Closing Conversations: Flourishing Futures

Join us for the closing event of the 11th International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) Nature of Hope on 13 October at the Nieuwe Instituut as our curatorial team, exhibition participants and guest speakers engage in a forward-facing discussion on the future of architecture and urbanism.    
    
Program  

13:00 - 13:30 Walk-in 

13.30 – 14.15  The growing impact of climate change  
With Lena Knappers & Bram van Ooijen (UFO Urbanism) and Dirk Sijmons (HNS). 
 

IABR Agents of Change Lena Knappers and Bram van Ooijen will present their research project Humanity on the Move, addressing climate-induced displacement. This lecture will explore how climate change drives both internal and cross-border migration, impacting various populations. The lecture is followed by a conversation with Dirk Sijmons (HNS) on the research project 2084 Rotterdam 2,5 degrees, featured in the Nature of Hope exhibition.  
This session is moderated by IABR director Saskia van Stein.  
 
14.15 – 14.55 Land & Policy  
With Alastair Parvin (Open Systems Lab), Ken de Cooman (BC materials) and Betsy Garcia and Christian Ayala (Rural Studio). 
 
This roundtable explores the links between land, policy, and architectural practice, focusing on how financialisation and commodification shape land use. It examines the historical and current role of policies in facilitating land extraction and considers how architects can engage with these challenges.  
This session is moderated by Nature of Hope co-curator Hani Salih. 
 

Break 
 

15.15 – 16.00 Elements of Change, tools, technologies and scale

With Victor Lortie (ARCH+), Bernhard Kurz and Johannes Krohne (IFUB), Esther Turnhout (University of Twente). 
 
Join us for the launch of ARCH+ The Business of Architecture: Nature of Hope, a publication offering fresh perspectives on how architecture can respond to today’s crises and reshape our relationship with the environment, materials, and communities. Featuring contributions from IABR director and Nature of Hope curators, this collection of essays explores regenerative design, socio-ecological strategies, and architecture as activism. 

The session is moderated by Nature of Hope co-curator Janna Bystrykh. 

The Nature of Hope closing event is a perfect opportunity to visit the exhibition for the last time and to engage with cutting-edge ideas and envision a flourishing future for our built environment.

Check the recording:
Part I: Videorecording
Part II: Videorecording

Please note that a ticket for the event does not give access to the exhibition. Tickets for the Nature of Hope exhibition can be purchased via this link.

The spoken language is English.

The event is free, but registration is required.

Education symposium. Photo: Jacqueline Fuijkschot