CHAIR OF ARCHITECTURE
AND URBAN DESIGN —
PROF. KEES CHRISTIAANSE

RESEARCH

4TH IABR: OPEN CITY: DESIGNING COEXISTENCE

Prof. Kees Christiaanse and the Professorship for Architecture and Urban Design curated the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam 2009

Under the title Open City: Designing Coexistence the 4th International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam 2009 (4th IABR) addressed the subject of the ability to design socially integrative contemporary cities. The Biennale’s central line of enquiry was to ask in what way architects and urban planners can contribute to an open city that gives all its inhabitants access to the resources and possibilities available, and that is designed for sustainable coexistence that is beneficial for everyone.


After fifteen weeks of the exhibition being open, more than 60,000 enjoyed the Biennale, including more than 100 objects from the fields of architecture, urban planning, art, design, and science, as well as numerous additional events.

4th International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam

25 September 2009 – 10 January 2010

Rotterdam – Amsterdam

Curatorial team:

Kees Christiaanse (curatopr), Tim Rieniets (co-curator), Fabienne Hoelzel (assitant curator), with Peter Blume, Elisabeth Hinz, Frederic Schwarz, Franziska Singer, Fujan Fahmi, Mathias Stark, Jia Rujun, Laura Kopps and many others.

The curatorial team was greatly supported by:

ETH Zürich

Departement Architecture, ETH Zurich
Chair of Architecture and Urban Design, ETH Zurich