Project
Designing Futures: Rethinking the Architect's Practice
Liam Young is an Australian born architect who operates in the spaces between design, fiction and futures. As the founder of Tomorrow’s Thoughts Today – a London-based think tank exploring consequences of fantastic, speculative and imaginary urbanisms, Young has consulted and conducted workshops on speculation, emerging technologies and future forecasting for various companies, the film industry and several arts and science institutions. Read more: tomorrowsthoughtstoday.com
Image: Liam Young, New City, Multiple channel video installation, 2014.
Designing Futures: Rethinking the Architect’s Practice
27 November 2018
6 PM to 9:00 PM
Consulate General of Finland, New York
Speakers:
Liam Young, Tomorrow's Thoughts Today
Eero Lundén, Lundén Architecture Company
Introduction & moderator:
Eva Geitel, Vice Chairman, Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA)
“I think architect’s skills are completely wasted on making buildings. But I don’t see it as weakening the profession, I see it as strengthening. It means that the profession can find traction in other fields: the architect as strategist, as politician, as planner; the architect as curator or editor or writer, as activist or storyteller. Finding ways to operate in other disciplines just gives us much more agency.” - Liam Young on UnCube Magazine, Sept 2015
Eero Lundén is a Finnish architect and founder of Lundén Architecture Company in 2008. The Helsinki-based office focuses on the development and innovation of the built environment, architecture and urbanism. Lundén is currently teaching at Urban Renewal Studio at Aalto University. He was also chosen to design the Nordic contribution to the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. Read more: lunden.co
Image: Lundén Architecture Company, Another Generosity, Venice Architecture Biennale 2018. Photo: AndreaFerroPhotography
Digitalization and emerging technologies are rapidly changing the environment and the cities we live in. Augmented and virtual reality have added new layers to existing spaces while different apps have created various platforms to socialize in. How we understand and experience space is in constant flux.
Is architecture as a profession adequately responding to these global developments? How diverse will the profession be–or should it be– in the future? Is there a danger that the profession will not adapt to the changes as holistically as it should? Are architects possibly slowly marginalizing themselves if the majority of the profession is solely focused on designing and building cities as they used to be? Or could it be argued that a multidisciplinary approach within the profession of architecture makes the discipline a more relevant than ever.
Catherine Pease is a London based architect and a founding director of vPPR Architects, an award winning office known for intelligent design in complex locations. The firm’s work ranges from urban master plans to private houses, from cultural projects to commercial ones. The studio operates under the belief in the continual crossover between art and architecture, seeking creative solutions that strengthen communities, no matter how large or small. Read more: vppr.co.uk
Image: vPPR Architects, OTTS Yard, Tufnell Park, London, 2009 – 2013.
Designing Futures explores these themes with professionals acting in different fields of architecture; as researchers, journalists, curators and practicing architects.
Eva Geitel is a Finnish architect dividing her time between being project architect at ALA Architects in Helsinki, Finland and Vice President of Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA). Eva is FCINY’s architect-in-residence October – December 2018. During her residency she concentrates on her research project on architect’s practice. The project Designing Futures explores the various positions architects could act on in the future. The aim of the project is to raise questions on where the profession should see itself in the context of influencing society and shaping different futures for next generations. Read more about her residency and research here.
Image: Eva Geitel, Landscape Pavilion Plan, Nuuksio, Espoo, Finland, 2011-2012.
Registration:
The event is free of charge. Seating is limited, please RSVP through Eventbrite to secure your spot.
For additional information about the event please email info@fciny.org
Partners and sponsors:
Designing Futures is co-hosted by Eva Geitel and the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York.
Supported by the Consulate General of Finland in New York; The Association of Finnish Architects’ Offices; Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Finland and Arts Promotion Finland.
