Switzerland, Zurich

The symposium “Design for the Post-Neo-Liberal City” brings together international researchers and practitioners from architecture, urbanism and design. They are to discuss possible ways to design and develop urban areas, keeping in mind the economic crisis. The thesis: cities become “neo-liberal cities” once the globalized market is controlling their development. Social conflict and protest are replaced with techniques that promote unanimity and consensus.

So how is one to design alternative urban areas, that are socially agreeable? How is a “post-neoliberal” city to look? Speakers are Erik Swyngedouw (Manchester), Ruedi Baur (Zurich), Elisabeth Blum (Zurich), Bavo (Gideon Boie und Matthias Pauwels, Rotterdam / Brussels), Nik Theodore (Chicago), Tom Holert (Vienna / Berlin), and Margit Meyer (Berlin).

Visual outlooks on post-neoliberal cities come courtesy of Zak Kyes (London), Lehni-Trüb (Zurich), Metahaven (Amsterdam / Brussels), and Manual Raeder (Berlin).

The symposium is organized by “Civic City”, the Postgraduates’ Program of Design2Context, the Design Research Institute of the Hochschule der Künste, Zurich (ZHDK). It is to take place in the auditory of the Museum für Gestaltung, Zurich (Ausstellungsstrasse 60). Conference language is English, entry is free of charge.