Re:Forum TRIESTE 2020 | Architecture and Urban Design Post-Corona

Even before Corona, the world was not „alright“, but faced with an increasing number of dangerous crises. Climate, finance, ecosystems, democracies - hardly any area of life in which we have not seen the signs of decadent development towards an unsustainable future. As residents of highly developed industrialised countries, we are not infested by these crises - rather they are intrinsic to our societies: our lifestyle is the real crisis.

Many committed, critical people have thought, written, discussed, acted,... but the proposed solutions and changes remain no more than a placebo. COVID 19 has changed the situation unexpectedly: after a few weeks, nothing is as it was, and it will not be „as before“ - including architecture and urban planning. “Social distancing” made us aware of how great the desire for presence and concreteness is - and thus the longing for architecture. But the production of space and the work on the city are now part of the problem to the same extent as they are part of the solution. The crisis offers us the opportunity to question the philosophical, ethical and theoretical foundations of our work and to develop relevant solutions. It is obvious that this redefinition is a defensive act. Our societies have surrendered their leadership to the economy. Economic guidelines such as maximum profitability, thoughtless waste as well as the questionable developments of over-regulation and building legislation determine politics and ”Baukultur”. How can architects under these conditions assume their responsibility for architecture and the city - as a system, as an object and as a symbol - and contribute through their competence?

After the cancellation of the BIENNALE, at Re:Forum TRIESTE 2020 architects present themselves through one project to the constructive criticism of colleagues and experts. Shared conclusions are worked out in disciplined discourses. The symposion is based on past initiatives, from CIAM to Team X. Similar to these, architects and urban planners should gather in a real place to jointly develop spatial strategies for a „good life in a just society“. Every lecture is based on a concrete project that is as current as possible and will be critically examined against the background of the recent developments.