Get ready for a feast of architectural inspiration: Future Fest is back for a second season of engaging live talks with some of the world’s best architects!
During Future Fest, we ask top designers and thought leaders, each one a prestigious A+Award Winner or Juror, to present their projects and give their personal perspectives on the future of architecture. This year’s series will take place from September 26 to 28, and every talk is 100% free to attend. We’ve assembled a roster of renowned speakers from around the globe to offer their insights from three critical perspectives: The Future of Sustainable Design, The Future of Practice and the Future of Architecture.
Find out more details on each talk below, and hit the blue buttons to sign up for those that interest you most — We can’t wait to explore the future of architecture with a global audience this fall!
Day 1 | September 26 | The Future of Sustainable Design
Echo, TU Delft by UNStudio, Delft, Netherlands | 2023 A+Awards, Popular Choice Winner, Sustainable Cultural/Instutional Building | Photo by Eva Bloem
Talk 1 | Rethinking Sustainable Design With Michael Green Architecture
Date and Time: September 26, 11am ET
Special Guest: Michael Green, Founder of Michael Green Architecture
For our opening live talk of Future Fest 2023, we are thrilled to welcome back Michael Green to introduce our theme for Day 1: The Future of Sustainable Design. Michael urges us to challenge our preconceived notions of “sustainability”, and lays out his manifesto for a future in which architects are powerful agents of change.
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Talk 2 | Pioneering Healthy Architecture With UNStudio
Date and Time: September 26, 1pm ET
Special Guest: Arjan Dingste, Director / Senior Architect at UNStudio
UNStudio’s Arjan Dingste will pull back the curtain on Echo at TU Delft, one of the world’s most sustainable new education buildings, providing key insights into the project’s development from concept to construction. Arjan will also reflect on lessons learned from Echo, asking: How can we build healthier buildings for the next generation?
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Talk 3 | Architectural “Monsters and Mutants” With Archi-Tectonics
Date and Time: September 26, 3pm ET
Special Guest: Winka Dubbledam, Founding Partner and Principal at Archi-Tectonics
Winka Dubbledam will take us through the making of the innovative Asian Games 2022 Master Plan and Hybrid Stadium in Hangzhou, China, lifting the lid on Archi-Tectonic’s radical new vision for public space. Winka will explore how “mutant structures”, inspired by nature’s intelligence, could hold the key to the creation of more resilient cities.
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Day 2 | September 27 | The Future of Practice
Komera Leadership Center by BE_Design, Rwanda | 2023 A+Awards: Popular Choice Winner, Community Centers; Jury Winner, Architecture + Community; Jury Winner Architecture +For Good; Jury & Popular Choice Winner, Architecture +Low Cost Design
Talk 4 | Global Architecture, Local Knowledge With BE_Design
Date and Time: September 27, 11am ET
Special Guests: Bruce Engel + Team, BE_Design
For the first time in Future Fest history, we welcome an entire firm to the virtual stage for a lively panel talk! BE_Design’s presentation will focus on their work in East Africa, in particular on the recently completed Komera Leadership Center. This project coincided with the formalization of BE_Design and its team members, who are among the first graduates of architecture in Rwanda.
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Talk 5 | Reimagining Practice With Zaha Hadid Architects
Date and Time: September 27, 1pm ET
Special Guest: Melodie Leung, Associate Director at Zaha Hadid Architects
Zaha Hadid Architects has redefined architecture for the 21st century with a repertoire of projects that have captured imaginations across the globe. Melodie Leung, Associate Director, shares how the practice of ZHA is founded on a culture of recognizing, mentoring and cultivating design leadership, continuing to develop its team towards sustainable, cultural and community-centered effectiveness for future generations.
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Talk 6 | How to Tell Stories — So You Can Get Better Clients
Date and Time: September 27, 4pm ET
Special Guests: Ayo Abbas, Built Environment Marketing Expert & Nikita Morell, Founder of Architects WordShop
Buildings don’t speak for themselves — they need you to tell their story. In this presentation, A+Awards jurors Ayo Abbas & Nikita Morell explore how you can use the power of storytelling to get better clients. More specifically, they’ll focus on how to tell the story of your firm, your projects, and your design process.
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Day 3 | September 28 | The Future of Architecture
Ombú by Foster + Partners, Madrid, Spain | 2023 A+Awards, Jury Winner, Sustainable Commercial Building
Talk 7 | Adaptive Reuse Masterclass With Foster + Partners
Date and Time: September 28, 11am ET
Special Guest: Taba Rasti, Senior Partner & Co-Director at Foster + Partners
In this adaptive reuse special, architect Taba Rasti, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners’ Madrid Office, will take us through the making of the stunning, A+Award-winning Ombú. Learn about a project that breathes new life into a historic industrial building in Madrid, creating an exemplar of building reuse and revitalizing the surrounding area.
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Talk 8 | Designing a Bespoke Narrative With Sordo Madaleno
Date and Time: September 28, 1pm ET
Special Guest: Fernanda Patiño, Project Director and Interior Design Leader at Sordo Madaleno
Sordo Madaleno’s Fernanda Patiño will explore interior design as the key to connect intimately with the final habitant of a project. Through multiple projects including the A+Award-winning Ling Ling Mexico City, Fernanda will explore the emotions a journey through an architectural space can provoke, and how a rich narrative can translate into a tailormade experience for any user.
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Talk 9 | Architecture and Beyond: The Unexpected Journey of Olson Kundig
Date and Time: September 28, 3pm ET
Special Guest: Marlene Chen and Edward Lalonde, Principals at Olson Kundig
Join Principals Marlene Chen and Edward Lalonde as they explore the surprising origins and rich architectural legacy of Olson Kundig. Marlene and Edward will highlight the key projects and internal initiatives that have guided Olson Kundig’s trajectory and will continue to inform future generations of the firm’s approach to design and leadership.
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Interested in accessing the recordings to last year’s edition of Future Fest? Follow this link for the full 2022 program.
Top image: BEEAH Headquarters by Zaha Hadid Architects, Sharjah, UAE | 2023 A+Awards Popular Choice Winner, Offices – Low Rise (1-4 floors)
