Andreja Kutnar, wood scientist and professor at the University of Primorska, shares her journey from growing up in a carpentry workshop to leading cutting-edge research on renewable materials. She explores the science behind wood as a construction material, its advantages over steel and concrete, and why understanding its properties is essential for architects and engineers.
Sustainability Building materials and techniques Interdisciplinary approach Nature-based solutions Architectural education and practice Environmental conservationAre wooden buildings a fire risk? Andreja Kutnar challenges common myths about timber construction, explaining why fire resistance is actually one of wood’s strengths. She also discusses the real concern—water damage—and how digital monitoring, careful construction, and skilled labour are crucial to ensuring long-lasting, safe wooden structures.
Sustainability Building materials and techniques Education innovation Technology integration Interdisciplinary approach Architectural education and practiceOpen Source, AI, and Community Design What if anyone could help design their own neighbourhood? Davor Meersman lays out his vision for a future where open-source architecture, AI-assisted design, and participatory urban planning empower communities to shape their own environments. He discusses how new digital tools can make urban development more democratic and responsive to real human needs.
Architectural education and practice Urban design and development Technology integration Digitalization and innovation Co-creation and participatory design InclusionFrank van der Hoeven, research director at TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment and coordinator of the DigiNEB project, discusses how digital tools are shaping the future of architecture and urban planning. He reflects on the origins of the New European Bauhaus initiative, its role in uniting sustainability, cultural identity, and social equity, and the challenges of integrating digital technologies into the traditionally hands-on field of design.
New European Bauhaus Sustainability Cultural heritage and diversity Social renewal and societal change Architectural education and practice Digitalization and innovationHow can architectural research be made more accessible? Frank van der Hoeven traces his journey from urban design to European research coordination, explaining how open science can connect architects, researchers, and the public. He discusses why architecture shouldn't hide behind paywalls, the importance of publishing in language people actually read, and how transparency in design benefits society.
Architectural education and practice Education innovation European collaboration and policy Knowledge sharing and dissemination Interdisciplinary approach Community engagementShould everyday citizens have a say in urban planning? Frank van der Hoeven challenges the idea that only architects and planners are the experts, arguing that those who live in a place are, in many ways, more knowledgeable than those designing it. He also explores how AI is changing architectural design, the rise of co-creation, and his own experience working on the iconic Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam.
Community engagement AI and digital tools Co-creation and participatory design Architectural education and practice Digitalization and innovation Human-centered designHow do we design for an unpredictable future? Matti Kuittinen shares insights from his work in disaster-prone regions, including Haiti and Japan, to explore how architecture can build resilience. He examines the role of city planning in mitigating climate-related risks and the political challenges of long-term thinking in an era of short-term governance.
Architectural education and practice Climate change and adaptation European collaboration and policy Resource management and efficiency AI and digital tools Lifecycle thinking and long-term planningMia Roth-Čerina, architect and professor at the University of Zagreb, discusses the evolving role of architectural education in addressing climate change, circularity, and inclusivity. She explores how the New European Bauhaus provides a framework for redefining design practice, particularly in South European contexts, and how architectural pedagogy must adapt to a rapidly changing world.
Architectural education and practice Sustainability Inclusion Local and regional solutions Nature-based solutions Cultural heritage and diversityWhat do architecture graduates actually do? Mia Roth-Čerina shares insights from her research into the shifting roles of architects in contemporary society. She examines how architectural education must move beyond rigid structures to foster adaptability, collaboration, and problem-solving, and considers what a truly forward-thinking curriculum might look like.
Architectural education and practice Education innovation Interdisciplinary approach Sustainability Technology integration Social renewal and societal changeRoberto Cavallo, associate professor at TU Delft, reflects on his journey from Italy to the Netherlands and the cultural differences in architecture and education across Europe. He explores how national identity shapes architectural practice, the evolution of European design thinking, and the growing interconnectedness of the profession.
Architectural education and practice European collaboration and policy Social renewal and societal change Interdisciplinary approach Digitalization and innovation Education innovationSelma Harrington, an architect and educator, discusses her career spanning architecture, design, and advocacy for sustainable built environments. She reflects on modernist heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the impact of post-war neglect on architecture, and her research into the transformation of the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A fascinating look into the intersections of architecture, history, and European identity.
Architectural education and practice Sustainability Heritage preservation Art and culture Aesthetics Interdisciplinary approach Cultural heritage and diversityFrom parametric modelling to virtual collaboration, digital tools are transforming architecture—but at what cost? Selma Harrington delves into the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation in architectural practice. She examines the economic pressures on small firms, the benefits of digital modelling, and the evolving role of technology in shaping how architects work and collaborate.
AI and digital tools Architectural education and practice European collaboration and policy Technology integration Digitalization and innovation Interdisciplinary approachShould non-experts have a say in urban planning? Selma Harrington unpacks the role of public engagement in shaping the built environment, discussing digital tools like urban modelling and digital twins. She shares case studies of how visualisation has changed urban development and highlights the power of collaborative design in avoiding disastrous planning mistakes.
Community engagement Urban design and development Co-creation and participatory design Interdisciplinary approach Architectural education and practice AI and digital toolsHow is AI reshaping architecture and design education? Selma Harrington reflects on digital learning, the balance between technology and creativity, and the continued relevance of hand-drawn sketches. She also explores the cultural and political significance of water in urban design, from Ottoman-era fountains to contemporary concerns about privatisation and sustainability.
Education innovation AI and digital tools Architectural education and practice Technology integration Interdisciplinary approach Water management and design