Lecture series NAi in Rotterdam

Who can't wait for May 24, 2007, when the 3rd International Architecture Biennale will start at the Kunsthal in Rotterdam under the auspices of the Berlage Institute, has prepared a lecture series titled “The Reluctant Metropolis” at the NAi, located a few hundred meters away. The first lecture will start on March 22 and will focus on “Randstad”, the name given to the area of western Holland. Cities in this region include Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague. With a density of 1200 inhabitants per square kilometer, this area is one of the most densely populated parts of Europe. During the lecture series, architects, urban planners, and critics will discuss the possibilities for the development of Randstad towards a metropolitan region. The list of speakers also includes Italian architect Stefano Boeri, Palestinian-born urban planner Edward Soja, and the curator of last year's Biennale in Venice Ricky Burdett. More information about dates and the speakers themselves can be found – here.