Track Changes, 'Dutch' debates in São Paulo

The Dutch contribution to the X Bienal de São Paulo in 2013 is a series of debates called Track Changes, held by Crimson Architectural Historians and The New Institute. Track Changes will take place from November 4-7 at Centro Cultural São Paulo (CCSP).

An international group of architects, city planners, economists, architectural historians and critics will discuss whether a small-scale, participation-oriented way of working can offer relevant answers to current economic, political and social questions, or that they on the contrary should be designing large scale infrastructure, masterplans and services. Through publicly comparing and discussing concrete projects from five different continents the participants will try to find common ground and in that way try to make design socially significant and politically relevant again.

“In three days of open discussions, we'll explore what we have in common, but not without first precisely defining our differences,” say the Crimson historians. “Perhaps our most important ambition is to bring architecture and city planning out of the academic ghettos and the black boxes of politics and the market and return them to the centre of public debate.”

The participating professionals will discuss specific projects as they relate to issues raised by Crimson. Three discussions will take place: We the People, on the democratic value of master plans, particularly the new one formulated for São Paulo; What’s Your Crisis?, on how a sudden lack of financial resources, political crises and dramatic social changes are forcing architects to reevaluate their way of working; and Bottom-Up Is Not Enough, on how bottom-up projects can exceed their small scale and become integrated into top-down plans.

Invited guests are Guus Beumer (director, The New Institute), René Boer (Failed Architecture), Fernando Botton (URBZ), Elma van Boxel (ZUS), Milton Braga (MMBB), José Armênio de Brito Cruz (president Instituto de Arquitetos do Brasil/SP), Eduardo Andrade de Carvalho (developer, MOBY Incorporadora), Mariana Fix (economist and urbanist, University of Campina ), Ana Carla Fonseca (economist and urbanist, Garimpo de Soluções), Fernando de Mello Franco (São Paulo’s councillor for urban development), Rupali Gupte & Prassad Shetty (CRIT), Charles Holland (FAT), Luís Pompeo (23 Sul), Michelle Provoost & Wouter Vanstiphout (Crimson), Damon Rich (urban designer for the City of Newark, New Jersey), Nanne de Ru (Powerhouse Company), Sofia Saavedra Bruno (Supersudaca), Jan-Gijs Schouten (Consul General) and Carlos Teixeira (Vazio S/A/).

The debates and their outcomes can be followed online on Twitter at #trackchanges and at trackchanges.thenewinstitute.nl. A publication containing the outcomes and conclusions of the discussions will be published in December.

Data

Monday 4 November 13.30 hrs – Opening and debate We the People

Tuesday 5 November 13.30 hrs – What’s Your Crisis?

Wednesday 6 November 13.30 hrs – Bottom-Up Is Not Enough

Admission is free

More information on http://trackchanges.thenewinstitute.nl

The Netherlands' contribution to the X São Paulo Architecture Biennale is organized by The New Institute at the invitation of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

Crimson Architectural Historians

The New Institute