LEARNING FROM 

LEARNING FROM investigates existing best practice examples and innovative concepts from international regions for future-looking projects and experimental typologies of all scales in architecture, design and planning, that contribute to urban and rural reforms. Our age of urbanisation and globalisation has focused primarily on city inhabitants and first world countries. But challenges faced by urban and rural populations as well as the loss of cultural and biological diversity are common to most cities, regions and countries around the world. Thus, rethinking strategies to act on global challenges such as climate change, social justice and the neglected hinterland requires a common, international knowledge base.

Considering the immense diversity of architecture and built realities in the world, does it make sense to speak of a “local” or “vernacular” architecture? How does this differ from architecture in Germany? What does the term architecture actually mean in a regional context? And how could these questions be conceptualised while leaving be- hind pre-existing theoretical moulds and biases? Searching for new ways to learn from places near and far, this theme “Learning From…” broadens and develops the discourse around the architecture of rather neglected regions such as Eastern Europe, Sub-Sa- hara, Middle East and Latin America. Putting forward an array of heterogeneous per- spectives, questioning old tropes and emerging narratives, the theme will challenges popular concepts whilst proposing new ones. All with the aim of critically examining and advancing theoretical reflection on regional architectures.