On May 30, we had the architects Paul Toornend and Gianni Cito at our table. About 15 years ago we were in competition with each other during the Prix de Rome. After that we saw each other sporadically. Paul and Gianni a long tome on my list to invite once. I was very curious to hear how it goes with both men.

Paul works for half of his time to projects in the fields of architecture, urban design and exhibition design. The other half of his time he is working on independent projects in the border area of ​​architecture and visual arts. He is also an exhibition curator and teacher and he is a member of several committees.

Gianni is co-founder of Moke Architects. A relatively young firm, but with an impressive broad portfolio. Gianni was until 2011 a partner at DOK architects, a fusion between his first office Blue Architects and Atelier Zienstra van de Pol. Gianni has also been active as a lecturer at various academies in the Netherlands and abroad.

Paul and Gianni represent two extremes in a generation. Paul as an independent designer. Critically and considering (re) discovering the field of architecture and art (re). Gianni as leader of a design team. Always looking for the right set of his office to needs and requirements of users and clients.

Since 2008 CANactions organize an international architecture festival in Kiev. CANactions stands for sharing knowledge and connecting people in order to improve the discourse in Ukraine. The goal is to create better buildings and public space to finally make good cities to help the country in its development. CANactions International Architecture Festival has grown into the largest architectural event in Ukraine.

The event includes a full program of lectures, workshops, exhibitions and film screenings. During the festival also a several competition winners are honored.

For the edition of 2016, May 19 - 21, I have the great honor to be the first curator of the festival. Together with a team of very enthusiastic people of Zotov&Co architects we determined the central theme, put together the program and invited interesting guests.

Resilient Architecture
“The city of the future is an existing city. It is the present place where we live, work, have fun and grief. To solve the problems of today and tomorrow, we should not dream about perspectives of a distant future, but act proactively now.

The precise improvement of the existing city allows residents to find a stable base. Places remain recognizable, but at the same time future-proof. Stories from the past take on a new meaning for the future. The adaptability of urban fabric is extensive and the possibilities for building transformation are numerous. Through re-evaluation, renewal or extension of public space and renovation, reallocation or transformation of existing buildings the city will be improved.

Resilience is the capacity to adapt to changing conditions and regain functionality after disturbance. Through resilience we can maintain livable conditions for individuals, households and communities after natural disasters, power crises or social conflicts. By respecting the past and contrast, vitality can be restored on the scale of a building, street, block, neighborhood and city. Resilience focuses not barely on physical characteristics of an architectural object, but also includes its local context. Resilient architecture regenerates new identity influenced by respect to tradition and curiosity to international development.

Architects that are capable of providing better future for an existing context are ready to face challenges of this time frame. Architecture, in which authorship and spectacular icon are dominated, is over. A new generation of architects does not require a skyscraper or museum to prove themselves, they look for indications in the world around”

See full program here.

Sometimes the organization of the Souper is not alert. Inviting guests is forgotten or too late. Sometimes a guest had to cancel at the last minute. But whatever happens, the last Monday of the month we will at least our diner.

Coincidence or not, at restaurant Huson was the end of April almost all partners KCAP a table next to us. Painful because after 73 times we had not yet Irma van Oort, Han van den Born, Ruurd Gietema and Ute Schneider at our table. At the same time a great chance to use. After we recovered from the coincident and KCAP had discussed her final points a very animated conversation with and about KCAP started. It was probably impossible to plan this. The evening was all the more beautiful.

Daan Bakker (Daf-architecten), Jeroen de Willigen (DeZwarteHond), Jasper de Haan (architect) and I invite each month a number of colleagues to eat, drink and discuss about our profession, the city of Rotterdam and related matters.

Read blog in Dutch at site De Architect, March 31, 2016.