Expanding Architecture: operating a social agenda, is a series of three dialogues to investigate ways in which architects operate within regulatory and professional frameworks in order to develop an ethical and social practice. The series will construct conversations between academics, practitioners and policy-makers who challenge dominant modes of practice in both domestic and international contexts.
How can architects be more inclusive and relevant to the public? Where can they make the biggest impact, locally or globally? How does education need to adapt and evolve to catch up with the changing nature of the profession? How might we challenge the nature of profession and position of the architect? How do we engage critically with administrative codes and processes?
Posing these questions in a productive dialogue between leading domestic and international voices, we will have the opportunity to compare situations across geographic contexts and explore operative strategies both specific and universal.
Challenging the Profession: Revolution / Reform / Relevance
Wednesday 11 April
A debate to ask whether architecture needs just reform, or a revolution to become politically and socially relevant. Speakers are:
• Alison Coutinho and Dan Slavinsky (What Now?)
• Alastair Parvin (00:/)
• Harriet Harriss (Oxford Brookes University)
• Colin Rose (Cardiff University)
BOOK HERE for this talk: http://www.eventelephant.com/Challengingtheprofession
Local Vs Global
Monday 23 April
A debate to explore the challenges and relative merits of engaging on local and global levels. Can we really think locally in the globalised society we currently live in? What is the role of architecture in promoting localism within a global system? Can localism be destructive on a global scale? Speakers are:
• Wayne Head (BDP) and Yogi Ashokananda
• Irena Bauman (Bauman Lyons Architects)
• Isobel Byrne Hill (Arup International Development)
BOOK HERE for this talk: http://www.eventelephant.com/localvsglobal
Working with Communities: Agency/Tactics/Inclusion
Wednesday 2 May
How can we transform the commodity of architecture from a private skill to ‘a social resource’? The Locaism Act and the reduction of building work available is forcing architects to consider the skills they have and the role they play. This dialogue poses the question - working with communities: do architects have what it takes? Speakers are:
• Jeni Burnell (Multistory)
• Isis Nunez Ferrera (ASF-UK)
• Carolyn Butterworth (Live Project Coordinator, University of Sheffield School of Architecture)
BOOK HERE for this talk: http://www.eventelephant.com/workingwithcommunitiesagencytacticsinclusion
Time: All talks starts 6.30pm to 8pm
Venue for all talks: The Gallery, 77 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ
Tickets for each talk: £5 / £3 for students & concessions, inc. a glass of wine
Further information on the speakers and event: www.architecturecentre.net or http://www.asf-uk.org/
