UNS Talks

In this special episode, host Josine Hendriksen sits down with Ben van Berkel to reflect on an extraordinary year for UNStudio. From groundbreaking projects to exciting product launches, 2024 has been a year of milestones. Together, Josine and Ben discuss the highlights, including the competition win for the Kyklos building in Luxembourg, the unveiling of the Remode chair with Ahrend, and the completion of the Van B Residences in Munich. Each project showcases UNStudio's commitment to sustainability, innovation, and designing for the future. The conversation also touches on broader themes, such as the opening of UNStudio's new office in Austin, Texas, and the studio's growing presence in China, marked by the release of the Chinese edition ofKnowledge Matters*. Ben shares insights into the challenges and opportunities the architecture sector faced in 2024, from modular design to the integration of advanced technologies. Join us for this engaging discussion as we celebrate the achievements of 2024 and look ahead to the future of design and architecture.

In this episode of UNS Talks, we dive into the transformative power of reimagining city spaces through greenery. Join us as Ruth van Dijken, Director of The Green Mile project and Co-founder of Blending Bricks, and Misja van Veen, Senior Project Director and Urban Designer at UNStudio, share insights on The Green Mile, an ambitious initiative to revitalize Amsterdam's iconic Stadhouderskade with nature. Through real-time data, public engagement, and collaborative efforts, learn how they're making environmental issues visible and inspiring sustainable change.

As part of our campaign exploring some of the key factors that are enabling the hospitality industry to improve the guest experience, we sat down with our colleagues from Amsterdam, Austin, Dubai, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Melbourne, and Shanghai to provide a broader perspective of what is changing globally in the world of hospitality – and what we expect in the future. Guests: Astrid Piber – Partner / Senior Architect Susan Kaiser – Architect Sander Versluis – Project Director – Australia Garett Hwang – Director Frans van Vuure – Director / Senior Architect Arjan Pit – Managing Director MEA

In this episode of UNS talks, we explore the innovative approaches UNStudio is bringing to architectural design in the hospitality sector. We have expanded the conversation to include experts from various fields who are transforming how we experience both familiar and unfamiliar cities. Discover how travel and exploration, while exciting, also bring to light critical societal challenges such as urban housing shortages and increased environmental impact. Let's delve into these pressing issues and explore sustainable solutions together. Guests: Annemarie Van Doorn – Founder of the Social Value Foundation Inge Kortekaas – Co-Founder of the Social Value Foundation and Sustainability and Innovation Manager at Annexum Tim Wassenaar – Asset Manager of The July Hotel Company and also involved in the Social Value Foundation

Host Liva Sadovska sits down with our colleagues Marianthi Tatari and Sugandha Gupta do discuss how they experience design in the world, from early on in the bid process to seeing a design become reality. In this episode, they also get into how UNStudio takes a human-centric approach to its designs and the importance of representation in architecture. To stay up-to-date with all of our work, be sure to follow UNStudio on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest and X.

Cristóbal Burgos (Architect) sits down with Arjan Dingsté (Partner / Senior Architect) to discuss UNStudio's latest software development that's transforming the way our architects and designers approach their projects —the Carbon Builder. This tool allows our teams to analyse and compare numerous design options, guiding them towards choices that significantly minimise the carbon footprint of their projects. As the urgency of addressing the climate crisis intensifies, the need for sustainable practices within the built environment has never been more crucial. The Carbon Builder was developed to offer a faster, more precise design solutions that architects and designers can utilitse in their projects. Don't forget to follow UNStudio on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X and Pinterest.

To start off the new year we sat down with Frans van Vuure , a Director at UNStudio and Benjamin Davey, a researcher and consultant for the UNS Futures team. In this episode they discuss this missing layer of cognitive experience design in architecture projects, and future applications of this research - enjoy! Host. Lucie Pressl Filmed and Edited. Thomas Jones Produced. Thomas Jones and Alexis Traussi Follow us on: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/unstudio/ Instagram - @unstudio_architecture Facebook - facebook.com/UNStudioArchitecture/ Twitter - @UNStudio_Arch

In this very special episode, Machteld Kors, Director Strategic Development, is sitting down with UNStudio founder and principal architect, Ben van Berkel to discuss what has happened at the studio over this past year and what observations he has made regarding architecture and design and the profession in general. Don't forget to follow UNStudio on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X and Pinterest.

#22 UNStudio Celebrates Global Collaboration by UNS talks

Welcome to our recent episode of 'Designing Social Cities'. Join us as we delve into the fascinating realm of urban design and its impact on creating socially vibrant cities. In this episode, we are thrilled to have esteemed guests from the renowned architecture practice, UNStudio, sharing their insights and expertise on the art of designing social cities. Episode guests: Valentina Amaya (left) - Landscape Architect @UNStudio Olga Kotta (right) - Urban Designer @UNStudio Episode Highlights: - Gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles that guide urban designers in shaping our cities to foster social interaction and well-being. - Discover the innovative strategies and approaches UNStudio employs to create inclusive public spaces that encourage community engagement. - Learn about some of the most iconic projects UNStudio has undertaken, where design and social dynamics harmoniously intersect. UNStudio's Vision: UNStudio is globally recognized for its visionary approach to architecture and urbanism. With a portfolio spanning diverse landscapes, they've mastered the art of blending functionality, aesthetics, and sociability in urban environments. Join the Conversation: Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights into the world of urban design, and learn how UNStudio is transforming our cities into vibrant, people-centric spaces. Whether you're an architecture enthusiast, a city planner, or simply curious about the impact of design on our daily lives, this episode is a must-listen. Relevant Links: UNStudio Official Website: https://www.unstudio.com/ Follow UNStudio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unstudio_architecture/ Follow UNSurban on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uns.urban/ Follow Lucie Pressl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciepre71/ #UrbanDesign #Architecture #CityPlanning #SocialCities #UNStudio #PodcastEpisode #DesignInspiration

Have you ever wondered what it's like inside an architecture modelspace? In this episode of UNS Talks, our host Lucie Pressl spoke to Stijn and Jack from UNStudio's modelspace, the lively epicenter of our studio in Amsterdam. They talk about current projects, how modelmaking projects are organised within the studio, modelmaking sustainability and much more. Watch, listen and enjoy! Filmed and Edited by Thomas Jones Hosted by Lucie Pressl Produced by Alexis Traussi, Lucie Pressl and Thomas Jones Follow us on: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/unstudio/ Instagram - @unstudio_architecture Facebook - facebook.com/UNStudioArchitecture/ Twitter - @UNStudio_Arch

Does the architecture practice actually reflect the world's intensified focus on the topic of inclusivity? In the latest episode of UNS Talks, our host Lucie Pressl sat down with Gakku Jumaniyasova and Eyukewe Dogo to discuss the women that inspire them, the role that gender plays in the discipline and how inclusion and diversity have become more important to design as ever. Follow us on: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/unstudio/ Instagram - @unstudio_architecture Facebook - facebook.com/UNStudioArchitecture/ Twitter - @UNStudio_Arch

As part of our report on technology in the Built Environment, our host Mira Stanic sits down with Ren Yee, Head of Innovation Strategy, and Strategic Designer, Huey Chan, to discuss technical innovations for end-users. From how technology and data can be put to use after a design is realised to how these innovations impact the environment, they explore how we can utilise these transformative tools to improve user experience.

How did a Branding Manual help get the Doha Metro Network designed and built in just seven years? In our latest UNS Talks podcast, we explore this metro project, and go in-depth into how one crucial design tool – the Branding Manual - helped get the network operational in such a rapid timeframe, while assuring its unified identity. In this episode, hear from UNStudio’s founder and principal architect Ben van Berkel, partner and senior architect Arjan Dingste, and associate director and senior architect Marianthi Tatari. Hosted by our Digital Media Officer Emma Krstic. To see the Doha Metro stations and find out more about the design and Branding Manual, follow the link: https://bit.ly/3iSHqXR

The world of work is changing. It's clear that we need to re-imagine the workplace to become flexible and future-focused, but also reconsider how the role of the architect will develop over the coming years... Framed by these questions, we hosted a discussion between UNStudio architects Ben van Berkel, Marianthi Tatari and Harlen Miller.

For this episode of UNS Talks, we discussed our recently published article "The Responsive Technologies of Social Health" with article authors, Ben van Berkel, Filippo Lodi and Wael Batal. In their discussion, Ben, Filippo and Wael dissect parts of the article, such as the fourth industrial revolution and its impact on the built environment, media architecture and responsive design, smart cities vs healthy cities, play and social cohesion, and finally design models. Download the whole article here from the MAB 2018 proceedings from the ACM journal: https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=3284389 Read Part 1 of the article on our website: https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/10985/an-introduction-to-the-responsive-technologies-of-social-health Read Part 2 of the article on our website: https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/10993/health-and-technology

What is a circular construction strategy? How can digital solutions help the transition to a circular economy? What does a circular city really look like? For this podcast, we were very happy to host Joke Duformont and Ben Kubbinga from the Cities and Built Environment Programmes of Circle Economy: an Amsterdam based social enterprise that accelerates circular economic initiatives. The Cities Programme has develop roadmaps with cities like Amsterdam, Glasgow, Bilbao and the province of Noord Holland that help them make the circular leap. The Built Environment Programme works to create a ‘living’ system in which building materials and products are optimally used and reused— a system that operates within the boundaries of our planet, preserves the value of resources, and ensures the wellbeing of inhabitants.

As part of our ongoing research into playgrounds, we were very happy to host Denisa Kollarova, author of Aldo van Eyck: Seventeen Playgrounds, at the UNStudio office in Amsterdam, to discuss the contents of her study. Of Aldo van Eyck's original 700 playgrounds built across Amsterdam, only 17 remain. What can we learn from van Eyck about designing for social cohesion and imagination?

Review Architecture is an online journal of architecture books, founded and curated by UNStudio Architect Ayax Abreu Garcia. Its goal is to sift through architectural literature, find the gems, dissect their content, create a spark in people’s minds, and help people become more interested in architectural literature. Recently Ayax held an interview with Ben van Berkel to discussed UNStudio written works like MOVE and Knowledge Matters, but also his influences from Mark Wigley to Mohsen Mostafavi, to his former teacher Zaha Hadid… If you would like to read the interview with Ben van Berkel for yourself, you can read it on Review Architecture here: http://www.reviewarchitecture.com/interviews/

Every few months we like to host a breakfast open to everyone in our office to discuss the issue of Gender in design in an informal way. This time around, we invited Afaina de Jong to join us. Afaina is an architect, an academic and a cultural entrepreneur who works on the boundary of art and architecture. Having taught in both TU Delft and the Sandberg Institute, Afaina founded AFARAI in 2005: an Amsterdam based architectural agency that specializes in spatial design, taking an intersectional and interdisciplinary approach to design. In her talk, Afaina discusses her architectural practice, her work, her thoughts and her research, as related to otherness, gender and design.

UNS Talks about the Future of Mobility: The Cable Car This is the second of two special edition podcast episodes of UNS Talks, in which we discuss the future of mobility, looking at three projects we are currently working on across two alternative forms of public transport. To discuss these themes, we've brought in the people who are behind the designs: Ben van Berkel, the founder of UNStudio and UNSense, Alice Haugh, Futurist, and Milou van Min, Junior Architectural Designer. This episode focuses on the Cable Car, and its resurgence as a modern form of urban transport in Europe. Urban Density, flexibility, costs, barriers and the designs themselves will be discussed. To do this, we dissect two of our recently released designs for the Gothenburg Cable Car in Sweden, and the IJbaan Cable Car in Amsterdam. To see our infrastructural designs for yourself be sure to check out our website here: https://www.unstudio.com/en/projects?qfilter=1011

UNS Talks about the Future of Mobility: the Hardt Hyperloop Hub This is the first of two special edition podcast episodes in which we discuss the future of mobility, looking at three projects we are currently working on across two alternative forms of public transport. To discuss these themes, we've brought in the people who are behind the designs: Ben van Berkel, the founder of UNStudio and UNSense, Alice Haugh, Futurist, and Milou van Min, Junior Architectural Designer. This episode focuses on the hyperloop as a form of transport, how the hyperloop can fit in with existing infrastructure and urban environments, and what it could mean for the future of Europe. To do this, we dissect our recently released designs for the Hardt Hyperloop Hub. To see our design for yourself be sure to check out our website here: https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/10319/hardt-hyperloop

UNS Talks with Mariana Pestana and Rory Hyde, Curators of Architecture at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. "The Future Starts Here" is a blockbuster exhibition currently on show at the V&A Museum in London, exploring the power of design in shaping the world of tomorrow. Design is, of course, always about the future. Curators Rory Hyde and Mariana Pestana discuss the key technologies appearing on the horizon and how they could impact our lives. From smart appliances to satellites, artificial intelligence to internet culture, this exhibition brings together more than 100 objects as a landscape of possibilities for the near future. Check out some videos from the exhibition on the UNStudio website here: https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/10229/podcast-the-future-starts-here-at-the-v-a-museum

For our fifth podcast, we asked Doma to speak at our annual UNStudio Summer Conference, held in Mediamatic in Amsterdam. Doma is a non-profit housing cooperative that attempts to address and overcome issues relating the housing crisis, and the gap between home ownership and rental. Unlike other housing cooperatives however, Doma has developed an equitable housing platform, turning its users into home owners, making use of block chain technology and availing of smart contracts.

For our fourth podcast, we asked Robert Rowland Smith to join us in Amsterdam for our annual UNStudio Summer Conference, held in Mediamatic. Robert is a British author and philosopher, whose books include Derrida and Autobiography, Breakfast with Socrates: The philosophy of everyday life, and AutoBioPhilosophy: An intimate story of what it means to be human. For our summer conference on the theme of Ownership, Robert stepped away from architecture and design, and studied the theme from a philosophical perspective… Throughout his talk he asks two big questions. First: What would remain of our identity once everything we own is taken away from us? And second: Could ownership be seen as a radical form of openness and hospitality? He looks at the history of ownership and its roots in medieval Europe, the concept of ownership as related to self-identity, Marx, Freud, Derrida and Heidegger, and ownership in the modern world, in the context of Big Data.

For our third podcast, we were very happy to host Nicolay Boyadjiev, who spoke at our annual UNStudio Summer Conference in Amsterdam. Nicolai is a Design Tutor at the Strelka Institute, which is a non-governmental education institutions based in Moscow, that has an experimental approach to studying architecture and design, offering a famously multidisciplinary academic program. For our summer conference on the theme of Ownership, we asked Nicolai the following question: “In the future, will we all be jobless?”. Throughout his talk, Nicolai looked at the gig economy, co-working, platformization and the relationship between space and labor. He primarily takes from the example of We work, arguing that beyond its intention of becoming a “Capitalist Kibbutz”, We-Work could even be viewed as a speculative design project.

Will we be jobless in the future? Is there a role for designers in re-imagining public services? How can we get the most out of machines whilst unleashing human potential? How can we democratize city-making? Enter Indy Johar. Indy is a London-based architect and co-founder of Architecture00, focusing on the role of design in complex system change and social investment. As well as this, he is Senior Innovation Associate with the Young Foundation and Visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield. Most of Indy’s day-to-day is occupied with Dark Matter Labs, which he founded a few years ago to apply complex systems science to urban & regional renewal, turning what is generally perceived as a threat of our time – spill-over effects across borders, boundaries and silos – into a resource to solve the wicked challenges society faces in the 21st century. Dark Matter Laboratories utilizes an experimentation method typical of a fieldwork scientific laboratory, undertaking real-world research and prototyping in order to seed the next generation of institutional infrastructure. The studio is currently working on a series of initiatives from developing a new class of System Change – Impact Funds, Town Halls for Social Innovation, a new generation of Polytechnics, and the transformation of numerous existing institutions.

Paul Skinner is Creative Director of Tellart, a design studio that combines computation (data, sensors, robotics, networks) with traditional materials (wood, metal, glass, textile and ceramics) to build immersive experiences for governments, museums and brands. Paul's lecture at UNStudio in Amsterdam focusses on Tellart’s Museum of the Future in Dubai, using it as a base for exploring the future role of the museum in society, as well as that of government and public services more broadly, the commodification of culture and it’s increasingly entangled relationship with commerce. What challenges do museums face today and why is it important that they are sustained? How might digital way-finding and immersive experiences attract new audiences? We’ll explore the role of the designer in tomorrow’s world, the need for visualising and prototyping in order to make futures tangible. To learn more about Tellart's future scenario toolset, visit our website here: https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/9863/the-tellart-future-scenario-toolset