The series of lectures 2023 Contemporary Architecture: From Material to Abstraction
Curator: Arian Khalighi
The most prominent feature of contemporary architecture may be the plurality of its currents. This unprecedented diversity has led to a phenomenon often referred to as “disciplinary confusion.” In an environment where no single dominant trend prevails, many seek to escape this confusion and better understand the contemporary scene by categorizing existing trends with various labels. However, these categorizations can sometimes lead to reductionism, where the complexities and interwoven forces in architecture are overlooked.
The way out of this confusion might be to study the current state based on timeless architectural elements such as form and materials on one hand, and contextually relevant elements like cultural, social, economic, and environmental conditions on the other.
The series “Contemporary Architecture Lectures: From Material to Abstraction” aims to introduce contemporary architectural offices from different parts of the world that have been influential in shaping the contemporary architectural landscape. These offices are significant not merely for the scale or number of their works but for their impact on current architectural trends.
These lectures are held online approximately once a month, with each session featuring an architect presenting the work of their office. The goal of this program is to gain a deeper understanding of today’s influential voices and to better comprehend the contemporary architectural scene.
Anne Holtrop, born in 1977, graduated cum laude in Architecture from the Academie van Bouwkunst in Amsterdam in 2005. She established her own studio in 2009, with offices in Muharraq (Bahrain) and Amsterdam (Netherlands). Her work ranges from models to temporary spaces and buildings. In 2015, her notable projects, the Fort Wachten Museum and the National Pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain, were completed. She is the director of the “Studio Master of Temporary Spaces” course at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam and was the editor of the architectural magazine OASE from 2005 to 2013. In 2007, she received the Charlotte Köhler Prize for Architecture from the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. She has been a visiting professor at the Mendrisio Academy of Architecture and has been a professor at ETH Zurich since 2018.
Speaker: Anne Holtrop
Host: Aryan Khalighi
Date: June 11, 2023
Time: 19:00
Director: Aryan Khalighi
Jing Liu and Florian Idenburg are co-founders of the architectural firm SO-IL. Liu has extensive experience in architecture, focusing on the social and political aspects of urban projects. She emphasizes the combination of digital technology with traditional craftsmanship in her designs to re-engage people with their physical environments. Florian Idenburg, with over two decades of experience, is known for his cultural insights and collaborative approach. He specializes in organizational spaces and excels at developing innovative ideas and translating them into practical, user-friendly designs. Additionally, he is a professor and speaker at various global institutions. Together, Liu and Idenburg play key roles in shaping the vision of SO-IL.
Speakers: Jing Liu and Florian Idenburg
Host: Aryan Khalighi
Date: November 12, 2023
Time: 19:00
Director: Aryan Khalighi