The International Union of Architects was established on June 28, 1948 , in Lausanne (Switzerland), to gather architects of the entire world without any distinction of nationality, race, religion or architectural doctrine and to federate their national organizations. It is a non-governmental institution and a one-of-a-kind professional network of architects. The UIA's tasks and purposes are helping to create relationships of mutual solidarity, understanding and respect among architects, letting them compare their ideas and concepts, sharing their experience, expanding their conscience, becoming rich from diversities, in order to be more and more able to help the improvement of the living conditions of men and the environment.
The UIA has expanded from the 27 delegations present in its foundation meeting, and now includes the major architect organizations in 116 countries, and presently represents over 1,300,000 world architects.
The UIA has been organizing its World Congress every three years since 1948. Themes linked to the current professional novelties are discussed during the Congress, with the audience consisting of professionals, students and representatives of the institutional, political and business world. The latest four editions were held in Barcelona (1996), Beijing (1999), Berlin (2002) and Istanbul (2005).
The Congress is promoted by the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the National Committee of Architects, Planners, Landscape Designers and Conservators (CNAPPC), in collaboration with the Brotherhood of Architects, Planners, Landscape Designers and Conservators of the Province of Torino (OAT) and with the support of the Municipality of Torino, the Regione Piemonte, the Province of Torino, the Chamber of Commerce for Industry, Agriculture and Handicraft of Torino, and the Interregional Federation of the Brotherhoods of Architects, Planners, Landscape Designers and Conservators of Piemonte and the Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley.

Le Congrès est promu par l'Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA) et par le Consiglio Nazionale Architetti, Pianificatori, Paesaggisti e Conservatori (CNAPPC), en collaboration avec l'Ordine degli Architetti, Pianificatori, Paesaggisti e Conservatori della Provincia di Torino (OAT) et le support de la Città di Torino, de la Regione Piemonte, de la Provincia di Torino, de la Camera di Commercio, Industria, Artigianato e Agricoltura di Torino et de la Federazione Interregionale degli Ordini degli Architetti, Pianificatori, Paesaggisti e Conservatori del Piemonte e della Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta.