On Wednesday, September 11, and Thursday, September 12, 2024, ARCHITECT@WORK took place for the tenth time at Rotterdam Ahoy. With 3,630 visitors, the event was as dynamic as ever. Here's an impression.
'It's very valuable to directly discuss the possibilities of a new material with architects and interior architects,' says Erik Egging of Kerrock by Vink, which presented a solid surface material at ARCHITECT@WORK containing 10% recycled material. Depending on the chosen variant, the recycled material is either invisible or appears as flakes within the material.
'Thanks to the setup of the compact booths at ARCHITECT@WORK, it's easy to start conversations,' adds Mathias Verlinden from Ibiza Minerals. They presented a coloured micro-concrete that can be used to create custom swimming pools seamlessly blending into stairs and terraces. The material can be shaped by hand into the desired form. 'ARCHITECT@WORK gave us the opportunity to present this product to Dutch architects. We received many enthusiastic responses; architects recognise its potential.'
'The atmosphere at ARCHITECT@WORK is also just great,' Verlinden continues. 'The tasteful design, the good and free catering, the many seating areas...' He knows of no comparable event and has just signed on to present the product with Ibiza Minerals at both ARCHITECT@WORK Berlin and Architect@Work Zurich.
Lighting manufacturer Viabizzuno showcased its modular lighting system at ARCHITECT@WORK. 'When I demonstrate how you can use this to create custom lighting for a project, I see the eyes of architects and interior architects light up,' says Amedeo Musazzi of Viabizzuno. 'Lighting like this really has to be experienced in person.'
Towards a new building culture
In the lectures at ARCHITECT@WORK, presented by Architectenweb, a vision was outlined of the new building culture we are moving towards. A culture where building with wood and other fibres is strategically combined with building with earth (Studio Nauta), where as many building components and materials as possible are reused (Nudus), where simple building materials are manipulated to create detailed and tectonic architecture (Bovenbouw), where nature finds a place around, on, and within buildings (Copijn Landscape Architects), and where urban fabrics are shaped to bring people together, including in high-rise structures (VMX Architects).
Instead of the built environment coming at the expense of the planet, we must shift towards a modus operandi that works in symbiosis with the planet, argued architect Ron Bakker of PLP Architecture. He noted a growing activism in himself on this point, but also acknowledged that transitions take time. Over the past ten years, his design practice has primarily focused on making buildings energy neutral. The next ten years will be needed to drastically reduce the footprint of building materials. From 2035 onwards, he expects to see a growing stream of zero-carbon buildings being realized.
Returning to the Amsterdam Metropolitan Region in 2025
ARCHITECT@WORK alternates between Rotterdam and the Amsterdam Metropolitan Region. After this edition in Rotterdam Ahoy, ARCHITECT@WORK will once again take place in Amsterdam in the fall of next year.
More information:
ARCHITECT@WORK
www.architectatwork.com