Lecce hosts 15th Architects Meet to discuss urban hospitality

The 15th edition of Architects Meet in Lecce is taking place from September 24 to 26, focusing on the theme “Welcome Architecture. Abitare, ospitare, condividere” (To live, to host, to share). The event explores the relationship between architecture, urban planning, hospitality, and the future of living, specifically addressing how design can manage urban transformation and tourism.

Key discussions will center on urban regeneration, the conversion of marginal buildings, and the management of over-tourism. Participants will examine how architecture can serve as a tool to maintain city identity and manage tourist flows rather than viewing over-tourism as an inevitable outcome. The program includes roundtables on Mediterranean territorial connections and the role of color in architecture.

Distinguished guests include Benedetta Tagliabue of Studio EMBT, who will deliver a lecture at Teatro Paisiello, and Carlo Ratti, the recipient of the Architects Meet in Lecce 2026 International Prize. The event is organized by the Associazione Italiana di Architettura e Critica (Aiac), the Order of Architects of Lecce, the Municipality of Lecce, and the Lecce Biblio-Museal Pole.