When ideologies and cultures collide, new ways of working with and living in the world emerge. As a form of political philosophy, pluralism draws upon this dynamic condition, promoting the coexistence of multiple approaches and worldviews. Yet in the context of compounding crises and unchecked inequality, this is far from a neutral position: it becomes a commitment to struggle and discourse. Drawing from a broad-ranging group of speakers, Rice Architecture’s annual lecture series, Engaging Pluralism, explores how architects and designers can work with friction, contradiction, and multiplicity to effect broader social, cultural, and environmental change. It is an all-school platform for reflecting on the possibilities and challenges of designing for a pluralistic society.
Mónica Rivera and Emiliano López
Washington University in St. Louis / Emiliano López Mónica Rivera Arquitectos
Wednesday, September 7, 5:30 p.m.
Rana Begum
Visual Artist, London
Conversation with Frauke Josenhans, Moody Center for the Arts, and Maggie Tsang, Rice Architecture
In conjunction with the Moody Center for the Arts exhibition Urban Impressions
Friday, September 16, 12:00 p.m.
Faculty Talk: Adam Frampton and Karolina Czeczek
Rice Architecture / Only If — Architecture
Wednesday, September 21, 5:30 p.m.
Rania Ghosn
Massachusetts Institute of Technology / DESIGN EARTH
Wednesday, September 28, 5:30 p.m.
Faculty Book Launch
Dawn Finley and Mark Wamble, "System of Novelties"
Rice Architecture / Interloop—Architecture
Monday, October 3, 5:30 p.m.
Faculty Talk: Jim Njoo
Rice Architecture Paris / ENSA Paris–La Villette
Friday, October 7, 12:00 p.m.
Walter Benn Michaels
University of Illinois at Chicago
Conversation with Scott Colman, Rice Architecture
In conjunction with the Moody Center for the Arts exhibition Urban Impressions
Friday, October 14, 5:30 p.m.
Scientia Institute Lecture Series: Betterment of the World
Shantel Blakely, Andrew Colopy, Reto Geiser, and Igor Marjanović
Rice Architecture
Tuesday, October 18, 4:00 p.m.
Rozana Montiel
Principal, Rozana Montiel Architecture Studio
Wednesday, October 19, 5:30 p.m.
Faculty Book Launch
Jesús Vassallo and Sebastián López Cardozo, "Nueva Vivienda—New Housing Paradigms in Mexico"
Rice Architecture
Wednesday, October 26, 5:30 p.m.
Margarita Jover
Tulane University / aldayjover arquitectura y paisaje
Wednesday, November 2, 5:30 p.m.
PLAT 11: Soft Launch + roundtable discussion - online
Confirmed speakers: Irénée Scalbert, Maggie Tsang
Rice Architecture
Friday, November 4, 12:00 p.m.
David Gissen
Parsons School of Design
Wednesday, November 9, 5:30 p.m.
RDA Fall Civic Forum
Texas Is Urban—Panel Conversation
Confirmed speakers: Kathryn Holliday, University of Texas at Arlington; Michael Kubo, University of Houston; Jeffrey Lieber, Texas State University, San Marcos
Moderated by Troy Schaum - Rice Architecture
Thursday, November 10, 5:30 p.m.
Houston-NOLA Gulf Coast Connections
Rice Architecture + Rice Humanities + Center for Environmental Studies
Friday, November 18 - Saturday, November 19
Visit https://enst.rice.edu/ for details.
All lectures are free and open to the public and, unless noted otherwise, will be held in person in Farish Gallery, MD Anderson Hall, with a livestream component. In the event that COVID-19 circumstances prohibit in-person lectures, the series will be held virtually via Zoom. Each lecture has been submitted for AIA CES approval. For more information and to access the livestream links, visit arch.rice.edu/latest/events.
This lecture series is made possible through the generous support of the Betty R. and George F. Pierce Jr., FAIA, Fund; the William B. Coleman Jr. Colloquium Fund for Architecture; the Wm. W. Caudill Lecture Series Fund; and Rice Design Alliance (RDA), the public programs and outreach arm of Rice Architecture, which includes the generous support of its members and RDA Underwriters: Harvey | Harvey-Cleary; Tellepsen Family; Big State Electric; Brochsteins; CED Houston; MAREK; Turner Construction; and Walter P. Moore. Additional support is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts.
© 2022, Rice University, School of Architecture, 6100 Main Street MS-50, Houston, TX, 77005, USA, www.arch.rice.edu, @RiceArch. Design: Green Dragon Office, Los Angeles.