INDESEM 2019

International Design Seminar, shortly INDESEM, is a biennale hosted at the faculty of Architecture of Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. INDESEM was first organized in 1962 by a group of students (Wiek Röling among others) with help from Jaap Bakema. Members of TEAM X were invited to be tutors during the workshop. In 1986 the workshop was reinitiated by Herman Hertzberger, in honor of Aldo van Eyck´s retirement. Since its founding, INDESEM has had the honor of hosting internationally acclaimed architects and theorists, such as Aldo van Eyck, Adriaan Geuze, Jean Nouvel, Rem Koolhaas, Michael Speaks, Renzo Piano, Greg Lynn, Saskia Sassen, Sou Fujimoto and Ben van Berkel.

The programme of INDESEM consists of lectures, excursions, debates and a workshop; all organized around a specific contemporary theme. Every edition aims to raise awareness about the chosen theme and its consequences for the architectural practice. During the seminar, 100 international students work on a design project relevant to the theme. The seminar thus aims to provide an environment in which students, architects and theorists engage in discussion about the current and future position of the architect within society.

Founding of INDESEM by a group of students (Wiek Röling among others) directly connected to STYLOS.

In honour of the retirement of Aldo van Eyck. Since its founding in 1962, INDESEM has had the honour of hosting internationally acclaimed architects and theorists, such as Aldo van Eyck, Adriaan Geuze, Jean Nouvel, Rem Koolhaas, Michael Speaks and Ben van Berkel. In the past, INDESEM was supervised by Wiek Röling, Herman Hertzberger and Winy Maas. Every edition , (international) students will tackle contemporary matters influencing the profession.

The 2011 edition of INDESEM focused on the theme ‘Losing ground’; the changing position of architect and architecture with respect to the digitalized network society and the necessary shifts in practice and thinking when designing in this changing paradigm. This edition had had the honour of i.a. the following speakers: Andreas Angelidakis, Saskia Sassen, and Peter Cook.

INDESEM 2013 explored the tension between scales. This edition is based on a main question: In what way does scale matter? While skipping through scales, architects and urbanists try to cope with a wide range of problems. They are continuously being pushed back and forth between local scales and global scales. Therefore, it is necessary to become conscious of scale. This edition had had the honour of i.a. the following speakers: Andreas Rumpfhuber, Rory Hyde and Tatjana Schneider

INDESEM 2015 was titled ‘Re.Craft’ and explored the impact of emerging digital fabrication technologies on the practice of architecture. Through a critical examination of newly available tools, techniques and materials, Re.Craft enquired the notion of craft in contemporary architecture. This edition had had the honour of i.a. the following speakers: Ben van Berkel, Greg Lynn and Theo Jansen.

INDESEM 2017 offered a platform for the new generation to take up their responsibility and discuss and anticipate the challenges we face. This edition is considered as an opportunity to define a new approach to architecture and its designers, which can contribute to a new way of dealing with this crowded world. How should cities densify and grow on different scale levels? How to intensify new urban developments? How to build the city inwards? This edition had had the honour of i.a. the following speakers: PK Das, Sou Fujimoto and Mauricio Pezo & Sofia von Ellrichshausen.

Architects build a vocabulary by harvesting information in a multidisciplinary context. In recent days the amount of available knowledge becomes sheer endless. How to take a position here and how to share all different frames of reference with one another? By whom or what are your influenced as an architect? This defines your echo chamber and to what extent it is perforated or segregated. Define your scope Over the past decades our way of living has changed dramatically and is still continuing to do so. We travel around the globe in less than 24 hours, we communicate when and with whomever we want, and consume more information than ever before. We have outgrown our confined communities into a broadly connected society, where everything is within reach through telephone, laptop or tablet; everyone can go anywhere virtually at any time of the day. Architecture can be experienced without physically being present and can have an impact that goes beyond the immediate vicinity: the scope is no longer tied to the location; architects can respond to this. Would you choose global impact or local contribution? Define your subject Society also desires novelty and experiences nowadays. The current (social) media landscape calls for stars, strong personalities with a clear point of view. This has led to, among other things, the emergence of iconic buildings. Some might say these are empty shells, independent of their context, leading to a paradox: interchangeable cities are distinguished by interchangeable icons. Nevertheless, they are definitely a product of our current society and therefore just as much part of our culture. A response is visible, though: the search for local authenticity, participation and historical continuity. This involves a reinvigorated interest in bottom-up approaches and co-design. Here, the conviction prevails that the architect benefits from input from the outside. It is the focus that differs in these approaches. The question that rises is with and for whom are you designing?

Define your source Architects from the re-emerging ‘weaving generation’ are an example of architects that use site specific conditions in their design to enrich the existing local fabric. They try to create a broader perspective for architecture by respecting context, art and history. However, a duality in how to deal with existing architecture is noticeable. We are being asked to preserve what is already there, but at the same time we have to build for the future. Has society changed so much that new sources, methods and strategies are required to meet the needs of the future? Or does it need to be elaborated on the existing fabric? Define your statement The social developments mentioned lead to a dichotomy in the expressive quality of architecture. On the one hand extravagant (virtual) architecture is strongly visible, while a more modest architecture, on the other hand, is also on the rise. This division is equally noticeable in architectural representation, where artful collages are increasingly popular - replacing the trend of hyper realistic renders. Should one opt for exuberant expression or a more modest one? INDESEM 2019 offers a platform where a new generation of designers will consider the position of the architect in a rapidly changing, (digitally) connected society. The event forms a critical stage to confront students with the echo chamber, their positioning within it, and to (re)define it, based on critical discussions. Applications open soon! Keep an eye on our website or subscribe through the contact form blow.

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