Reimagining Future African Cities
Nieuwe Instituut, together with the Prince Claus Fund, the Creative Industries Fund NL and African Architecture Matters, presents a day of presentations and talks dedicated to critically exploring and (re)imagining the future of African cities. Including a special talk with Rem Koolhaas. This programme accompanies the exhibition Water Cities Rotterdam. By Kunle Adeyemi.
14 October 2023 12:00 - 20:00
Water Cities Rotterdam. By Kunlé Adeyemi. Photo: Aad Hoogendoorn.
Part I: Building Beyond Prescribed Futures
14:00 – 16:00 hr
The Building Beyond Programme hosts four different panel conversations with twelve artists and four mentors situated in the African context that will discuss the paradox between various cities’ present conditions and the ‘prescribed’ futurity of ‘the African city’. They will look at how the proposed future of the African city is fueled by unsustainable dynamics and offer alternative tools and methods, such as using vernacular as a technology, mapping resonances, and bringing to light spatial imaginations.
The four mentors who will each lead a panel discussion are: Nzinga B. Mboup (Senegal/Cameroon), Hicham Bouzid (Morocco), Ola Hassanain (Sudan/The Netherlands), and Khensani Jurczok-de Klerk (South Africa/Switzerland).
This programme element is part of the Building Beyond programme of the Prince Claus Fund and the Creative Industries Fund NL, which invites creatives to reimagine the future of their African city by engaging with public space and community.
Part II: Foundations for Future African Cities
16:00 – 17:00 hr
African Architecture Matters (AAmatters) takes a critical look at mapping as methodology for inclusive urban development through a presentation by Iga Perzyna (director of AAmatters) reflecting on their project for Ng’ambo in Zanzibar and recent experiences garnered from Cairo as an introduction for a debate. This programme element focusses on why we map, how to map and methods to include inhabitants in sustainable and inclusive development processes. Followed by a conversation between Iga Perzyna and Ali Khamis from the planning department in Zanzibar, the audience and Marie Morel who will moderate and lead the Q&A.
Part III: Revisiting Lagos with Rem Koolhaas
18:00 – 19:30 hr
More than 25 years after his first encounter with Lagos, architect Rem Koolhaas looks back on his groundbreaking research on the dynamism, frictions and possibilities of the Nigerian megacity. Taking extracts from his numerous visits, his work with students at Harvard for Project on the City, and the documentary Lagos: Wide and Close made with film director Bregtje van der Haak, Koolhaas shares his fascination with, and key learnings from, the city.
During the evening, a younger generation of creatives active from various countries of the African continent, including Kunlé Adeyemi (architect and founder of NLÉ), join Koolhaas to discuss concepts for the future. The conversation will be moderated by Aric Chen (general and artistic director of Nieuwe Instituut).
Language: English | Location: Nieuwe Instituut | Tickets (10,-/5,-/0,-)
TicketsProgramme Overview
- 14:00 – 16:00 hr: Part I: Building Beyond Prescribed Futures
- 16:00 – 17:00 hr: Part II: Foundations for Future African Cities
- 17:00 – 18:00 hr: Network drinks and Detour through Water Cities Rotterdam
- 18:00 – 19:30 hr: Part III: Revisiting Lagos with Rem Koolhaas
- 19:30 hr: Network drinks and Detour through Water Cities Rotterdam
- 22:00 hr: End of evening
You can select and choose which programme elements you wish to join via the ticket link above.
Attendees can join a free Detour through the exhibition Water Cities Rotterdam. By Kunlé Adeyemi. No registration is needed. Please note that there is capacity for 15 participants to join each Detour.
This event is organised together with the Prince Claus Fund, the Creative Industries Fund NL and African Architecture Matters.
International Clinic
Nieuwe Instituut’s International Clinic, organized in collaboration with DutchCulture, the Creative Industries Fund NL and the Dutch diplomatic network, provide a space for Netherlands-based designers and creatives to learn about opportunities for international collaboration and exchange whilst hearing from practitioners in the field.
For more information about our International Clinics, please contact: Marie-Anne Souloumiac.
Water Cities Public Programme
For the exhibition Water Cities Rotterdam. By Kunlé Adeyemi, Nieuwe Instituut organises an extensive public programme with activities linked to themes explored in the exhibition and on the floating pavilions in the ponds around the institute, from Sunday morning yoga to documentaries, and from talk shows to live radio.
Water Cities Rotterdam. By Kunlé Adeyemi
The Water Cities Rotterdam exhibition is your chance to see impressive floating pavilions by architect Kunlé Adeyemi on ...
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