The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has shared its eleventh video for a panel discussion with Kasper Guldager Jensen, Architect MAA, Senior Partner 3XN, Director GXN and Kristian Edwards, Senior Architect, Interior Architect, Snøhetta, from the WAF 2019 stage.

Moderated by Solène Wolff, Managing Partner, PLANE-SITE, the panel discussion, titled Knowledge Flows: Radical, Restorative & Regenerative Approaches, discussed the role of knowledge, sustainability in architecture, material knowledge that informs architecture and regenerative architecture and processes. The architects asked: "How does knowledge work and flow in architecture?."

"Sustainability is a holistic practice rather than simply performative aspects," said Kristian Edwards, Senior Architect, Interior Architect, Snøhetta. 

"There are misconceptions of materials knowledge, we don’t know the particular properties of materials." 

"That kind of deep information is actually informing the design process," Edwards added.

Kasper Guldager Jensen also touched upon the importance of collaboration in architecture. Jensen said: "This is an open-source, everything we learn, we share."

WAC releases exclusive lectures each week as part of WAC's media partnership with WAF. WAF's 2019 talks & keynotes series bring exclusive talks of outstanding architects to audience who was not able to participate to the festival in 2019.

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Entry deadline for WAF and INSIDE closes on 14 August, 2020. Start your entry from here.

A 40-minute discussion explored that "In the context of resource scarcity and climate crisis, it is imperative to discuss a new system that meets industry demands within planetary boundaries." 

"With the construction sector using globally 20% of water, 25% of the virgin wood and 40% of energy in the world, the scale and impact of architecture has shifted from single buildings to economic systems of re-invention." 

"Terminologies such as “Cradle to Cradle” and “Circularity” have entered the day to-day vocabulary of designers, pushing design ambitions to fields never explored before. 

"Sustainable design reduces the harmful effects of construction, but it’s simply not enough. Architecture that is truly sustainable must be regenerative and able to have a measurable positive impact, treating the environment as "an equal shareholder"." 

"Knowledge Flows looks at current methodologies and design approaches that practitioners can rely on in order to reverse the trend. The emphasis will be on research and learning processes within trailblazing practices, and their forecast for the future."

Kasper Guldager Jensen, Architect MAA, Senior Partner 3XN, Director GXN at WAF 2019 panel discussion. Image © WAF

Kasper Guldager Jensen is Senior Partner at 3XN and Director of 3XN's innovation company, GXN, established in 2007 to innovate and apply new knowledge and technology into our body of work. 

The ‘G’ stands for Green, highlighting GXN’s dedication to ecological design research. The mission of GXN is to develop a building culture that positively affects the world we live in - both architecturally and environmentally.

Kasper is passionately engaged in sustainability design, digital processes, and new materials. 

You can also watch 3XN Co-founder Kim Herforth Nielsen's exclusive keynote from the WAF 2019 stage on WAC. 

Kristian Edwards, Senior Architect, Interior Architect, Snøhetta at WAF 2019 panel discussion. Image © WAF

Kristian Edwards is active on a number of research projects as a firm believer in research as a driver for the evolution of design methodology.

Kristian holds a key role in various studies integrating collaborative methodology for common platforms between scientific research and architects and designers to meet and drive our future challenges.

Kristian has been involved in the design and realisation of a number of Snøhetta’s most ambitious zero emission projects including Harvard House Zero, Nydalen Vy, Svart plus energy hotel and ZEB pilot House.

Kristian Edwards, Solène Wolff and Kasper Guldager Jensen. Image © WAF

The World Architecture Festival, with its sister event World Festival of Interiors (INSIDE), are organized annually and WAF hosts a number of distinguished architects discussing a specific theme each year over the three-day festival, as well as its global awards program. Architects and designers present their projects live to a panel of expert judges. 

This year, WAF and INSIDE, which are still planned in typical way despite of the pandemic, will take place between 2-4 December, in Lisbon. 

Top image courtesy of WAF.

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