The BIG Architecture Festival 2025, held on May 22-23, concluded with resounding success at Grando, Portorož, transforming the coastal venue into a vibrant hub of architectural dialogue, critical exchange, and visionary ideas. Over two dynamic days, more than 3,000 architects, designers, urbanists, and decision-makers from South-East Europe and beyond came together to explore the role of common sense in architecture and to celebrate outstanding achievements in the built environment.

A Festival of Ideas: Common Sense / Space / Responsibility

The international conference at the heart of the festival addressed the pressing issues shaping architecture today—from climate resilience and adaptive reuse to the ethical dimensions of AI. The curated theme, Common Sense / Space / Responsibility... in Architecture, resonated throughout the program, underscoring a renewed call for socially and environmentally conscious design.

The panel Beyond Algorithms: The Human Touch in AI–Enhanced Architecture offered anuanced view of AI’s potential and pitfalls, while Envisioning a City: Future Perspectives from North and South, explored climate-specific and culturally sensitive strategies for urban transformation. 

Debates also focused on South-East Europe’s place on the global stage. SEE in Venice explored regional synergies in anticipation of the 2027 Venice Biennale, and SEE Beyond Osaka 2025 looked toward a more unified architectural presence at future World Expos.

Exhibition and Innovation

The exhibition SEE the Future: The Cities of Tomorrow showcased forward-looking ideasby architects and students, imagining how the cities of South-East Europe can evolve tomeet 21st-century challenges. Meanwhile, over100 exhibitorspresented cutting-edgesolutions in sustainable design, smart technologies, and materials during the festival’sexpansive trade show.

Awarding Architectural Excellence: BIG SEE Grand Prix Winners

During the two days of the festival, architects presented more than 300 projects across four stages at the venue.This was crowned by the BIG SEE Architecture & Interior Design Awards ceremony at the Gala Evening, honoring the international jury-awarded projects across 13 architectural and 5 interior categories. Many of the awarded works reflect the festival’s core themes—particularly in their sustainable, socially responsible, and innovative approaches. 

Notably, Štvanice Footbridge by AI Praha, awarded in the Infrastructure category, offers an exemplary model of adaptive urban design and elegant engineering in a European capital. Similarly, the Friskafors Retirement Home by Brunnberg & Forshed Arkitektkontor embodies a socially inclusive approach to residential design for the elderly—resonating with the “common sense” ethos promoted throughout the conference. The Seoul Robot & AI Museum by MAA–Melike Altınışık Architects stands as a symbol of the evolving dialogue between architecture and artificial intelligence, directly linking to the festival’s AI-focused debate.

2025 BIG SEE Grand Prix Winners

ARCHITECTURE

Tourism Buildings
Badhaus—bergmeisterwolf 

Public and Administration Buildings
Kalyon Karapınar 1.350 MWP SPP –Central Control Building— Bilgin Architects

Residential–Houses
House in Toyooka—Ishii Hideki Architect Atelier

Public–Renovation
Schloss Ebenzweier—Kleboth und Dollnig

Public / Open Space and Landscape
Spello. Infiorate di Pietra—Massimo Berzetta Architetto in collaboration with OIKOS Progetti / SAB / SINTAGMA 

Industrial Buildings and Workspace
The Mayoral New Warehouse Logistic Center—System ArquitecturaThe Mayoral New Warehouse Logistic Center—System Arquitectura

Residential–Renovation
The Mill—Estudio Vilablanch 

Infrastructure
Štvanice Footbridge—AI Praha

Residential–Housing
Friskafors Retirement Home—Brunnberg & Forshed Arkitektkontor 

Educational Buildings
Antonio Huber Schule—Baumschlager Hutter Partners

Cultural Buildings
Seoul Robot & AI Museum—MAA–Melike Altınışık Architects

Recreation & Sports Buildings
Češča Vas Pool Complex—ENOTA

Residential–Leisure
Weekendhouse GPW—Robert Maier Architekten

DESIGN

Retail
Veron The Shop—IOG Arhitectura

Workplace
Rocknrolla Offices—REONDO

Residential
Isadora’s House (Apartment in Budapest)—Katrin Mood

Civic
Pisoni Dental Clinic—Studio Capitanio Architetti

Hospitality
Hotel Indigo—BFA x KLK

A Regional Movement with Global Vision

As the built environment faces unprecedented challenges, the BIG Architecture Festival 2025 has reaffirmed the power of architecture to lead with clarity, collaboration, and common sense. By fostering meaningful dialogue and awarding projects that reflect both visionary thinking and grounded responsibility, BIG SEE continues to shape the future of architecture in South-East Europe and beyond.