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Theme of the forum. The Architecture Forum is part of the Kaunas Architecture Festival (KAFe) bringing leading voices in architecture to discuss urgent questions of the present and the future. Past KAFe Architecture Forums and lectures featured, among others, Ole Gustavsen (Snøhetta), Ryue Nishizawa (Sanaa), Bernard Khoury (DW5), and Mario Botta. This year’s Forum merges with the East–East 5 project and presents more than ten architects from Japan and Lithuania, who will reflect upon an overarching theme of “Recovery”. Together with a joint exhibition of Japanese and Lithuanian architects and a student workshop, the Forum will explore what it will mean to live in the future where the environment becomes even more inhospitable and causes both economic and social disorder. The Forum will encourage discussions on healing urban fabrics, strengthening financial muscles, and reconstructing social fibers. 

Presentations: The key speaker of this year’s edition is Kengo Kuma. He has a vast knowledge of what it means to design in hostile environments, varying from earthquakes, floods, and typhoons to social challenges like the ageing population. As an expert in working with timber, Kuma’s insights are helpful in uncovering the possibilities of more sustainable materials for the creation of architectural environments. Other invited speakers include emerging Japanese architects with an experimental and ambitious attitude towards materials and spatial scenarios. Their works deal with the tangible and intangible of everyday life – from testing new building materials to exploring new ways of how we wait in line. Lithuanian architects participating in the Forum are known for their delicate approach to historical environments and natural landscapes. From converting old palaces and hospitals to creating fragile houses, they harness delicate adaptive reuse strategies. The Forum is a place for exchanging ideas, so open discussions and participation of the audience are a vital part of the event. The goal of the Forum is not only to see and learn from the works of others but also to collaborate with one another to create new perspectives. 

PROGRAM

NOTE: All presentations will be held in English with simultaneous translation into Lithuanian

9:00 – 9:30 DOOR OPENING & WELCOME COFFEE

9:30 – 10:00 INTRODUCTION

SESSION 1: PRESENTATIONS

10:00 – 10:20 Osamu Nishida – ON DESIGN (Japan)

10:20 – 10:40 Gabrielė Šarkauskienė and Antanas Šarkauskas – ŠA Atelier (Lithuania)

10:40 – 11:00 Suzuko Yamada – Suzuko Yamada Architects (Japan)

11:00 – 11:20 Vytautas Biekša – Processoffice (Lithuania)

11:20 – 11:40 Kei Kaiho – Kei Kahoh Architects (Japan)

11:40 – 12:10 SESSION 1: DISCUSSION
Moderated by Andrius Ropolas, Rūta Leitenaitė

12:10 – 13:10 LUNCH BREAK

SESSION 2: PRESENTATIONS

13:10 – 13:30 Yasutaka Yoshimura – Yasutaka Yoshimura Architects (Japan)

13:30 – 13:50 Gabrielė Ubarevičiūtė and Giedrius Mamavičius – AFTER PARTY (Lithuania)

13:50 – 14:10 Kenichi Teramoto – Office of Teramoto (Japan)

14:10 – 14:30 Edgaras Neniškis – Arches (Lithuania)

14:30 – 14:50 Shingo Masuda – SHINGO MASUDA+KATSUHISA OTSUBO (Japan)

14:50 – 15:20 SESSION 2: DISCUSSION
Moderated by Andrius Ropolas, Rūta Leitenaitė

15:20 – 15:40 FINAL REVIEW
Gintaras Balčytis, Head of Kaunas Architecture Festival, Curator General of EAST-EAST 5
George Kunihiro, Curator General of EAST-EAST 5
Moderated by Andrius Ropolas, Rūta Leitenaitė

15:40 – 16:00 COFFEE BREAK

16:00 – 17:30 KEYNOTE: KENGO KUMA “GO BACK TO NATURE”

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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: PARTICIPANTS OF THE FORUM

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