On the occasion of the exhibition Houston: Genetic City Envisioning a Future Post-Industry, Post-Oil, Post-Sprawl at Aedes Architecture Forum

The panel discussion takes a close look at the specific urban condition, typology and development of the City of Houston. Together with Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis and Wolf D. Prix of Coop Himmelb(l)au  – both visionaries and provocateurs in the field of architecture and urbanism – the panel critically discusses Houston’s unique evolving urban form. In addition to the soon to be third most populous and most sprawling city in the US, Houston also completely lacks zoning regulations and thereby allows for unusual development patterns that can react quickly to changing market conditions. This opens up immense opportunities beyond conventional city planning for the urban revival of Houston, as much as it puts the city at the stake of commercial developers. The panel aims to explore questions raised by the specific regional urban condition of Houston also against the backdrop of a wider global narrative in contemporary urban planning and renewal.

PROGRAMME

Welcome

  • Dr. h.c. Kristin Feireiss, Director, Aedes Architecture Forum, Berlin
  • Patricia Belton Oliver, FAIA, Dean of the College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston, Houston

Panel Discussion

  • Thom Mayne, Morphosis, Los Angeles
  • Wolf D. Prix, Coop Himmelb(l)au, Vienna
  • Moderator: Lukas Feireiss, Studio Lukas Feireiss, Berlin

PRIOR TO THE SYMPOSIUM: GUIDED EXHIBITION TOURS FROM 2.00 TO 4.00 PM by Prof. Peter Zweig, Prof. Matt Johnson and Prof. Jason Logan

The exhibition Houston: Genetic City. Envisioning a Future Post-Industry, Post-Oil, Post-Sprawl at Aedes Architecture Forum will be open from 2.00 - 4.00 pm.   Professors and students of the University of Houston will introduce you to the projects, discuss urban and architectural aspects of contemporary architecture and urban design of Houston, and will happily answer any questions you may have.

The event will be in English. Admission is free. Please register for the symposium at reply[at]ancb.de