NEB goes to Osaka - From vision to practice: Towards Beautiful, Sustainable and Inclusive living spaces

Day 1

Friday, 30 May, 08:00-11:00 (CEST), 15:00 – 18.00 (JST)

The first day of the conference explores the intersection of sustainability, architecture, and urban policy, fostering EU-Japan collaboration. Through speeches, keynotes, and panel discussions, experts will exchange insights on integrating traditional and modern building practices, addressing urban transformation, and strengthening connections between nature and architecture.

Moderator: Sandra Steinbruck, Communications Officer, European Commission

Introduction and speeches by:

• Jessika Roswall, EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy (video message)
• Tom Gnocchi, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan

Panel discussion 1: Learning from Vernacular Architecture – Traditional Knowledge for a Beautiful, Sustainable, Inclusive Future

Speakers:

• [introduction by] Atsushi Takano, architect, associate professor at Kagoshima University, Japan
• Marko Huttunen, architect, restoration specialist, partner at Livady Architects, Finland
• Juulia Mikkola, architect, non-fiction author, partner at Livady Architects, Finland
• Xu Tiantian, architect, founder and principal of DnA_Design and Architecture, China
• Norihisa Kawashima, architect, founder and principal of Nori Architects, associate professor at Meiji University, Japan

Keynote speech by Studio 5.5.

• Claire Renard, designer, co-founder of Studio 5.5, France
• Jean-Sébastien Blanc, designer, co-founder of Studio 5.5, France

Panel discussion 2:  Rethinking Architectural Behaviour, Human-Nature Relationship, and Built Space

Speakers:

• Maria del Carmen Garcia Sanchez, architect, assistant professor at Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain, affiliated researcher at the Centre for Privacy Studies at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Byoung Cho, architect, artist, founder of BCHO Architects, South Korea
• Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, architect, co-founder of Atelier BOW-WOW, Japan

Day 2

(co-designed with Aalto University)

Saturday, 31 May, 08:00-10:00 (CEST), 15:00 – 17:15 (JST)

The second day of the conference offers a unique opportunity to explore how future skills, creative education, and sustainable design are key to building resilient and inclusive living environments. Featured by leading academics and practitioners across Europe and Japan, the session will foster mutual learning and cultural exchange, connect like-minded professionals and institutions, and pave the way for new collaborations within the NEB Academy network.

Moderator: Matti Kuittinen, architect, professor, Aalto University, Finland

Keynote speech by Sou Fujimoto

• Sou Fujimoto, architect, founder and principal of Sou Fujimoto Architects, Japan

Dialogue: Ten lectures for the Anthropocene

Speakers:

• Matti Kuittinen, architect, professor, Aalto University, Finland
• Yoshiyuki Kawazoe, architect, professor, University of Tokyo, Japan

The Vision and Mission of the NEB Academy

• Andreja Kutnar, architect, professor, University of Primorska, Slovenia (video greeting)

Workshop: future skills, design and radical creativity

Moderators:

• Enni Äijälä, Senior Specialist, outreach and design, Aalto University
• Sini Koskimies, Communications Manager, Aalto University, Finland

Demonstration: New Wood Architecture with Augmented Reality and Circularity

Speaker:

• Jaakko Torvinen, architect, PhD researcher, Aalto University, Finland