Constructing (Engaged) Practice

Constructing (Engaged) Practice is a full-day conference organized by Juan Herreros of estudio Herreros and Columbia GSAPP that traces the narratives of 12 emerging architecture firms from around the globe critically engaged in political, technological, intellectual, and environmental conflicts. Building off of the 2017 Constructing Practice conference, this event examines the need for young architects to adopt critical positions on today’s political and environmental challenges and to develop an expanded definition of the field. Each of the four panels includes 20-minute presentations by emerging architects followed by a moderated discussion in which participants share their experiences in designing, establishing, and maintaining a practice in today’s contradictory climate. 

9:30am: Introduction
Juan Herreros

9:45am: Sustainability: From Environmental Awareness to Design Panel
This panel focuses on how emerging practitioners are revisiting methods of creating environmental awareness in architecture and developing a new critical design discourse that addresses today’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Participants:
Johan Arrhov and Henrik Frick, Arrhov Frick (Stockholm)
Marieke Kums, Studio MAKS (Rotterdam)
Nguyen Hai Long and Tran Thi Ngu Ngon, Tropical Space (Ho Chi Minh)
Discussion moderated by David Benjamin, The Living and Columbia GSAPP.

11am: Technology: From Fascination to Construction Panel
This panel focuses on how emerging practices are researching and implementing new building technologies with a critical sensitivity to their social and cultural implications.
Participants:
Jan Theissen and Sonja Nagel, AMUNT (Stuttgart)
Maki Onishi and Yuki Hyakuda, o+h (Tokyo)
Valle Medina and Benjamin Reynolds, Pa.LaC.E (Basel)
Discussion moderated by Laurie Hawkinson, Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects and Columbia GSAPP.

12:30pm: Lunch Break

1:30pm: Politics: From Observation to Engagement Panel
This panel focuses on young architects’ desire to become critically engaged, both socially and politically, and to transform the model of architectural practice so that it can better serve society.
Mariam Kamara, atelier masōmī (Niamey)
Elizabeth Añaños, Cotidiano (Peru)
Kim Bridgland and Aaron Roberts, Edition Office (Melbourne)
Discussion moderated by Anna Puigjaner, MAIO and Columbia GSAPP.

3pm: Theory: From Discourse to Practice Panel
This panel examines how emerging practices are introducing innovative methods of critical practice informed by architecture history and theory.
Ana Luisa Soares and Filipe Magalhães, Fala Atelier (Porto)
Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo, LANZA Atelier (Mexico City)
Martin Jančok and Michal Janák, PLURAL (Bratislava)
Discussion moderated by Andrés Jaque, Office for Political Innovation and Columbia GSAPP.

4:30pm: Reception

Free and open to the public. Registration is recommended for all attendees and required for those seeking AIA Credit or equivalent 8 CES credits. A live stream of the event will be available on the Columbia GSAPP website.