Insider SERIES • Article FEATURE
Design for Strength – World Architecture Day 2025 by RIVA Spain
In a city defined by beauty and vulnerability, celebrating “Design for Strength” at RIVA Spain felt both timely and essential. As Miami continues to face the realities of climate and change, the dialogue underscored that resilience is not just a technical pursuit — it is the very language of survival and care within contemporary architecture.
Inside RIVA Spain’s luminous Miami Design District flagship, the architecture and design community gathered to reflect on this year’s World Architecture Day theme: Design for Strength. The event, co-hosted with AIA Miami, invited a distinguished panel to explore how resilience — once a specialized consideration — has become central to the ethos of modern design. For RIVA, the evening aligned perfectly with the brand’s identity—rooted in wood craftsmanship, innovation, and timeless materiality. Hosted by Juan Reina, director of the RIVA Spain Miami Flagship, the conversation unfolded in the new space itself—offering a tangible metaphor for the subject at hand. Strength in design, after all, emerges from the dialogue between beauty and endurance, between materials and meaning. Moderator Jessica Quintero, from The Architectural Authority Magazine, opened the evening by grounding the discussion in this year’s global theme. “We can rebuild beautifully, responsibly, and together,” she reflected — setting a tone of optimism that resonated throughout the night. From there, each speaker brought their own perspective to the table. Jesse Rittenhouse, Director of Strategy for SOCOTEC, emphasized resilience as both a mindset and a measurable goal. “Resilient architecture,” he explained, “is making sure that you’re able to withstand the hazards that come at you — rain, wind, fire, seismic activity — and to design in ways that adapt and mitigate those impacts, so recovery time is less and spaces remain safe.” His words underscored the convergence of design and science, reminding attendees that aesthetic ambition and environmental responsibility are no longer parallel paths, but a shared journey.
"Beauty finds its truest form in what endures through change"
Elizabeth Camargo, AIA Florida President and founder of EC Architecture + Design, spoke with conviction about the emotional and civic dimensions of resilience. “Living in South Florida,” she said, “the subject is always at the forefront of the work architects do. We see on a daily basis the destruction caused by hurricanes and other natural events — and whatever we can do to help our communities thrive and live safely is our responsibility.” Her perspective grounded the conversation in lived experience — a reminder that architectural strength begins with empathy and the intention to serve. Adding a strategic lens, Robert Werthamer, Chair of AIA Miami’s Resilience and Adaptation Committee, expanded on the concept: “Resilience is really about taking a broader look at the environment and its impacts on the building and the community. It’s managing stresses that are becoming increasingly frequent, ensuring the building can continue to operate and serve people.” He described resilience as a “step beyond sustainability” — not just reducing harm, but anticipating and absorbing it.
Together, the panel explored how resilience can evolve from being a technical consideration into a creative opportunity — a catalyst for innovation. As Rittenhouse noted, collaboration across sectors is key: “It’s important to bring together architects, consultants, and the community to discuss resiliency and how we can work together to make our buildings and communities stronger.” Colleen Stovall, Executive Director of AIA Miami, summarized the event’s significance: “World Architecture Day is a celebration of all things architecture, but I like it because it really focuses us on this year’s theme — strength in design.” She highlighted the collaboration between AIA Miami and RIVA Spain as an example of how partnerships between design institutions and manufacturers can foster education and advocacy for more responsible practice.
"Strength is not static — it’s adaptive, intelligent, and shared"
The evening reflected a larger movement in global architecture — one where strength is redefined not through rigidity but through adaptability. In this framework, strength becomes an evolving quality: the capacity of spaces and materials to bend, to learn, and to endure. This vision resonates deeply in Miami, a city at the forefront of climate resilience discourse. For RIVA Spain, facilitating such a conversation situates the brand not only within the sphere of design excellence but also within the urgent cultural dialogue about the planet’s future. The event emphasized that high design today must serve both the eye and the environment — embodying sustainability as both ethics and aesthetics.
As discussions unfolded, attendees reflected on how materials and craftsmanship themselves carry narratives of resilience. RIVA’s products — meticulously designed and engineered — stood as embodiments of the principles being discussed: durability, innovation, and beauty rooted in longevity.
The evening concluded with a sense of shared purpose. Beyond the words exchanged, the atmosphere itself carried a message — one of collective stewardship and creative optimism. “Design for Strength” became more than a theme; it became a call to action, urging the architecture and design community to reimagine the built environment as both protector and participant in the cycles of nature. For RIVA Spain, this commitment to resilience aligns seamlessly with its design philosophy. The brand’s work — bridging spanish craftsmanship with global vision — speaks to a belief that good design should not only endure but enrich. By hosting this event, RIVA reaffirmed that strength, like beauty, is a form of care: a commitment to build thoughtfully, sustainably, and for generations to come.
World Architecture Day 2025 at RIVA Spain Miami was not just a celebration — it was a statement. As the design world continues to grapple with environmental, social, and material challenges, gatherings like this remind us that architecture’s most lasting contribution is its ability to protect and uplift. Through partnership, dialogue, and design integrity, RIVA Spain and AIA Miami offered a glimpse into the future of architecture: strong, adaptive, and profoundly human.
