News

Arup continues to support New Now Next architecture and design talks

Get in touch
Clare O'Loughlin Clare O'Loughlin Europe Press Office, Ireland
17 May 2021

Arup is pleased to continue to support the architecture and design series New Now Next. Curated by the Irish Architecture Foundation, the design talks will feature 2021 Pritzker Prize Laureates Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, among other leading practitioners.

Running from May until November, the ninth edition of the free talk series will showcase the role of architecture in our changing world, featuring Kate Orff from landscape architecture and urban design studio SCAPE and Eyal Weizman from Forensic Architecture.

“

Providing opportunities to reflect and learn from dynamic public realm designers, this series of New Now Next will encourage us to look at the world in a different way, offering fresh perspectives on the role of people-centric design in shaping community spaces that benefit us all. ” Rory McGowan Rory McGowan Fellow, Multidisciplinary engineering

The New Now Next series has become an indispensable resource that reveals current issues of our time and is reaching a wider audience after moving online for the first time last year, according to IAF director Nathalie Weadick. “We hope that through these talks, we can inspire new thinking on culture, housing, biodiversity, politics and civil society”, Weadick said. “The talks have become more inclusive and diverse and this year’s line-up promises to be our best yet.”

Model of New York Harbour showing potential for an active oyster reef with multiple types of marine life named in the foreground.
Image from Umm al Hiran investigation.
Man walking onto balcony towards a row of plants against glass panelling, with a view of the neighbouring social housing block through the glass.
1 of 2
Oyster-tecture Reef Park envisions an active oyster reef that diversifies aqueous marine life and recreational potential in the New York Harbour. © SCAPE

Leading landscape designer Kate Orff, from SCAPE, will kick off this year’s series on 27 May. Driven to incorporate resilience against climate change throughout her work, Kate is known for addressing environmental and social issues through complex, creative and collaborative work processes.

The second talk on 9 September will feature UK-based Founding Director of Forensic Architecture Eyal Weizman, who is also a Professor of Spatial and Visual Cultures at London’s Goldsmiths University. This emerging academic field was developed at Goldsmiths and involves the use of architectural evidence – relating to buildings and urban environments – within legal and political processes.

This year’s 2021 Pritzker Prize Laureates Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal will conclude the series on 25 November, where they will discuss their work in a talk moderated by the 2020 Pritzker Prize Laureates, Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell of Grafton Architects. As strong advocates for social justice and sustainability, Lacaton and Vassal are best known for their focus on redesign rather than demolition, opting for minimal disruption to the natural environment. Their design work includes private and social housing, cultural and academic institutions, as well as public space and urban strategies.

These interactive virtual events are open to all, providing opportunities for the audience to engage directly with and ask questions of these world-renowned architects. All talks will have closed captioning, making them as accessible and inclusive as possible.

To register for the free New Now Next lectures, visit the Irish Architecture Foundation website.