One of the next major events in the design world will take place in Toronto on October 24th and 25th, 2024. Hosted at George Brown College’s Waterfront Campus, the AZURE Human/Nature conference promises to bring together architects, urbanists, policymakers and designers to address climate change through innovative design.
Sustainable design practices, regenerative landscapes and integrating environmental, economic and social benefits into design projects will be among the topics covered at the conference. Notable speakers include Julia Watson, a New York-based landscape designer known for her LO-TEK philosophy, and Susan Carruth of 3XN/GXN, who will discuss low-carbon and recycled buildings.
Kongjian Yu, founder of Beijing’s Turenscape, will share his insights on the concept of sponge cities, while Tommaso Bitossi of Transsolar will explore the intersection of design and engineering in creating sustainable environments. In addition, Alfred Waugh and Dennis Thomas will discuss the redevelopment of the Jericho Lands in Vancouver.
Other key topics include urban heat mitigation strategies, circular design for a sustainable economy, and the enhancement of outdoor public spaces. The event will also feature workshops led by experts such as Naama Blonder on affordable housing and Giaimo on adaptive reuse. Participants can also attend sessions on carbon assessment tools and integrating community wellbeing into design practice.
In addition to the main sessions, the conference will offer an immersive field trip organised with the Toronto Society of Architects and co-programmed with the Architecture and Design Film Festival. This comprehensive event aims to foster interdisciplinary knowledge and collaboration among professionals from around the world. Find out more about the conference on the Human/Nature website.
Photography by ALDO DÍAZ
