The rise of digital platforms augmented the concept of participation, from mere presence (geographical) to proximity of interest (ideological). From citizen involvement, to community engagement: but when participation breaks free from the physical presence of citizens, how to decide who’s invited at the negotiating table?

In the first of two events we will explore designing for negotiations with a keynote from Jacob van Rijs, co-founder of MVRDV and founding partner of Open Building, in conversation with Francesco Degl’Innocenti, editor of VOLUME Magazine.

The recent works of MVRDV created more than tailored spaces for individuals; they intercepted new notions of the “self”, designing frameworks for users to negotiate between their individual ambitions. MVRDV has joined Open Building, an emerging group of Dutch architects and engineers devoted to radically changing the building industry inspired by John Habraken’s concepts of ‘structure’ and ‘infill’.

The rise of digital platforms augmented the concept of participation, from mere presence (geographical) to proximity of interest (ideological). From citizen involvement, to community engagement: but when participation breaks free from the physical presence of citizens, how to decide who’s invited at the negotiating table?

In the second part of the mini-series we will explore the complex, often complicated relation between architecture, platform technologies and economics with Jose Sanchez, author of “Architecture for the Commons: Participatory Systems in the Age of Platforms”, in conversation with Denisse Vega de Santiago, researcher at VOLUME Magazine.