Organisation

The International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) is an independent cultural institution for knowledge and design that explores how design can contribute to understanding and addressing the major spatial, societal and ecological challenges of our time. Since its first edition in 2003, IABR has brought together designers, researchers, public authorities, knowledge institutions, civil society organisations and the wider public to develop new perspectives on the living environment of tomorrow. 

Every two years, IABR organises an international architecture biennale in which research, design and societal challenges come together through exhibitions, public programmes, lectures, debates, workshops and other activities. In addition, IABR initiates and facilitates design research, develops knowledge in collaboration with national and international partners, and fosters exchange between design practice, academia, policy and society. In doing so, IABR contributes to new insights, new ways of imagining the future and pathways for action towards a sustainable, just and resilient living environment. 

IABR stimulates societal dialogue and, in doing so, seeks to further strengthen its role as a platform for knowledge and design. The organisation focuses on deepening research, contributing to the capacity for change, expanding national and international collaborations, and creating more space for knowledge exchange, experimentation and talent development. In this way, IABR continues to build a sustainable infrastructure in which design makes a lasting contribution to societal transitions. 

For each biennale, IABR works with one or more curators who translate a current societal theme into a substantive programme of research, exhibitions and public activities. The curators work closely with the organisation and a broad network of designers, researchers and partners. 

IABR endorses the Governance Code for Culture, the Fair Practice Code and the Diversity & Inclusion Code. 

The foundation operates according to a Supervisory Board model. The Supervisory Board oversees the organisation’s policies and general affairs and advises the Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for the governance of the foundation and bears ultimate responsibility for the organisation. 

IABR is recognised in the Netherlands as a Public Benefit Organisation (ANBI). The relevant ANBI documentation and annual reports can be found at the bottom of this page.

Director 

  • Saskia van Stein
    Saskia van Stein (General and artistic director). Image: Sabine van der Vooren.

    Saskia van Stein

Supervisory Board

  • Jantine Kriens
    Jantine Kriens (Chair). Image: Sabine van der Vooren

    Jantine Kriens

  • Youssef Rahman
    Youssef Rahman. Image: Sabine van der Vooren

    Youssef Rahman

  • Floris Alkemade
    Floris Alkemade. Image: Sabine van der Vooren

    Floris Alkemade

  • Mina Morkoç
    Mina Morkoç. Image: Sabine van der Vooren

    Mina Morkoç

  • Yvette Govaart
    Yvette Govaart. Beeld: Sabine van der Vooren

    Yvette Govaart

Confidential advisors and code of conduct

IABR is committed to providing an enjoyable experience for everyone, regardless of sex, gender identity and gender expression, age, sexual orientation, ability or disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, or technological choices. The IABR is committed to providing a safe environment for all visitors, participants, and its own staff, both on-site and online. Therefore, we ask that all participants, speakers, sponsors, and volunteers abide by the following Code of conduct. 

Together, we are responsible for making the IABR a pleasant place for all of us to work and spend time. We invite you to take an active role in making and keeping the IABR as accessible, safe, and comfortable as possible, both in the office, at temporary venues (exhibits and events), and online. Interact with each other in a patient, caring, and respectful manner. Put yourself in the position of others and have an eye for their (lived) experiences and ideas.  

Intervene, speak up or contact a staff member:  
· If comments are made, conversations are held or presentations are made that relate in an irrelevant, unwelcome, or offensive way to background, family status, sex, gender identity or gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, native language, age, ability or disability, race and/or ethnicity, country of birth, socioeconomic status, technological choices, religion, geographic location, or any other dimension of diversity;
· If you witness harassment, stalking, inappropriate physical contact and unwelcome sexual attention, or the taking of photographs or audio or video recordings without consent; 
· If someone uses, or threatens to use, verbal, physical, or other violence against another person;
· If anyone incites violence against any individual or group. 

If you are being harassed, witness someone else being harassed, or feel unsafe in any way, please contact an IABR staff member (recognizable during on-site events by clothing and/or badge with the IABR logo). 

Staff will help participants contact venue security or local police if necessary, provide escorts or otherwise ensure that people can feel safe for the duration of the conference/event. 

We expect all visitors, participants, and staff to abide by these rules at all exhibition, conference, event and/or workshop venues, and during related social events. 

If the Code of conduct is not followed: 
If a participant in or attendee at an activity engages in harassing, manipulative, or otherwise impermissible behavior, staff may take such action as it thinks necessary, including warning the offender or removing them from the IABR space or the digital environment of an activity without refund of any entry fee. Attendees who are asked to stop impermissible behavior must comply at once. 

Do not hesitate to contact another staff member if you become aware that an IABR employee is engaging in impermissible behavior. Appropriate action will be taken. 

In the event that there is a need for a discussion about an incident related to the organization of the IABR or another concern related to the work at the IABR, this can be done with our internal confidential counselor Yvette Govaarts. You can contact her via yvette@bigpicturecompany.nl.

If there is a need to discuss an incident within the IABR organization or any other concern or complaint related to work at the IABR with an objective party, you can contact an external confidential advisor through Bezemer & Schubad: Ernst-Jan Schubad. He can be reached at e.j.schubad@bezemer-schubad.nl.

This present Code of conduct is an evolving document. The IABR is a learning organization and welcomes critical comments, additions and suggestions about this document and our practices. If you feel something is missing or needs clarification or improvement, please contact us at info@iabr.nl and mention ‘Code of Conduct / Gedragscode’.  

In creating this Code of conduct, we were inspired by the Code of Conduct of Het Nieuwe Instituut, which was in turn inspired by the Afrotech Fest Code of Conduct that was developed using resources and guidelines by Geek Feminism, CSSConf and JSConf, the Conference Code of Conduct, and the XOXO Community Code of Conduct. Another source of inspiration for the aforementioned Code of Conduct was the Mozilla Community Participation Guidelines.