Design can encourage inclusiveness, diversity, equality and a healthy (city) climate. In theory. In practice, this is often not the case. Both designers and engineers have a responsibility to think about the societal and ethical consequences of their innovations. Our surroundings reflect the thoughts and insights of what a city should be, and those who design can contribute largely to a just city.
As part of a series around the theme Designing Cities for All, Amsterdam-based Pakhuis de Zwijger together with TU/e’s Industrial Design and Built Environment have developed a week full of conversation and discussion, right in the middle of the famous Dutch Design Week.
The covid pandemic has exposed serious structural deficiencies in the way our cities are imagined, planned, and governed. These structural deficiencies are wide-ranging and include, for example, the impact of growing inequality and severe economic austerity, leading to the increase of vulnerability in cities all over the world.
But not everything is doom and gloom. Hardship seems to have awoken progressive forces and the understanding that we all need to act together and in coordination in order to face the public challenges affecting us all: a health crisis, a climate emergency, and a democratic crunch, among others. All these issues have a direct impact on how our cities are imagined, designed, and governed. More specifically, collective coordinated action that is participatory, accountable, transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based is at the top of the agenda.
How could universities, like our TU/e, help students and teachers imagine a very different future, in which cities are motors of social inclusion and places that help the regeneration of our planet? The book Manifesto for the Just City comes in the wake of the realization that socio-spatial justice is a crucial dimension for sustainability transitions. Growing inequality and the erosion of the public sphere undermine the social and political structures required to fight climate change, pandemics and other systemic shocks. This book aims to encourage students to formulate their own visions for the Just City and for a just transition. This publication gathers 63 manifestos written by 256 students from 48 universities all over the world.
In today’s lecture, Brazilian architect Roberto Rocco, associate professor at TU Delft and the driving force behind the Manifesto for the Just City, will give a presentation about this publication and further introduce the topic of the just city.
Ticket reservation recommended
To be assured of a seat, we recommend reserving a ticket (black "order" button).
NOTE: This program will not be live streamed.
SG & USE registration
Please register your participation upon arrival when attending the program on campus. You can register by scanning your student card before the start of the program at the venue.
More information about SG & USE can be found here.
More events on ‘Designing Cities for All’ during Dutch Design Week
This program is part of a week full of events at the TU/e campus around the project Designing Cities for All initiated by Pakhuis de Zwijger. This week is organized together with TU/e’s Industrial Design and Built Environment. A week full of inspiration and dialogues. Right in the middle of the famous Dutch Design Week and in the heart of our TU/e campus. Entrance is free and you can reserve a ticket via the links below.
- Designing Products and Practices for Plurality | Monday 24 Oct. 16:00 - 17:30 | Corona hall, Luna building at TU/e campus
Exploring how both products and practices can anticipate and support diversity and social sustainability. With Anna Noyons, Marie van Driesche, and Caroline Hummels.
- Designing Places of Belonging | Tuesday 25 Oct. 16:00 - 17:30 | Corona hall, Luna building at TU/e campus
Exploring Inclusive & Sustainable Built Environments with speakers Nyasha Harper-Michon, Sergio M. Figueiredo, Kornelia Dimitrova, and Özlemnur Ataol.
- Designing a Just Digital Society | Thursday 27 Oct. 16:00 - 17:30 | Corona hall, Luna building at TU/e campus
Exploring how we can use technology to create more just societies with Galit Ariel, Lisa Talia Moretti, and Astrid Linder.
- Creating a Future for All | Friday 28 Oct. 14:30 - 17:00 | De Blauwe Zaal, Auditorium at TU/e campus
Imagining an inclusive future for all with speakers Miriam van der Lubbe, Zuzanna Skalska, OluTimehin Kukoyi, Galit Ariel, Caroline Hummels, Marina Otero Verzier, Lyongo Juliana & Satyendra Pakhalé.