RIBA + VitrA Talks
The RIBA + VitrA Talks series continues to spotlight the transformative power of architecture. Since 2018, VitrA and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have partnered to deliver this acclaimed programme, bringing together influential voices from around the world to explore the social, cultural, and environmental issues shaping our built environment.
Each year, the series centres on a theme that reflects the challenges and opportunities of our time. For 2025, the focus is Building Empathy: Design for Our Time — a call to reimagine architecture as a tool for fostering inclusivity, dignity, and social equity. Through thought-provoking talks, world-renowned architects and emerging talents share insights into designing with compassion — from community-led housing and equitable public spaces to architecture that prioritises care, connection, and belonging.
What's next for women in architecture? Sadie Morgan and Melkan Gürsel on leadership and gender equity
Join internationally acclaimed architects Sadie Morgan OBE (dRMM) and Melkan Gürsel (Tabanlıoğlu Architects) as they explore leadership and gender representation in the profession. In conversation with architect Yẹmí Àlàderun , they reflect on their careers leading internationally recognised practices while discussing the progress and challenges of gender equality. Recorded during Women’s History Month following the release of RIBA's landmark Build it Together report, this talk invites us to consider how the built environment can better reflect the diverse communities it serves.
Watch NowLatest RIBA x VitrA Design Conversation at RIBA North, Liverpool
The RIBA x VitrA Design Conversations series continued at RIBA North, Liverpool, with the theme Building Empathy: Collecting Narratives for the Future . We were proud to sponsor a panel featuring leading voices in architecture: Kossy Nnachetta (Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios) Naila Yousuf (Wright + Wright) Eimear Hanratty (O’Donnell + Tuomey) Neil Michels (Carmody Groarke) Chaired by Sandra Penketh, Executive Director of Art Galleries and Collections Care at National Museums Liverpool. Case studies included the Museum of the Home in Hackney, Sadler’s Wells East, V&A East, the redevelopment of the Liverpool International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum, and Design Museum Gent — each highlighting the role of empathy in architecture and design.
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Watch our recent RIBA webinar
Experts from VitrA, WGP Architects, and Hugh Broughton Architects discuss how thoughtful design and innovative hygiene technologies can enhance wellbeing and futureproof built environments.
Watch NowRIBA + VitrA Talks - Recordings From the Past Seven Years
Explore the video library of previous talks.
Building Empathy: Unity of Place
Chaired by Louise Duggan, Takeshi Hayatsu, Lee Ivett, and Anna Mansfield explore how empathy, craftsmanship, and community participation can shape lasting and inspiring spaces.
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Living buildings, thoughtful landscapes
Craig Dykers explores how Snøhetta's creative process creates connections between architecture and landscape, focusing on new projects such as the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
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Rethink Conventions with Lina Ghotmeh
Internationally and critically acclaimed architect Lina Ghotmeh explores how her portfolio of work challenges conventions, pushing the boundaries of innovative and sustainable design.
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Rethink Regenerate
Our panel met in Bristol to discuss the value of using heritage assets to regenerate community spaces, the impact this has on local identity, and how we can best manage the places that matter most to residents and communities.
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Rethink Housing panel discussion
Panellists Cany Ash, Alexander Turner, Paul Karakusevic and Joseph Zeal-Henry address how architects can collectively rethink their approach to housing.
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Rethink Sustainability with Mario Cucinella
Mario Cucinella of Mario Cucinella Architects shares their approach to building sustainably through the different contexts of building and regeneration in Italy, from rural revival to the transformation of cities.
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Rethink Boundaries with Kim Herforth Nielsen
Kim Herforth Nielsen of Danish architectural practice 3XN discusses their revolutionary Quay Quarter Tower.
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Ellen van Loon - architecture for expression
Ellen van Loon of OMA highlights the inception and design features of Aviva Studios, the new permanent home of Factory International and the landmark new cultural space in the heart of Manchester.
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Collective Collaborations
Jayden Ali, Dr Julia King, and Akil Scafe-Smith of RESOLVE Collective discuss their collaborative approach within architecture and the invaluable engagement with communities that use the spaces.
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Asif Khan
Continuing the Forms of Exchange series, the start of the autumn programme began with Asif Khan – an architect whose work transcends conventional practice.
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Caples Jefferson
Architecture practice Caples Jefferson discuss the thinking behind their human-centred design projects, including Heritage Health & Housing social services agency and Queens Theatre-in-the-Park.
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London Festival of Architecture lecture: Winy Maas, MVRDV
Winy Maas explores how architecture transcends physical forms and becomes a tool for creating new connections and interactions between people.
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A new powerhouse for London
Lead architect Sébastien Ricard of WilkinsonEyre outlines one of the most important regeneration projects of the 21st century.
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New forms of architecture - shaping integrity
Focusing on accessibility, the considered use of materials, and collaborative design processes, architects reflect on their approaches to creating well-crafted public buildings.
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A Life in Architecture - Nigel Coates
Our panel met in Bristol to discuss the value of using heritage assets to regenerate community spaces and the impact that has on local identity and exploring how we can best manage the places that matter most to residents and communities.
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Istanbul RIBA + VitrA Talk
Shih-Fu Peng, co-founder of the award-winning Dublin-based practice Heneghan Peng, presents a number of key projects and is joined by fellow co-founder Róisín Heneghan for a Q&A session.
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Neri&Hu
Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, founding partners of the award-winning Shanghai-based design studio, discuss their distinctive approach to architecture, one that pushes beyond traditional boundaries to incorporate interior, product, and graphic design.
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3XN
Danish practice 3XN presents some of its most innovative and human-focused architecture, as part of ongoing research into how human behaviour both reflects and influences buildings and the wider environment.
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Jeanne Gang
2019 TIME100 Honoree and founding principal of Studio Gang, Jeanne Gang discusses key architectural highlights from the globally acclaimed practice..
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Atelier Deshaus
Liu Yichun, principal of Atelier Deshaus, presents highlights from the practice’s past 20 years designing iconic educational, cultural, and residential buildings, in a session recorded live from Shanghai.
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Istanbul RIBA + VitrA Talk - UNStudio
Founder of UNStudio, Ben van Berkel, discusses some of the practice’s recently completed projects, upcoming work, and ongoing research, in a talk held at the UNIQ Hall in Istanbul.
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Yasmeen Lari at V&A Dundee
Yasmeen Lari, the first woman to qualify as an architect in Pakistan, discusses her humanitarian work building zero-carbon structures with communities in need.
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Dorte Mandrup
The founder of the award-winning Copenhagen-based practice speaks about her ‘hands-on’ approach to design and her commitment to improving the culture of architectural practice.
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Eduardo Souto de Moura
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Eduardo Souto de Moura discusses recent projects from his studio and the possibilities for architecture to coexist with nature.
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Snøhetta
Craig Dykers and Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, founding partners of the global practice Snøhetta, present some of the studio’s recent work and outline their transdisciplinary approach to architecture and language.
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Grafton Architects - Intergenerational dialogues
Grafton Architects are joined by Aleph Zero to discuss their award-winning educational projects in South America, where the design of both projects is shaped by the unique environmental context.
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Istanbul RIBA + VitrA Talk- Daniel Libeskind
Internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind presents recent projects at the İş Sanat Culture Centre in Istanbul.
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Daniel Libeskind
Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind joins Priya Khanchandani, Editor of Icon magazine, for a conversation on design and architecture.
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Emre Arolat
The principal of the award-winning practice Emre Arolat Architecture discusses recent work, including the Sancaklar Mosque in Istanbul, which received a RIBA Award for International Excellence in 2018.
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Frida Escobedo
Frida Escobedo discusses recent projects, including the 2018 Serpentine Pavilion. At the time, she was the youngest architect ever commissioned for the prestigious project.
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Dialogues with Kate Macintosh and Mary Duggan
Pioneering architect Kate Macintosh joins emerging architect Mary Duggan in conversation to discuss the evolving relationships within the architectural field, from past to present.
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RIBA + VitrA Talk- Assemble
Turner Prize-winning collective Assemble discuss recent projects, including their major commission—the Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art, which opened in September 2018.
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Sir David Adjaye with Lesley Lokko
Sir David Adjaye discusses his exceptional career with Lesley Lokko, author and Head of the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg.
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