We are delighted to be hosting TWO EVENTS as part of AIA26 in San Diego, including this free half day workshop on global architectural practice - join us there!
Image ©AXICA
We are pleased to announce the upcoming AIA CE Spring Conference in Germany!
Registration is now open.
When: Thursday 07 May - Sunday 10 May 2026, with optional Monday and Tuesday extension
Where: Berlin, Germany
Description
Berlin - an international city of significance importance in architecture and politics that has transformed and reinvented itself since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War into the German capital - again - of a united Germany. A city where urban planning, architectural design and sustainability play a key role. A city of building reuse and re-purposing for sustainability. A city where architects and urban planners play a key role in the transformation.
We will showcase it´s vibrancy and its constant evolution through the imagination of its architects. local citizens and planners. This showplace of history, architecture and culture includes many UNESCO World Heritage sites, some of which we will visit as well on our Dessau and Potsdam extension tours. And, 2026 is the 100th Anniversary Year of the Bauhaus! Walking tours by architects will emphasize history, urban planning and design including the City Models, Museum Island, DZ Bank (AXICA), Libeskind Jewish Museum and the Hansaviertel where in the 1950s famous International Architects designed housing. Many local architects will present their work that shaped the city and Europe and participate in interactive panel discussions. The President of the Federal German Chamber of Architecture, Andrea Gebhard is our keynote speaker. Our 2026 AIA President, Ilya Azaroff, FAIA, is presenting and participating in our speaker panels.
Join us as we explore the transformation from a divided city – both by a wall and politics -into a united, integrated, multi-cultural European centre with sustainability as its model.
Program can be found HERE.
When: Saturday 25 April 2026 @ 09:00 (Singapore time)
Where: 102 Henderson Road, Singapore 159562
CES Credits - Estimated 2.5 LU/ HSWs for AIA Members
CPD Credits - 3 CPD
Speakers
Tham Xin Kai, Founder & Principal, Terrapy SG
Stephane Lasserre, Principal, HKS; Founder, Nobo Farms
Description
This in-person session brings together two complementary perspectives on nature-based design and urban resilience, exploring how planting, food systems, and architecture intersect to support well-being and sustainable living.
Tham Xin Kai, Founder of Terrapy SG, introduces participants to therapeutic horticulture as a growing nature-based approach within the built environment. Through a guided walkthrough of the Plant Therapy Studio greenhouse, the session will examine how intentional planting, sensory engagement, and restorative landscapes can enhance occupant well-being across healthcare, education, and social settings—including neurodivergent-supportive environments. The session concludes with a hands-on sensory planting activity.
Stephane Lasserre of HKS and founder of Nobo Farms presents an exploration of modular micro-farming systems in Singapore. Through a visit to the Nobo Farms prototype, participants will discover how compact, resource-efficient urban agriculture can contribute to more resilient neighbourhoods. The session highlights strategies such as reduced water and energy use, regenerative growing cycles, and shared infrastructure models, while also reflecting on architectural approaches suited to tropical environments.
Together, the sessions offer a holistic view of how integrating planting systems—from therapeutic landscapes to urban agriculture—can reshape the way we design for health, community, and environmental resilience.
Image credit: © ERCO GmbH, www.erco.com. Photographer: Shiya Creative Studio, Singapore
When: Monday 13 April 2026 @ 06:00 (Eastern US time)/ 18:00 (Singapore time)
Where: ERCO Lighting, 93 Havelock Rd, #03-532, Singapore 160093
CES Credits - Estimated 2.0 LUs for AIA Members
RIBA Credits - 2 CPD
Speaker
Luis Barahona, Architect, Director of Lighting Applications, Asia Pacific and Middle East, ERCO Lighting
Description
Commercial and public buildings increasingly demand lighting strategies that balance visual comfort with architectural impact. In this workshop, ERCO explores how precise photometric tools transform expansive volumes into human-centric environments. We will move beyond simply "filling a room with light" to focus on vertical illumination and beam control that defines the space.
Participants will evaluate the unique requirements of high-ceiling atriums, transit hubs, and galleries. Through case studies, we demonstrate how to marry high-performance LED technology with long-term operational value, ensuring that even the most cavernous spaces feel intimate and purposeful.
About ERCO
ERCO is an international specialist for high-quality and digital architectural lighting. The family-owned company, founded in 1934, operates globally in 55 countries with independent sales organisations and partners.
ERCO understands light as the fourth dimension of architecture – and thus as an integral part of sustainable building. Light is the contribution to making society and architecture better and, at the same time, preserving our environment. ERCO Greenology® – the corporate strategy for sustainable lighting – combines ecological responsibility with technological expertise.
At the light factory in Lüdenscheid, Germany, ERCO develops, designs, and manufactures luminaires with a focus on photometric optics, electronics, and sustainable design. They are used primarily in the following applications: Work and Culture, Community and Public/Outdoor, Contemplation, Living, Shop and Hospitality. ERCO lighting experts support architects and designers worldwide in transforming their projects into reality with highly precise, efficient, and sustainable lighting solutions.
Speaker Bio
Ecuador-born and Germany-educated, Luis Barahona holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Mainz, Germany, and is fluent in Spanish, German, and English. With the extensive knowledge
in architectural lighting, he is often invited as a guest of keynote
speaker at conferences and seminars, as well as lighting workshops throughout the regions.
Prior to Mr. Barahona’s career at ERCO, he has been working as an architect in Berlin for more than 14 years. After joining ERCO in
Germany in 2001, he started as an Erasmus Trainer for Central Europe, advising lighting design solutions for specific projects in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
In October 2006, Mr. Barahona moved to Singapore to spearhead the launch of the regional headquarters for the Asia Pacific and Middle East as the Technical Manager, Head of Lighting Design and Erasmus Trainer. As a firm believer that education is key, he is also an occasional guest lecturer in many of the design schools in the region to expand the understanding and importance of lighting design.
Mr. Barahona currently holds the position of Director of Lighting Applications for the Asia Pacific and the Middle East Regions at the ERCO Asia Pacific Headquarters in Singapore.
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-f-r-barahona-10818175/
