UIA World Congress of Architects 2026

Last week, Senior Associate Aisling Cleary spoke at the UIA (International Union of Architects) World Congress in Barcelona, delivering a keynote titled ‘Why Do We Still Need to Talk About Women in Sports Architecture?’ The session coincided with the launch of Active Spaces: Carrying Legacy into the Future, a new publication curated by the UIA Sports and Leisure Work Programme and edited by Co-Chairs René Kural and Sena Ozfiliz.

Drawing on her contribution to the book, alongside fellow authors Bianca Binder, Irina Akhmanova and Irina Korneychuk, Aisling explored how sport continues to be shaped by spaces, standards and systems that have not always been designed with women and girls in mind. The presentation brought together four perspectives on funding, design bias, motherhood and representation in the profession, united by a common question: Who has sport been designed for, and who has been asked to adapt?

While progress in women's participation has been significant, Aisling highlighted how many barriers remain embedded in contemporary sporting environments. From unequal participation rates and underrepresentation in sporting leadership, to design standards that continue to influence the experience of female athletes and spectators, the presentation challenged the assumption that sports spaces are neutral.

The discussion focused on practical steps, moving beyond identifying problems. Drawing on international research and our experience designing sport and leisure facilities across the UK and Ireland, Aisling outlined four actions architects can take to create inclusive sporting environments:

1. Consider who is making decisions and who is absent from the room.

2. Engage with current and potential users to better understand barriers to participation.

3. Challenge assumptions about how sport and public space should function.

4. Invite new forms of participation through environments that support confidence, visibility and choice.

These principles are already shaping FaulknerBrowns projects such as Sunderland’s Beacon of Light, Britannia Leisure Centre and Woolwich Waves in London, and Irishtown Leisure Centre in Dublin. Each project demonstrates how inclusive design can boost participation, enhance feelings of safety and strengthen community engagement.

The keynote closed with a clear message: participation is power. When spaces enable participation, they can foster confidence, leadership and ultimately, influence culture, policy and funding for generations to come.

FaulknerBrowns is proud to see these conversations taking place on an international stage and to contribute to the ongoing discussion around creating more inclusive, equitable and welcoming active environments for all.