The Faculty of Architecture of the University of Belgrade recently launched the first Student Architecture Salon, a new exhibition and academic platform dedicated to presenting student work and contemporary approaches to architectural education. The Salon, launched as part of marking the Faculty’s 180th anniversary, has a regional scope, and alongside Zagreb, the Urban Studies program at the University of Rijeka has also joined the initiative. The Head of Urban Studies, Assist. Prof. Ida Križaj Leko, is a member of the Advisory Board and a member of the Jury that will select the submitted works.
Recognising that the future of architecture is first envisioned through student projects, research and experimentation, the Student Architecture Salon has been conceived as a platform for exchange, dialogue and the promotion of emerging authors, educators and schools of architecture. It provides a framework for presenting diverse pedagogical approaches, design methodologies and research agendas that shape contemporary architectural education, while highlighting new ideas that will influence the future development of the discipline.
The Salon derives its particular significance from its regional dimension. Conceived as a collaborative platform, it brings together schools of architecture across Southeast Europe, fostering the exchange of knowledge, experience and educational practices. By connecting students and academics from Ljubljana, Zagreb, Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Skopje, Podgorica, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac, Kosovska Mitrovica, Novi Pazar and Subotica, and now Rijeka as well, the Salon seeks to establish a lasting network of architectural schools and become one of the leading platforms for academic dialogue and collaboration within the region.
Envisioned as an annual event, the Student Architecture Salon is open to students at all levels of architectural education and to schools of architecture throughout Southeast Europe. Its ambition extends beyond showcasing outstanding student work; it aims to encourage continuous dialogue between students, educators and academic institutions, strengthening a culture of collaboration, mobility and shared development in architectural education. Over time, the Salon aspires to become a recognised regional event presenting the most significant student achievements and contemporary directions in architectural education each year.
The theme of the 1st Salon of Architecture Students is “DESIGNING THE POSSIBILITIES”. The Salon’s theme relies on the belief that architecture is not merely a discipline of solving predefined problems, but a field capable of generating new ways of understanding space, society and the future. Design, therefore, should be understood not only as the production of buildings, cities or landscapes, but also as a process of exploration, speculation and discovery. The theme positions architecture as a field of open inquiry, experimentation and critical reflection. Rather than attempting to predict the future, it encourages the exploration of alternative scenarios, untapped potentials and emerging trajectories capable of shaping tomorrow’s built environment. It embraces projects that address contemporary challenges, while equally valuing those that question established paradigms, propose alternative approaches and expand the boundaries of architectural thinking. The 1st Student Architecture Salon invites submissions that present projects, research and initiatives exploring not only what architecture is today, but also what it can become.
The submission deadline is September 17, 2026. More details about the Salon, project categories, and the application process are in the BROCHURE.
