MVRDV

Overview

DOMa was thrilled to welcome MVRDV from Rotterdam to the eighth event of the #DOMaLectures series — a platform where leading and emerging architecture offices share their practice through a retrospective of their work and its connection to today’s world.
After a warm introduction by Giorgos Panetsos, who shared his early impressions of MVRDV’s work, Bertrand Schippan took the stage with the words: “Tonight, we’ll talk about change.” His talk, titled Resilient Future(s), explored architecture’s role in addressing the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and global pollution.
Using Thessaloniki as a case study, Schippan highlighted how rising sea levels will reshape urban life. Through speculative scenarios, MVRDV reimagines architecture as a transformative tool that not only adapts to, but drives change. Their method combines deep data research and custom software to propose bold, often surprising solutions.
He presented a four-part approach:
* Prioritising green infrastructure through planted roofs and integrated nature
* Adapting to water as a constant presence rather than an intruder
* Rethinking urban density by unlocking unused rooftop space
* Committing to carbon neutrality with material choices and grounded solutions

The evening closed with a lively Q&A, covering AI in design, evolving partnerships, and how to balance metrics with creative action.