Name: Designing a better urban future: Integrating people, nature, and cities
Start: 2024-05-14T19:30:00+01:00
End: 2024-05-14T20:45:00+01:00
Location: Frankopan Hall

Designing a better urban future: Integrating people, nature, and cities

Explore the vital role that architects and planners play in providing solutions to today's environmental and social challenges.
About this Event

How do you design a building that not only enhances the quality of life for its inhabitants but also integrates seamlessly as a vital component of the city's urban environment?

This challenge drives the practice of designers VenhoevenCS architecture+urbanism in Amsterdam, who are shaping a sustainable future through architecture and urbanism. Their recent projects include a circular inclusive MicroCity stacked above a major transport hub, a nature-inclusive residential building, and the Aquatics Centre that will host this summer’s Games in Paris.

Join founder Ton Venhoeven and partner architect Cécilia Gross at the Intellectual Forum to discuss their transformative approach, integrating the needs of people, nature and cities to drive progress towards healthy urbanism.

About the speakers

Ton Venhoeven founded VenhoevenCS in 1995. From 2008-2012 he was Chief Government Advisor on Infrastructure to the Dutch government, advising on the sustainability of infrastructural, urban and regional planning. Prior to this he was a Professor of Architectural History and Theory at Eindhoven University of Technology (2005-2009), where his design research focused on the pedestrian city of tomorrow.

Cécilia Gross studied architecture at the l’École des Arts et Industries de Strasbourg and at the Technical University of Delft (2000). A fascination with Dutch architecture and architectural practice led her to move to Amsterdam after graduating in 2001. In 2003 she joined the VenhoevenCS team and in 2017 she became a partner architect and director. Cécilia’s expertise is in realizing highly complex projects that encompass both architectural and urban concerns. Since 2014, Cécilia has been exporting her architectural know-how to her home country of France, culminating in winning the competition to create the new Aquatic Centre and Urban Crossing for the games in Paris.

Image credits

Aquatics Centre Paris: Aerial view from Stade de France. Design: VenhoevenCS & Ateliers 2/3/4/, Image: Proloog.

Zoë Amsterdam 2022-2026. Image courtesy of VenhoevenCS and B1 design.

Het Platform 2020. Image courtesy of VenhoevenCS and Ossip van Duivenbode.