Can design contribute to improving the living standards of populations in conflict zones?  On Thursday 7 July, Het Nieuw Instituut organizes Thursday Night: Reflecting On Venice: Design Positions at the Front. During this event, a conversation with the curators of the Austrian, German and Dutch pavilions of the Venice Architecture Biennale and Luke Korhaar of UNHCR takes place.

Can (or should) a designer engage with complex social and political issues? What stance can architects take within this field? Are they really given room to bring improvements or is it simply a matter of good intentions?

These and many other questions, in relation to exhibitions currently on view at the Venice Biennale under the banner ‘Reporting from the Front’, will be discussed with Sabine Dreher (Austrian pavilion, Places for People), Oliver Elser (German pavilion, Making Heimat), Malkit Shoshan (Dutch pavilion, BLUE. Architecture of UN Peacekeeping Missions) and Luke Korlaar (UNHCR). The discussion will be led by Volume’s director Lilet Breddels.

Reflecting On Venice: Design Positions at the Front
Thursday 7 July 2016, 20:00 – 22:00
Het Nieuwe Instituut (Rotterdam)
More info / Facebook / Tickets

Earlier that day, the Creative Industries Fund NL organizes ‘Reporting from Venice: Exchanging Experiences from the Front‘. During this afternoon event, different speakers and experts will explore the different realities in which engaged architecture is operating now and in the near future. How can a practice be developed at the front, based on a personal, societal or humanitarian agenda? It will reflect on this year’s theme of the architecture biennale in Venice, ‘Reporting from the Front’.

Reporting from Venice: Exchanging Experiences from the Front
Thursday 7 July 2016, 15:00 – 18:00
Hip Hop Huis (Rotterdam)
More info / Registration