Dezeen Magazine

Watch The World Around's In Focus: Radical Repair live at Triennale Milano

Dezeen has teamed up with The World Around to stream its In Focus: Radical Repair event, where designers will reflect on architecture's responsibility over the climatic crisis. Watch it live here from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Milan time.

In Focus: Radical Repair invites eight interdisciplinary designers to reflect on the historic responsibility that design and architecture have on climate change, while examining the role the industry can play in "creating, inventing and enacting radical forms of repair".

Throughout the evening, experts will discuss how design can become a leading voice in repairing political, social and ecological issues across communities, and between humans and other species.

The discussions will also focus on how designers and architects can protect vulnerable communities without further harming the planet.

Aerial Drone View of Zero Carbon Cultural Centre Makli
Dezeen will stream In Focus: Radical Repair. Image: Aerial Drone View of Zero Carbon Cultural Centre Makli, architect: Yasmeen Lari, image credit: Heritage Foundation of Pakistan

Speakers include architect Yasmeen Lari, who will give a keynote discussing a career dedicated to activism, while coordinator of The Green Wall Initiative, Paul Elvis Tangem, will discuss a project that introduces "radical resilience" in Africa's dry lands through restoration projects and sustainable land management.

Founder of Space Caviar and creative director of Design Academy Eindhoven, Joseph Grima, will speak about "mapping a new generation of non-extractive architecture practices", while Chicago-based architect Jeanne Gang will examine how existing buildings can be reinvented and expanded.

Gallo de Oro, Villa Mercedes, El Alto, Bolivia
During the event, designers will reflect on architecture's responsibility over the climatic crisis. Image: Gallo de Oro, Villa Mercedes, El Alto, Bolivia, architect: Freddy Mamani, image credit: Tatewaki Nio

Architect Freddy Mamani will also discuss his work exploring the history of the city of El Alto in Bolivia through buildings based on indigenous crafts and architecture, while Japanese architect Junya Ishigami will discuss a radical approach to ecology, landscape and architecture.

Co-founder of Amateur Architecture, Lu Wenyu, will speak about recycling traditional materials in rural China and Nigerian Poet Aziba Ekio will read a poem commissioned for the event.

The Great Green Wall
Interdisciplinary designers will reflect on the historic responsibility that design and architecture have on the current climate crisis. Image: The Great Green Wall, image credit: homocosmicos, Adobe Stock

In Focus: Radical Repair was created by non-profit organisation The World Around and art museum Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, in collaboration with design institution Triennale Milano.

In addition to In Focus: Radical Repair, The World Around and Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain are also collaborating on two additional architectural public programmes. The second programme will be held at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2024. The details of the third programme have yet to be announced.

Oil platforms in Baku, Azerbaijan
The event will examine the role the industry can play in creating radical forms of repair. Image: Oil platforms, Baku, Azerbaijan, Photo by Armin Linke

"The time of business as usual for designers and architects has come to a close," said The World Around executive director Beatrice Galilee.

"While not uniquely responsible for the climate crisis, architecture as an industry owes a debt to our planet, and there are so many brilliant designers from across the world who are working every day towards repairing the damage: from improving lives of the smallest families to registering change for communities to envisioning a future for tens of millions of people," she continued.

"I'm so excited to welcome this extraordinary line-up of inspiring speakers to Milan, to me, the most important city for design in the world."

Junya Ishigami and Associates
The discussions will also focus on how designers can protect vulnerable communities. Image credit: Junya Ishigami and Associates

The event will be curated by Galilee, along with Fondation Cartier director of curatorial affairs Béatrice Grenier and Triennale Milano president Stefano Boeri.

The World Around is a non-profit organisation founded by Galilee, which hosts critical discussions with experts on design, architecture and culture.

Ceramic House, Jinhua, China
Experts will discuss how design can become a "leading voice". Image: Ceramic House, Jinhua, China, architect: Lu Wenyu, image credit: Laksana Studio

The Fondation Cartier is a contemporary art museum that promotes projects, exhibitions, lectures and programmes with practitioners.

Triennale Milano 2023 is a cultural institution based in the Palazzo dell'Arte where it puts on exhibitions, shows, meetings and workshops that "illustrate today's world from new points of view".

To view more about the event, visit its website.

Partnership content

Dezeen is a media partner for The World Around 2023. Find out more about our partnership content here.