DESIGNING THE FUTURE: THE ROLE OF WOOD IN SHAPING SUSTAINABLE DESIGN VALUES AMONG STUDENTS
Călin Lucaci,
Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Romania
REDUCING ENERGY FOOTPRINTS THROUGH CRAFT: A COMPARATIVE LCA STUDY OF HANDMADE VERSUS INDUSTRIAL HOUSEHOLD OBJECTS
Asst. Prof. Arbresha Ibrahimi, PhD.,
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Architecture, International Balkan University - Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
STRATEGIC DESIGN WITH WOOD: REGENERATIVE STRATEGIES FOR URBAN FUTURES
Assoc. Prof. Marija Miloshevska Janakieska, PhD.,
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Architecture, International Balkan University - Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
WOOD AND EWPS IN MACEDONIA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN DESIGN
Prof. Ernesto Fenollosa Forner,
Dean of the HTS of Architecture, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain
Susana Iñarra Abad,
Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain
STRUCTURE AND ATMOSPHERE: HOW CONSTRUCTION SHAPES SPATIAL PERCEPTION
Elena Rausse,
ISIA Roma Design, Pordenone, Italy
MATERIALS FOR THE POST-ANTHROPOCENE: VALORISATION OF URBAN MINED WOOD WASTE FOR CIRCULAR MATERIAL INNOVATION
12:00 - 12:30
COFFEE AND NETWORKING
12:30 - 13:30
Venue: ROG center, Trubarjeva cesta 72, Ljubljana
DESIGN TALK 1
INTRODUCTION:
Prof. Nada Matičič, univ. dipl. ing. arh.,
Acting Dean Faculty of Design, Ljubljana Slovenia
BETWEEN SCIENCE AND ART IN THE FIELD OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Distinguished Prof. Gjoko Muratovski, PhD,
Chief Innovation Officer ICONA Design Group / Australian Institute of Advanced Technologies (AIAT) Adelaide SA, Australia
Asst. Prof. Arbresha Ibrahimi, PhD.,
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Architecture, International Balkan University - Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
BETWEEN SCIENCE AND ART
PARTICIPANTS:
Assoc. Arch. Takehiko Iseki,
Zaha Hadid Architects, UK
Prof. Dragan Ćalović, PhD.,
Faculty of Contemporary Arts, Belgrade, Serbia
Prof. Dušanka Komnenić, PhD.,
Faculty of Contemporary Arts, Serbia
Barbara Gunčar, MSc,
NETS d.o.o., Leading Partner of Design Management Slovenia - KCDM 4.0., Kranj, Slovenia
Emeritus Prof. M. Arch. Peter Gabrijelčič,
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture, Ljubljana, Slovenia
13:30 - 14:30
Venue: ROG center, Trubarjeva cesta 72, Ljubljana
DESIGN TALK 2:
Back to Basics?
How does design and designers engage with such complex time...
HOSTS:
Steiner Valade-Amland, Three point Zero, Denmark
PARTICIPANTS:
Assoc. Prof. Jordan Berginc, PhD.,
Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Asst. Prof. Robert Klun,
Ambassador of Designers Hub, Robert KLUN Architects, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Sr. Lect. Petra Kocjančič, MA.,
Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Asst. Prof. Inge Kalan Lipar, univ. dipl. ing. Arh,
Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Prof. Piet Vandewalle
Architect, International coordinator, Thomas Moore University for Applied Sciences, Interior, Design & Architecture, Mechelen Belgium
Asst. Prof. Almina Duraković Korošec, MA,
Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Aleš Gabrijelčič, M. Arch, OUTSIDER Magazine Interview with:
Distinguished Prof. Gjoko Muratovski, PhD., Chief Innovation Officer ICONA Design Group / Australian Institute of Advanced Technologies (AIAT) Adelaide SA, Australia
14:30
BRUNCH AND NETWORKING
10:00 - 16:00
Venue: Lab for Visual Communications
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Lecturer Merve Özbaş Kilisli,
Istanbul Vocational School Of Health and Social Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
TEACHING OTTOMAN DRESS CULTURE THROUGH AUGMENTED REALITY
12:00 - 16:00
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Prof. Jovanka Mladenović, DA,
Faculty of Contemporary Arts, Serbia
CHLOROPHYLL RESISTANCE: URBAN HERBARIUMS THROUGH THE LENS OF VISUAL ARTS
17:00 - 20:30
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Steiner Valade-Amland,
Three point Zero, Denmark
THE ROLE OF DESIGN MANAGER IN A COMPANY
Wednesday, 8. 10. 2025
9:00 - 14:30
Venue: HDMI – House of Design Management and Innovations,
Lab for Prototyping, Gerbičeva 51, Ljubljana
Mentor: Jaka Lipar, B.A.,
Institute LILA (Primary School)
WORKSHOP: GEOMETRIC DÉCOR AND FURNITURE IN THE BAUHAUS STYLE
EXHIBITION 2:
RECYCLED WOOD PRODUCTS BY STUDENTS OF THE LJUBLJANA SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR COMMERCE AND DESIGN
EXHIBITION 3:
WOODEN MODEL SHOWCASE WITH MASTER AND ERASMUS+ STUDENT PROJECTS
CERTIFICATE CEREMONY
13:30 - 16:30
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Design Management Slovenia
(Competence Center for Design Management 4.0.)
Distinguished Prof. Gjoko Muratovski, PhD
Chief Innovation Officer ICONA Design Group / Australian Institute of Advanced Technologies (AIAT) Adelaide SA, Australia
Workshop for Members of DMS (KCDM 4.0) Companies and MA students
RESEARCH FOR DESIGNERS AND DESIGN MANAGERS
17:00 - 19:00
Venue: Career Center
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Distinguished Prof. Gjoko Muratovski, PhD,
Chief Innovation Officer ICONA Design Group / Australian Institute of Advanced Technologies (AIAT) Adelaide SA, Australia
AI IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
17:00 - 20:00
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Design Management Slovenia
(Competence Center for Design Management 4.0.)
Steiner Valade-Amland,
Three point Zero, Denmark
INTEGRATING DESIGN MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN THINKING TO LEVERAGE CORPORATE STRATEGIES
Thursday, 9. 10. 2025
10:00 - 13:00
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
10:00
Venue: Ground Floor
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Design Management Slovenia
(Competence Center for Design Management 4.0.)
Steiner Valade-Amland,
Three point Zero, Denmark
THE ROLE OF DESIGNERS AND DESIGN THINKERS IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS
EXHIBITION:
Mentors: Asst. Prof. dr. sc. Margarita Bego
Assoc. Prof. dr. art. Iris Lobaš Kukavičić
"KRUŽNA KREATIVA"
16:30 - 19:30
Venue: Lab for Prototyping
(HDMI – House of Design Management and Innovations, Gerbičeva 51, Ljubljana)
Asst. Prof. Barbara Dovečar, MA,
Vice Dean for Student Affairs, Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Assist. Prof. Mateja Š.Dimic, MA,
Head of the Department for Design Management,
Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
DESIGN AND CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
EXHIBITION 4:
Venue: HDMI – House of Design Management and Innovations,
Lab for Prototyping, Gerbičeva 51, Ljubljana
STUDENT – DESIGNED PACKAGING FROM RECYCLED WOOD BIOMASS MATERIALS
17:00
Venue: Minka Skaberne Library for the Blind and Visually Impaired
(Kotnikova 32, Ljubljana)
EXHIBITION OPENING
Assoc. Prof. dr. art. Iris Lobaš Kukavičić
REQUIEM FOR THE SEA
17:00 - 19:00
Venue: Computer Room, 1st Floor
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Distinguished Prof. Gjoko Muratovski, PhD.,
Chief Innovation Officer ICONA Design Group / Australian Institute of Advanced Technologies (AIAT) Adelaide SA, Australia
AI IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
17:00 - 20:00
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries, Ground Floor
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
Steiner Valade-Amland
Three Point Zero, Denmark
THE ROLE OF DESIGNERS AND DESIGN THINKERS IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS
Friday, 10. 10. 2025
10:00 - 11:00
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
CLOSING ROUNDTABLE:
“WOOD – ANCIENT AND YET FUTURE”
WITH DESIGNERS FROM THE YOUNG DESIGNERS SOCIETY OF SLOVENIA
OPENING SPEECH:
Jan Krmelj
Vice dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
MODERATOR:
Asst. Prof. Arbresha Ibrahimi, PhD.,
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Architecture, International Balkan University- Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
PARTICIPANTS:
Student’s Council,
Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Brina A. Lukić, MA
Designers Society of Slovenia Young, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Prof. Dragan Ćalović, PhD.,
Faculty of Contemporary Arts, Belgrade, Serbia
PhD Candidate Jani Demšar MA. of Design,
Geodetic Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Sr. Lect. Luka Mancini,
Faculty of Design, Ljubljana, Slovenia
11:00 - 11:30
COFFEE BREAK
11:30 - 14:00
Venue: Lab for Creative Industries
(Faculty of Design, Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana)
PhD Candidate Lucija Erjavec Primožič, MA Design
Visual Communications & Interior Architecture, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture, Ljubljana, Slovenia
NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS IN-BETWEEN SPACES: POTENTIAL FOR THE UNEXPECTED OR IN-BETWEEN SPACES: ZONES OF CONNECTION AND CREATION
