The International Friend of Habitare in 2021, Joseph Grima: We must rethink the way we are constructing the world around us
Grima, like everybody else recently, has been working remotely and spending more time in his studio, Space Caviar. The exceptional time has given him the opportunity to do more reading, as well as studying, without the hassle of travelling. The main ongoing project is called Non-Extractive Architecture.
“While the pandemic has been a very difficult time for many designers, it has, at the same time, also been an opportunity to pause and reflect on the way we were doing things. We try to look at what it would mean to rethink architecture; to look for an approach that is much more deeply connected to its local context and local environment. In general, we try to shorten the supply chain and connect the sourcing of materials and labour so that they are not too far away”, Grima says.
Change will accelerate and challenges will grow
Grima believes that there is going to be a very important change ahead of us. The acceleration in the change will be inevitable because of the magnitude of all the challenges we will meet in the future. How will the world look like after the pandemic? Do designers have a role in it?
“I think the responsibility of designers is to respond to the public´s demands for some form of leadership in terms of understanding how we are going to relate to cities, to our homes and to each other. I think designers have a very important role to play in this”, Grima states. He thinks that design will remain a deeply creative field and have the strongest expression of creativity in contemporary society. The connection to the social dimension will also be stronger.
“We must really not miss this opportunity to rethink the way that we are constructing the world around us. It´s remarkable what can be done when we all mobilise to confront current crises or threats. Of course, the biggest challenge we have on the horizon is the climate crisis, and we need stronger mobilisation for that”.
We need imagination and courage to address the world after the pandemic
The theme for Habitare 2021 is “Reimagine”, which is something Grima thinks is very relevant and very timely.
“We need to look again at the world around us. We need new imagination to be able to address this new world we will be stepping into after the pandemic period. We need to make sure that it is a better world, not a worse one. In order to do that, we need a lot of imagination, courage and energy, and I think this theme is an opportunity to spread that.”
More information:
Habitare: communications manager Taira Sjöblom-Tallus, taira.sjoblom-tallus@messukeskus.com, tel. +358 50 385 5482
Joseph Grima
Joseph Grima is an architect, curator, researcher and journalist who divides his time between Milan and Eindhoven. He is the creative director of the Design Academy Eindhoven and the curator for design, fashion and craft at the Milan Triennial. He is also the founder and partner of Space Caviar, an architecture and research practice operating at the intersection of design, technology, critical theory, and urban planning. The agency produces architecture, publications, exhibitions and films, which have been presented, for example, at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, the Vitra Design Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Barbican.
Grima previously worked as the editor-in-chief of the architecture and design magazine Domus, and the director of Storefront for Art and Architecture, an independent gallery in New York. In 2014, he was appointed the co-curator of the first Chicago Architecture Biennial, which is the largest exhibition of contemporary architecture in the history of North America. In 2012, he was the co-director of the first Istanbul Design Biennial. He was also the artistic director of Matera’s European Capital of Culture 2019 project.
Grima has taught and lectured widely at universities in Europe, Asia and America, including the Strelka Institute of Media, Architecture and Design in Moscow, under the tutelage of Rem Koolhaas. He has served on the juries of numerous international events, including the 2010 Venice Biennale of Architecture, which was directed by Kazuyo Sejima.
Joseph Grima, a multi-talented designer, architect, researcher, curator, and journalist, is the International Friend of Habitare in 2021. Grima will pick the most interesting content featured at Habitare and will give a keynote speech on Wednesday 15 September 2021. Habitare will be open at Messukeskus in Helsinki from 15 to 19 September 2021.
Images
About Messukeskus
Helsingin Messukeskus on Suomen elämyksellisin tapahtumakortteli ja vaikuttavin kohtaamismedia. Onnistuneet kohtaamiset jättävät vahvan muistijäljen ja tuottavat kiistatonta tulosta. Suomen suurin tapahtumajärjestäjä tuottaa laadukkaita tapahtumia sekä vuokraa tilojaan ja palvelujaan erilaisten tapahtumien areenaksi. Messukeskuksen itse tuottamia tapahtumia ovat mm. Habitare, Helsingin Kirjamessut, Educa, FinnBuild, Matkamessut ja Vene Båt. Vierastapahtumina Messukeskuksen tiloissa järjestetään mm. Slush, Nordic Business Forum, Assembly, Koiramessut sekä lukuisia kansainvälisiä kongresseja ja yritystapahtumia vuosittain. Tilat käsittävät 7 hallia, 40 muuntuvaa kokoustilaa, 21 ravintolaa ja oman tapahtumahotellin. Omistajayritys Suomen Messut Oyj perustettiin vuonna 1919. | Messukeskus. The real social media. | www.messukeskus.com @messukeskus
Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre (brand name Messukeskus) hosts Finland’s most inspiring events and exciting encounters. We create successful and lasting interactions with undisputable results. As Finland’s premier experience provider, we organise high-quality events and rent out our facilities for various occasions/ for a wide variety of occasions. Events produced by Messukeskus include, among others, Habitare, the Helsinki Book Fair, Educa, Finnbuild, Matka Nordic Travel Fair, and Helsinki International Boat Show. Messukeskus also hosts guest events such as Slush, Nordic Business Forum, Assembly, International Dog Fair, as well as many international congress and business events every year. Our premises include 7 halls, 40 convertible meeting rooms, 21 restaurants, and our own hotel.The Finnish Fair Corporation was founded in 1919. | Messukeskus. The real social media | www.messukeskus.com @messukeskus
Subscribe to releases from Messukeskus
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Messukeskus by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Messukeskus
FinnBuild Highlights 2024 -kilpailu on avattu23.4.2024 10:35:41 EEST | Tiedote
FinnBuild Highlights -kilpailussa etsitään jälleen vuoden mielenkiintoisimpia uutuustuotteita ja -palveluja. Suomen suurin rakennus- ja talotekniikkamessut FinnBuild täyttää tänä vuonna 50 vuotta. Kansainvälinen juhlatapahtuma järjestetään Helsingin Messukeskuksessa 8.–10.10.24.
Lapsiperheet viihtyivät ennätysmäärin viikonloppuna Lapsi- ja Lemmikkimessuilla21.4.2024 18:12:40 EEST | Tiedote
Helsingin Messukeskus täyttyi viikonloppuna lapsiperheistä ja eläinystävistä, kun Lapsimessut ja Helsingin Lemmikkimessut järjestettiin suuren suosion saattelemina, kävijöitä uuden Ruokamessut 2024 kanssa oli lähes 59 000.
Ruokalähettiläs 2024 -tunnustus Iman ja Leena safkaa -ruokayhteisölle19.4.2024 14:30:00 EEST | Tiedote
Uusi Ruokalähettiläs 2024 -tunnustus luovutettiin Iman Gharagozlulle ja Leena Ahokkaalle tänään avautuneilla Ruokamessuilla Helsingin Messukeskuksessa. Tunnustuksen myötä Ruokamessut haluaa nostaa esille ansioituneita ruoan puolestapuhujia ja toimijoita.
Ensimmäistä kertaa jaettavan Vuoden suomalainen elintarvikeinnovaatio -palkinnon sai Mö Chavre19.4.2024 14:30:00 EEST | Tiedote
Ruokamessujen avajaisissa Helsingin Messukeskuksessa jaettiin tänään uusi Vuoden suomalainen elintarvikeinnovaatio -palkinto, jonka sai Mö Chavre – kaurapohjainen vaihtoehto vuohenjuustolle. 10 000 euron arvoisen palkinnon lahjoittaa Suomen Messusäätiö.
Messukeskus otti vastaan Live-säätiön vastuullisuushaasteen19.4.2024 11:22:13 EEST | Tiedote
Messukeskus vastaanotti tänään Liven Suomen inhimillisimmät työpaikat -haasteen Lapsimessujen ja Ruokamessujen yhteydessä. Haasteen vastaanottanut yritys sitoutuu pohtimaan monimuotoisuuden toteutumista yhteisössään sekä edistämään täsmätyökykyisten työllistymistä.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom