The Night of Architecture and Design at the FAD STU will be dedicated to urbanism. Featuring lectures by top international experts in architecture and design, as well as a captivating discussion on urbanism, this year’s event—taking place at FAD STU on Thursday, June 19, 2025—for the 25th time, promises to be an exciting celebration.
The Night of Architecture and Design is a multi-genre platform offering insight into the activities of the Faculty of Architecture and Design of the Slovak University of Technology (FAD STU) in Bratislava. Throughout the event, studio projects will be exhibited across the entire FAD building at Námestie slobody 19, aiming to showcase a wide spectrum of student work created over the past semester. As always, organizers will offer a variety of attractive accompanying programs. The event is organized by the Faculty of Architecture and Design in cooperation with the FAD STU Student Platform. The format was originally founded by the student initiative Archtung.
This year’s program highlights the introduction of a new study program in Urbanism, launching in the 2026/27 academic year in cooperation with the University of Economics in Bratislava (EUBA), as part of the STU-EUBA University Consortium. Graduates will find opportunities in spatial planning, public space design, and roles in public administration, while also being fully prepared for careers as creative architects.
Program:
16:00 / Foyer / Opening of the Night of Architecture and Design & Dean's Award Ceremony
The summer edition of this popular and well-attended event kicks off with the announcement of the Dean’s Award winners. The competition features studio projects that received top honors in the Student Scientific, Research, Professional, and Artistic Activities (SSRPAA) evaluation categories (Prof. V. Karfík Award, Prof. V. Vilhan Award, Prof. E. Hruška Award, Prof. A. Piff l Award, Prof. V. Chrobák Award, Assoc. Prof. M. Kodoň Award, Design Award, Theory Award, and Vision Award). The winner among the six nominated projects will be announced at the Dean’s Award Ceremony 2024/2025, taking place at 16:00 in the FAD STU foyer. The exhibition of winning works will be available for viewing in Room 6 on the ground floor.
17:30–18:15 / Foyer / Panel Discussion: Architectural Policy of the Slovak Republic
An inspiring discussion featuring three prominent figures from Slovakia’s architectural and cultural scene – Ing. Ivan Zizič, MBA (Deputy Head of the Office for Spatial Planning and Construction of the SR), Mgr. arch. Nora Vranová (President of the Slovak Chamber of Architects), and Assoc. Prof. Ing. arch. Katarína Smatanová, PhD. (Head of the Institute of Urbanism and Spatial Planning at FAD STU). Together, they will discuss current challenges, visions, and directions of architectural policy in Slovakia. How does it influence the quality of our cities? What is its impact on the environment, public space, and cultural identity? Moderated by Samuel Skyva.
18:30–19:30 / Emil Belluš Auditorium / Lecture: Glass and Design – A Journey Beyond the Material
Two talented designers and FAD STU alumni, Martin Gallo and Jakub Maglay, will take you behind the scenes of LASVIT—an internationally renowned design company known for monumental Czech crystal light installations. The lecture presents their personal and professional journey, major international projects (including Splash at Milan Design Week), and their creative approach to glass as a medium between light, space, and emotion. Martin Gallo is an industrial designer (FA STU + FA ČVUT graduate) who has worked at LASVIT since 2016 in various design roles, including an internship in New York and a tenure in Dubai. He now works as a Senior Designer at LASVIT’s Prague headquarters. Jakub Maglay is a 3D artist and designer, also an FA STU graduate, who creates custom glass installations for interiors worldwide. He designed the Centropol Footballer of the Year 2024 trophy and is currently working on projects combining digital design and traditional glassmaking.
20:00–21:00 / Emil Belluš Auditorium / Lecture by Gijs Rikken, Design Director at MVRDV
Gijs Rikken (1980, Boxtel, Netherlands) is an architect responsible for a wide range of projects at MVRDV—from complex buildings to material innovation. Notable completed works include Glass Farm in Schijndel, The Crystal Houses in Amsterdam, and Balancing Barn in Suffolk, UK. Other key projects include Urban Hybrid in Emmen, Coral Tower in Sydney, and Theater aan de Parade in Den Bosch. Currently, he oversees the development and construction of Valley in Amsterdam, a 75,000 m² multifunctional building with three green-covered residential towers and a public vertical park. Founded in 1993 by Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, and Nathalie de Vries, MVRDV now operates globally from offices in Rotterdam, Shanghai, Paris, Berlin, and New York, tackling architectural and urban planning challenges around the world. Their work is exhibited and published internationally and has won numerous awards.
21:00–22:00 / Parking Lot / DJ Set by Whithe
DJ Whithe is a talented Slovak DJ whose energetic beats light up any club. His sets blend modern electronic rhythms with a unique style that continues to gain fans both locally and internationally. DJ Whithe is not just music—he's an experience you have to feel live.
Funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU, through the Recovery and Resilience Plan under the STU-EUBA University Consortium project. The event is supported by the Slovak Arts Council from public funds.
