New Generations Festival goes digital with focus on emerging European architecture

The New Generations Festival, dedicated to emerging European architecture firms, will take place digitally from December 16 to 18, 2020, streaming live from the Real Academia de España in Rome. Curator Gianpiero Venturini explains that the event, themed 'New Urban Challenges,' is the first of a three-year program. Out of 180 proposals received via an open call, about 25 studios will present on macro themes 'City and people' and 'City and responsibilities,' covering informal urban practices, inequalities in urban space use, and reactivation of abandoned public spaces. Micro topics include reconnecting humans and nature in cities and the impact of sudden industrialization on peri-urban rural areas. The festival adapts to the digital format by avoiding standard grid layouts and lengthy keynotes, instead offering short presentations and debates to maintain viewer engagement. An online platform will allow networking and collaboration. Venturini notes that while the pandemic has accelerated trends like remote work and digitalization, the architectural profession is shifting from a hierarchical 'archistar' model to horizontal collaboration. New Generations, born after the 2008 economic crisis, aims to build an international network for emerging practitioners, having involved about 500 studios across Europe. The festival remains independent and flexible, prioritizing intimate dialogue over mass attendance.