Public Lecture by Kai-Uwe Bergmann, BIG

Kai-Uwe Bergmann, BIG
Materialism
 

Public Lecture curated by Lidor Gilad

Thursday 30 Aprile 2026, 6:30 pm

Accademia di architettura USI
Palazzo Canavée, Agorà Lio Galfetti

"We seek to reclaim the term materialism—not as a symbol of empty consumerism, but as a meaningful practice: shaping our future through form and matter. For most of our history, life adapted to the material world around us. That changed the moment we discovered tools, technology, and architecture. With them, we gained the power to shape the material world in service of the life we wanted to lead. Human history can be read as a story told through materials—each breakthrough marking a new chapter in our evolution. We named entire eras after the substances we learned to master: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Silicon Age. Our ability to manipulate matter has been one of the most powerful forces driving civilization forward. In this spirit, we invite you on an odyssey through the material world, as seen through the works of BIG—from the permanence of solid rock to the invisible flow of electrons."
 

BIG is a multidisciplinary practice of architects, designers, urban planners, landscape architects, interior designers, and researchers, with offices in Copenhagen, New York, London, Barcelona, Shanghai, Los Angeles, and Zurich. The firm is currently engaged in numerous projects across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East. BIG’s architecture is grounded in a careful analysis of the ways in which contemporary life is constantly evolving. This evolution is shaped by multicultural exchange, global economic flows, and advances in communication technologies, all of which call for new forms of architectural and urban organisation.

Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Partner at BIG, operates globally, leading the firm’s commercial development across more than 40 countries. He oversees urban and landscape projects and is licensed to practise in the United States and Canada. His major works include the BIG U resilience plan for Manhattan, currently under construction. He has also contributed to numerous international masterplans and urban projects. Alongside his professional activity, he teaches, serves on international juries, and delivers lectures worldwide.

The lecture is streamed live at www.arc.usi.ch.