Track Changes Track Changes

The Track Changes debate series, which took place at the São Paulo Architecture Biennale in November 2013, came home to the Netherlands with an evening for the public.

In Brazil, an international company of architects, urban planners, economists, developers, politicians and architectural historians discussed the major shifts societies undergo in periods of economic, political and social crisis and the role architects and planners should play in such contexts. Three themes, "What's your crisis?", "Bottom-up is not enough" and "We the people", guided the discussions.

"Bottom-up is not enough" generated the fiercest debate in São Paulo. While most attendees agreed with the statement, opinions diverged sharply on what should be done about it.

Michelle Provoost of Crimson Architectural Historians introduced this theme at the debate evening at Het Nieuwe Instituut.

René Boer and Mark Minkjan of Failed Architecture then led a discussion on the outcomes of Track Changes and their significance for Dutch architecture and planning. Participating were Hedwig Heinsman (DUS Architects), Rients Dijkstra (Maxwan architects and urbanists; Dutch government advisor on infrastructure and the city) and Indira van 't Klooster (editor, A10 magazine).

An exhibition devoted to Track Changes was on view throughout March in the Project Space at Het Nieuwe Instituut. Verbal and visual reports looked back at the conversations, presentations and meetings organised by Het Nieuwe Instituut and Crimson Architectural Historians in São Paulo.

Track Changes was part of Het Nieuwe Instituut's international programme, whose areas of focus include dialogue, the international mobility of knowledge, and agendas in the design field.