Biennale

Open City

Designing Coexistence

from September 25, 2009 to January 10, 2010

    • Nederlands Architectuurinstituut (NAi)
    • Museumpark 25, Rotterdam
    • Tolhuistuin
    • Buiksloterweg 5, Amsterdam

The theme of the 4th edition of the Architecture Biennale Rotterdam was Open City. An open city is a diverse and vibrant city where people can productively interact culturally, socially, and economically. The key question was what concrete contributions architects and urban designers can make to the sustainable, social caliber of the urban environment. 

The main exhibition ‘Open City: Designing Coexistence’ consisted of several chapters displayed throughout the building of the Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAi). The exhibition explored how architects and urban designers can address challenges such as migration, diversity, and social and cultural differences in the context of their design briefs.  

In line with the theme of the 4th IABR, the City of Amsterdam organized an extensive program around the theme Vrijstaat Amsterdam (Free State of Amsterdam). In collaboration with the IABR, broadcaster VPRO presented the cross-media project Century of the City. 

Visit website
Open City poster Design: Stout/Kramer

Curator

    • Kees Christiaanse
    • Curatorial statement
    • Credits
Open City. Photo: Michelle Wilderom
Open City. Photo: IABR archive
Open City. Photo: IABR archive
Open City. Photo: Michelle Wilderom
Open City. Photo: Michelle Wilderom
Open City. Photo: Michelle Wilderom
Open City. Photo: IABR archive
Open City. Photo: IABR archive