Leading bathroom brand VitrA announces new speakers for the international RIBA + VitrA talks series with lectures taking place digitally through live streamacross the globe. Continuing the ongoing partnership with the Royal Institute ofBritish Architects (RIBA), the line-up includes recognised architects Jeanne Gang,Founding Principle and Partner of Studio Gang; Head of Operations SusanCarruth and Architect and Senior Partner Audun Opdal of Danish practice 3XN;and Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, Founding Partners of the award-winninginterdisciplinary practice Neri&Hu.
Monday 14 September – 7pm BST |Jeanne Gang, Founding Principle and Partner of Studio Gang
The first lecture of the Autumn digital programme will take place on Monday 14September (7pm BST) with architect and 2019 TIME100 Honoree Jeanne Gang ofthe international architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang. With anemphasis on research, experimentation and collaboration, Studio Gang’s projectsrange from cultural centres, to high-rise towers and installations, as described inthe new comprehensive monograph Studio Gang: Architecture.Some of the practice’s key milestones include the Aqua Tower in Chicago, WritersTheatre in Glencoe, Illinois, the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership inKalamazoo, Michigan, the American Museum of Natural History and O'HareInternational Airport.
Thursday 17 September – 7pm BST |Head of Operations Susan Carruth and Architect and Senior Partner AudunOpdal of 3XN
Following a successful talk by fellow Danish architect Dorte Mandrup in January, the RIBA + VitrA talks continue to explore the depth of Scandinavian architecture with a lecture by the international, Copenhagen-based practice 3XN.
Founded in 1986, 3XN are recognised for projects grounded in the application ofongoing research into how human behaviour both reflects and influences buildings and the wider environment. In 2007 3XN founded a sister company GXN dedicated to innovative research into circular design, behaviour design anddigital design. Featuring behavioural specialist and Head of Operations Susan Carruth and Architect and Senior Partner Audun Opdal, the talk will revolve around how GXN’s research is directly fed into the work of 3XN to create some ofthe most innovative buildings in the world.
Recent projects include Olympic House (2019) - the International OlympicCommittee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne. Olympic House has received three of the most rigorous sustainable building certifications, making it one of the most sustainable office buildings in the world.
Monday 20 October – 1pm BST |Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu of Neri&Hu
On Monday 20 October (1pm BST) the RIBA + VitrA talk series will continue with alecture by Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu of Neri&Hu. The conversation will lookback at the practice’s distinct approach to architecture that pushes beyond traditional boundaries to incorporate interior, product and graphic design.
Founded in 2004, key practice projects include the renovation and extension of a 1930s army headquarters into a new boutique hotel in the South Bund districtcalled The Waterhouse (2010), the Suzhou Chapel (2016) and the Aranya ArtCentre (2019). Alongside leading their practice, Neri and Hu have also taught atthe Harvard Graduate School of Design and Yale School of Architecture.
The RIBA + VitrA Talks create a platform for the global exchange of architecturalideas by bringing together internationally renowned voices. This reflects VitrA’s long-term commitment to adding cultural value to society through the exchange of architectural dialogue.
Levent Giray, Managing Director of VitrA UK, comments: “We are delighted that the RIBA + VitrA Talks programme can continue digitally after the Summer with three new talks. With our shift towards digital lectures, we are confident that we will continue to create an inspirational forum for international architectural discussionin today’s extraordinary circumstances.”
The 2019-2020 programme of RIBA + VitrA Talks started last year with a sold-outlecture from Craig Edward Dykers and Kjetil Trædal Thorsen from Snøhetta Architects, followed by two London talks by Portuguese architect Eduardo Soutode Moura in December and Danish architect Dorte Mandrup in January. In February, Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari spoke at the V&A Dundee, whilst Benvan Berkel of UNStudio hosted a talk in Istanbul in March and Liu Yichun of AtelierDeshaus started the new digital talks in June.
Tickets to watch the talks can be booked here and cost £4 for RIBA membersand £6 for non-RIBA members. All ticket holders will receive an email withinstructions on how to join the event.
For more information on the #RIBAVitrA Talks, please visit:architecture.com/ribavitra