TIAFF FRAMED

During the public conversation TIAFF FRAMED, we reflect on both the beauty and the discomfort involved in building sustainable cities and housing. Moderated by Lucas de Man; Enno Zuidema, Raoul Vleugels, Twan Kleeven and Mira Nekova discuss what it takes to design for messy realities. With their boots on the ground, all four offer innovative perspectives on how things could be done differently.

Lucas challenges these architects of the future: how do we deal with wicked problems? Where are we heading? And how do we build sustainable cities and homes in turbulent, messy times?

About the speakers: 

Enno Zuidema is regional government architect at the National Coordinator Groningen (NCG). He advises — solicited and unsolicited — on the spatial quality of building reinforcement in the earthquake-prone region. After studying urban design at TU Delft, he worked in Berlin and Rotterdam before founding his own practice in 1998. From 2018 to 2023, he was Head of Urban Design at MVRDV. In addition, Enno serves as a supervisor and is currently Chair of the Supervisory Board of Woonplus Schiedam.

Twan Kleeven is director of Concreet Projectmanagement. He has extensive experience in setting up project organisations in complex areas with many stakeholders and often conflicting interests. Twan connects interests, technology and human behaviour, prioritising realisation through action and creation. He is the initiator of the Core Values Contract. By working together from shared core values placed at the top of the hierarchy, parties ensure they operate from the same principles. All processes and content in design and execution are guided from there. If content or process conflicts with the core values, a veto applies and an alternative approach is jointly determined.

Raoul Vleugels is an architect and co-founder of architecture studio Werkstatt in Eindhoven. Werkstatt approaches architecture in a holistic way. Today’s transition challenges are not seen as separate tasks but as interconnected realities, addressed with responsibility, imagination and care. Raoul studied at TU Eindhoven, worked at firms in the Netherlands and abroad, and taught at TU Eindhoven and currently at the Maastricht Academy of Architecture.

Mira Nekova is an architect and co-founder of Time to Access, an Amsterdam-based platform focused on developing radical architecture. Time to Access creates participatory forms of housing, spatial design and social environments. The platform believes in architecture driven by principles of commoning, accessibility and sustainability. Their work seeks ways to help heal the ecological, economic and social crises of our cities. Mira holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from TU Delft and gained professional experience at SeARCH and MKA. She specialises in housing, circularity, flexibility and co-design.

As moderator, Lucas de Man leads the conversation during TIAFF FRAMED. His work focuses on societal themes and public engagement. He is the author of ‘Waar gaat het heen? En wat kan ik doen?’ (Where Is It Heading? And What Can I Do?), in which he explores the future of nine themes, including democracy, agriculture, death, construction, loneliness and mental health. Lucas is known from cultural television programmes such as Kunstuur and Man en Kunst and is a much sought-after host and presenter. In addition, he works as a director, actor and concept developer, and is artistic director of Nieuwe Helden and Biobased Creations.