Archinect Sessions Offer Architectural Debates

Lively architectural exchanges occur every day in schools, coffee shops, and on online blogs. Archinect Sessions looks to formalize these discussions through a series of debates that will take place in front of live and online audiences. Achinect Sessions chooses the debate format because of the need for a return of criticality in the discussion of architecture. This format strips away the visual crutches of the traditional “show and tell” lecture circuit, and instead requires participants to advocate for a particular point of view rooted in genuine political conviction.

The Archinect Sessions will bring to the surface new developments, strategies, and positions affecting a broad range of issues including urban form, architectural education, practice, and modes of production.The Archinect Sessions will occur once per month and will focus on a different theme or problematic. A moderator will lead the discussion directing questions at two or more guests. The format will consist of three rounds of discussions (lasting 15 minutes each.) At the end of the three rounds, the audience (both physical and virtual) will get their turn to ask questions of the guests. Online audience members can post their questions online on Archinect (a selection of these will be read by the moderator.)

The first debate, The Future of Urbanism, is scheduled for 4pm on September 11th 2010, will feature moderator Orhan Ayyuce, an architect, educator, and writer, and guests Bryan Finoki (Subtopia) and Geoff Manaugh (BLDGBLOG).

Discussion will center on the future of urbanism in series of visual, psychological, political, and fictional snapshots.

The Archinect Sessions will be hosted at Neutra VDL House in Silver Lake (2300 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039) and will be streamed live on Archinect.