Most biennial and triennial events in 2020, as well as some in 2021, were rescheduled as a result of the pandemic; however, next year promises a full calendar of exciting opportunities for knowledge sharing and inquiry. The following are some of the most important and interesting architecture events in 2022 to look forward to. Mark your calendar and get ready to keep an eye on these 5 promising events in Architecture in 2022.
The 13th International Architecture Biennale of So Paulo reflects on the relationship between bodies and territories with the underlying theme of Travessias (Crossings), addressing issues like colonialism, people movement, displacement, and collective memory. The Biennale program unfolds along with a series of distinct "axes" such as democracy, memory, bodies, information, and ecology, all of which are inspired by Maria Beatriz Nascimento's concept of crossings. What are some examples of democratic-friendly urban environments? What should be done about intersectionality, and how do technologies like facial recognition, IoT, and collaborative cartography affect the built environment? What does it take to form a shared memory? What is the most effective method of striking a balance between productive activities and environmental concerns? These are just a few of the topics that the Biennale addresses.
This year, Mexico will host the XIIIbero american Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism, with a focus on solutions to social, ecological, and economic challenges that are outside the mainstream of architectural discourse. The Biennial focuses on the Ibero American urban context, as well as private and public space. Annual architecture festivals and design weeks that complement this series of biennials and triennials include the London Festival of Architecture (1st-30th June 2022), Dutch Design Week, Copenhagen Architecture Festival, Sydney Architecture Festival (Nov 2022), and LA Design Festival.
Due to the pandemic, the 6th edition of TAB, which was supposed to take place in 2021, has been postponed until 2022. The theme this time is 'edible'. The Architecture of Metabolism event will look at how nature can inform the circular economy, highlighting frameworks and logic that can be applied to architecture, design, and urbanism. TAB 2022 that is organized by architects Lydia Kallipoliti and Areti Markopoulou along with co-curator Ivan Sergejev, aims to "empower architects, planners, and environmental practitioners to take a proactive stance on architecture's expressive capacity to perform circular operations, produce resources (food and energy), and decompose itself."
The working title for OAT 2022, curated by Christian Pagh, is Mission Neighborhood – (Re)forming Communities, an edition that focuses on public space and the realm of collectivity. By proposing the neighborhood scale as a starting point for rethinking cities and the frameworks of everyday life, the Triennale builds on the surging collective interest in the local, as evidenced by concepts like the 15-minute city, as well as the pandemic-triggered preoccupation with the qualities of the immediate urban infrastructure. The event will serve as an open laboratory to "increase critical and constructive inquiry into the neighborhood's possibilities."
The sixth edition of the Lisbon Architecture Triennale, Terra, mainly focuses and acknowledges issues related to climate change, resource depletion, and environmental inequity in a globalized world. Cristina Verssimo and Diogo Burnay of Portugal curated the event, which looks at material strategies and contemporary design methods, urban fabric improvements, and visionary narratives to explore ideas for a sustainable future shaped by thorough and holistic models. Four exhibitions, four books, three awards, three days of conferences, and a selection of independent projects will be featured in the programme, which will highlight alternative place-making strategies from the architectural object to the city scale.
