A planet in crisis. The earth in intensive care. Man-made environmental and social catastrophes are threatening to render the planet uninhabitable. The situation is critical and, dominated by the interests of capital, architecture and urbanism are caught up in the crisis. The exhibition Critical Care shows how architecture and urbanism can contribute to repairing the future and keeping the planet and its inhabitants alive. After stops in Vienna, Zürich, Dresden and Berlin Critical Care is on showcase in De Singel, Antwerp
Critical Care, an exhibition of the Architekturzentrum Wien, is an appeal for a new approach, for a caring architecture and urbanism. 21 current examples from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, the USA and Latin America prove that architecture and urban development do not have to be subservient to the dictates of capital and the exploitation of resources and labour.
DOWNLOAD THE EXHIBITION GUIDEThe relationships between economy, ecology and work are redefined in each of these projects. The instigators of this care are extraordinarily diverse groups of people: activists, lawyers, anthropologists, artists, but also city councils and companies, working together with architects and planners. Care is always concrete, the specific local conditions are the starting point, as the exhibition shows, including earthquake-proof and sustainable village development in China, flood protection through traditional low-carbon building techniques in Pakistan and Bangladesh, the diverse conversion of modernist buildings in Brazil and Europe, an ecological community land trust in Puerto Rico, the revitalisation of historical irrigation systems in Spain, new concepts for public spaces and mixed urban districts in Vienna, London and Nairobi.
The exhibition Critical Care shows how architecture and urbanism are helping to revive the planet. The repair of the future has begun.
Join us on 27 May for the opening of the double exhibition Caring Architecture. Discover how architecture can play a key role in protecting our planet, resources and people.
more informationWant to know more? Book a guided tour via Expeditie De Stad! A guided visit is also possible outside normal opening hours.
Practical information:
28.05.2022 - 11.09.2022
From Wednesday to Sunday - 02:00 pm until 7:00 pm and during evening performances until 10:00 pm
free
27.05.2022
Register here
De Singel (Expo)
Desguinlei 25, 2018 Antwerp (BE)
Flanders Architecture Institute and De Singel
Architekturzentrum Wien
Angelika Fitz and Elke Krasny
Alexander Schuh
Eva Van Walle (EN-NL), Brian Dorsey (D-EN)
de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Österreichisches Kulturforum Brüssel
In 2022 the theme for the architecture programme is care. With this broad theme, the Flanders Architecture Institute and De Singel are focusing on the impact of care on the built environment. Care is about nurturing, maintaining and securing for the future. Architecture that cares sets itself apart due to its empathy for the context, the users and the makers. Caring architecture pays attention to the long term effects of its creation and existence, and is critical with regard to human activity on the planet.
