Big architecture versus good architecture – Is there a contradiction between good and large architectural pieces? Budapest, March 6th, 2010

Big architecture versus good architecture – Rem Koolhaas writes: „Bigness is ultimate architecture. It seems incredible that the size of a building alone embodies an ideological program, independent of the will of its architects.” While others, like Charles Jencks say: one of the problems in modern architecture built for large corporations is it fragmented the city into a whole lot of giant boxes… architecture will be much more sensuous and interesting than modern architecture.” Is there a contradiction between good and large architectural pieces? Architectural amusement can only be found in small-scale projects? This will be debated and introduced through eight highly accepted architects’ works on the International Convention of Architecture 2010.

The conceptual founder of the Architecture Convention, Pál Csanády, chief editor of the architecture journal Metszet (Section), organizes the event which has become a tradition over the last seven years, having grown – as a forum where members can both meet and gather information – into the most important event for the architect community in Hungary.

The annual convention always held on Saturday in early March is attended by 500–600 architects interested in the lectures of the highly recognized architects invited from around the globe, and getting an overview of trends in architecture in Hungary and abroad.

The Architecture Convention has gained increasing recognition outside Hungary over the years, and the number of foreign participants has also grown. The status of the Convention is reflected in its having been included among its events by the UIA as of 2009. Some of the lecturers on the previous conventions: Daniel Libeskind, Hans Hollein, Kengo Kuma, Massimiliano Fuksas.

Lecturers on March 6^th

• Maurizio Bradaschia (Trieszt)
• Petra Čeferin (Ljubjana)
• Édouard François (Paris )
• Tony Fretton (London)
• Davide Macullo (Lugano-Milan)
• Eduardo Souto de Moura (Porto)
• Heinz Tesar (Vienna)
• Tamás Nagy (Budapest).

Progamme

Conference chair: Istvan Palffy architect, MTV Hungarian Television

08.00–09.00 Registration

09.00–09.20 Conference welcome: Geraint John: UIA working group president, Sandor Fegyverneky: Chief Architect of Hungary, Erno Kalman: President of the MESZ

09.20–10.00 Opening keynote: Petra Čeferin (Ljubljana)

10.00–10.30 Lecture by Nagy Tamás (Budapest)

10.30–11.00 Coffee break

11.00–11.50 Lecture by Eduardo Souto de Moura (Porto)

11.50–12.40 Lecture by Maurizio Bradaschia (Trieste)

12.40–13.30 Lunch

13.30–14.20 Lecture by Davide Macullo (Lugano-Milano)

14.20–15.10 Lecture by Tony Fretton (London)

15.10–15.40 Coffee break

15.40–16.30 Lecture by Édouard François (Paris)

16.30–17.20 Lecture by Heinz Tesar (Wien)

Further information and registration