With a focus on material, financial and human resources, public participation, the future of cities and issues of social inclusion and cultural identity, this New Now Next season begins on 28 September with architect Alexandra Hagen, CEO of White Arkitekter, leaders in innovative timber research and building construction.

Next, on 14 October, and during the IAF’s flagship architecture festival Open House Dublin, Cities Have Feelings will feature visionary artist and poet Rhael ‘LionHeart’ Cape from London and Malmö City Architect, Finn Williams.

Finally, in December, gathering some of the most exciting architects, artists, writers and thinkers from the island working today, this final talk in the series builds on new momentum around the topic of islands, borders, landscape and identity as it relates to architecture and possible futures for Ireland. This event will take the form of a roundtable discussion under the title Idir & Thither. Array Collective, BothAnd Group, Tom Keeley, Islander Architects and Hy-brasil are set to participate in this fitting end to a series focused on the future of architecture and society.

Announcing the 2023 line-up, Emmett Scanlon, Director of the IAF, said: “Design and architecture cannot entirely solve the challenges that face contemporary Ireland or the wider world. But it does have a role to play in imagining and designing new ways of life that go a long way to address material shortages, climate change and social and spatial inequalities. New Now Next enables the IAF to bring leaders in architecture, culture and design to Ireland so that public audiences can be inspired and emboldened to be optimistic and make and demand real change. From innovative timber construction to new forms of public participation, be it with film or poetry, audiences will be impressed by the quality and intelligence of the work presented across all four events. They will remind us that even at a time requiring great ingenuity and courage, that architecture can still make room for the imagination, beauty and emotion in our daily lives.”

Commenting on the announcement, Rory McGowan, Arup Fellow, said: “Great design is only possible when we focus on people’s experiences. The diverse array of speakers at this year’s New Now Next will encourage us all to think creatively about designing and realising our buildings, spaces and places to achieve climate and social resilience and, ultimately, how we can shape the world we want to live In. Arup is proud to continue to support this talk series into its 11th year.”

The New Now Next series will be live in person. 

Talks timeline:

Thursday, 28 September 2023, 7.00-8.30pm Alexandra Hagen, architect and CEO of White Arkiteker. 

Saturday, 14 October 2023, 6.30-8.00pm: Cities Have Feelings with Rhael ‘LionHeart’ Cape, visionary artist and poet and, Finn Williams, Malmö City Architect.

Wednesday 13 December 2023, 7.00-8.30pm: Idir and Thither with Array Collective, BothAnd Group, Tom Keeley, Islander Architects and Hy-Brasil. 

If you have accessibility needs, please contact us at info@architecturefoundation.ie.

New Now Next is made possible through support from Arup, and all events are free. 

You can view recordings of some past New Now Next talks here.

The IAF is principally funded by the Arts Council, and further funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the OPW, which enables us to deliver projects like New Now Next.

Photo: Sara Cultural Centre, Skellefteå, Sweden, White Arkitekter. Photo by Patrick Degerman.