Treasury Session
In the built world, economic and technical constraints exist in tension with creative and innovation opportunities. Some believe this tension drives the value and diversity of the output architectural practice, but others believe it reveals a lack of durable value or clear disciplinary base. Architecture is thus, classically, always in crisis. Test.
So does the digital world resolves this crisis, amplify it, or simply translate it to a new realm of practice? The oncoming explosion of spatial computing applications, all of which rely on well-configured if not beautiful spatial environments, and the metaverse debates and technologies that have preceded it, invites an ongoing investigation of the new architecture that is unfolding and needs to mature.
Themes in this space include: aesthetics, technology, training, talent, professional practice, economics, justice, social progress, and regulation.
This conversation, the first of a thematic group in the Treasury Sessions event series, is led by the world leaders in architectural design and digital design practice, explores the creative, technical, social and psychological dimensions of architectural practice and this epochal moment in the evolution of spatial design practices, and offers pathways forward for practitioners and theorists. Everyone working in or studying architecture, urban design, product and other design disciplines, spatial computing, metaverse development, game, art, and technology in general, is welcome to join in, learn, and participate.
The event is free to attend, but registration is required.
Speakers
Patrik Schumacher
Partner/Director, Zaha Hadid Architects
Patrik Schumacher is a principal at Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), joining in 1988. He studied in Bonn, Stuttgart, and London and became a ZHA partner in 2003. Schumacher co-founded the Design Research Laboratory in London and has taught globally, including at Harvard. He won the 2010 Stirling Prize with Zaha Hadid and is affiliated with the Berlin Academy of Arts. Holding a PhD from Klagenfurt University, he's authored over 120 articles and books, including "Digital Hadid." Schumacher is a leading advocate for "Parametricism" in architecture and emphasizes the blend of digital and physical design.
Pico Velásquez
Founder & CEO, VIIRA
Pico Velásquez is a Computational Architect, Multiverse Thought Leader and Entrepreneur. As the founder and CEO of VIIRA, Pico drives the bridging of our physical and virtual worlds through emerging technologies in multimedia architecture, AR/XR, gen-AI, blockchain and DeFi. Pico’s career spans in Architecture and Mathematics with a Master’s in Computational Design with Distinction and an exec in Artificial Intelligence from Harvard University. Over the past 10 years Pico has directed award-winning projects including leading the geometry for Google’s new headquarters in CA at Bjarke Ingels Group, the multimedia memorial "Elysium" for Guy Laliberté (founder of Cirque du Soleil), Samsung’s Social Galaxy with Kenzo Digital, the new Seminole Hard Rock Casino & Hotel‘s Oculus in collaboration with Rockwell Group, Dior World with Saks Fifth Avenue, Land Conservation Trust with Pininfarina, and the environmentalist video game Superforest.
John Manoochehri
CEO & Founder, Treasury
Founder & CEO, Treasury Architect and experienced in both computational design and sustainability, John has founded companies in the space of design, data, technology and sustainability. He founded Treasury in 2021 to focus on making the digital environments of today and tomorrow resources for sustainability and human development.
Agenda
5pm – Doors open, drinks available.
5:30pm – Panel Discussion: A New Architecture
7pm – Session ends.
Livestream
All livestream guests will be sent a link to the livestream 10 minutes before the event starts.