Throughout the history of humankind, every leap of progress can be attributed to an innovation aided by a technology of that time. Advancements and shifts in technology have deeply shaped the way people live over the years and therefore, the spaces they inhabit. This year, the forum will investigate innovation in the built environment, and the technologies that enable them.

 

Often, architects understand changes and developments happening in other fields, see its potential in architecture and construction, and posit new ways of making. If innovation is considered as changing what is established, a question worth pondering over is what exactly constitutes innovation in the field of architecture.

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For KVDF 2024, we look forward to engaging in a collective effort to identify and decode architectural innovations. In a world where technology is allowing for rapid advancements across disciplines, we recognise that architectural innovations are also primarily aided by technological advancements. However, technology can have multiple interpretations. It can be a skill or a form of knowledge. Technology does not have to be physical. It can be a space, a concept, a tool, or even a process developed to achieve a desired form or experience. Technology can be part of the design process, the execution, or the spatial experience.

 

With the advent of new technological developments in the fields of design and construction, conventional ways of architectural space-making are being challenged. These advancements enable innovations that can shape the future of built environments. The forum will look into the opportunities these futuristic, high-tech, and digital technologies hold for architects and what they can do to space making. However, there is still a large part of the world that looks at technology differently. Technologies of the global south differ from those of the global north and hence, interpretations of innovation may also vary. This forum will also look into technologies of the hand, labor-intensive technologies, and even local crafts to understand what architectural innovation means in different contexts, and whether the use of a particular technology holds a symbolic value. Consequently, what actually constitutes “low-tech” and “high-tech” will be investigated in an attempt to move away from preconceived notions.

 

Many times, technological developments have triggered paradigm shifts in the way people inhabit spaces. The forum intends to address how architects are responding to these changes through innovations in space-making.

 

The forum would use student projects as well as the work of practitioners and academicians to explore the theme of technology and innovation as an enabler of architectural space.

 

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