[Music] one step beyond estimates are that by
one step beyond estimates are that by
one step beyond estimates are that by 2050 66% of the world’s population will
2050 66% of the world’s population will
2050 66% of the world’s population will live in cities this means that one day
live in cities this means that one day
live in cities this means that one day cities will be home to almost all of us
cities will be home to almost all of us
cities will be home to almost all of us cities often exists for centuries
cities often exists for centuries
cities often exists for centuries languages and nations are often shorter
languages and nations are often shorter
languages and nations are often shorter lived generations pass through foreign
lived generations pass through foreign
lived generations pass through foreign people’s new rulers multitude of
people’s new rulers multitude of
people’s new rulers multitude of languages the city survives at all but
languages the city survives at all but
languages the city survives at all but is this true can cities survive at all
is this true can cities survive at all
is this true can cities survive at all my name is Arnhem our couch and I’m an
my name is Arnhem our couch and I’m an
my name is Arnhem our couch and I’m an architect architecture can be a powerful
architect architecture can be a powerful
architect architecture can be a powerful tool it can offer its users the
tool it can offer its users the
tool it can offer its users the possibility to be confronted with other
possibility to be confronted with other
possibility to be confronted with other people and to create shared memories it
people and to create shared memories it
people and to create shared memories it can offer the opportunity for people to
can offer the opportunity for people to
can offer the opportunity for people to identify with these spaces because they
identify with these spaces because they
identify with these spaces because they can connect their memories and stories
can connect their memories and stories
can connect their memories and stories to a physical space but what does it
to a physical space but what does it
to a physical space but what does it mean if you cannot recognize yourself in
mean if you cannot recognize yourself in
mean if you cannot recognize yourself in what you see around you if the stories
what you see around you if the stories
what you see around you if the stories on this play cannot be accessed by you
on this play cannot be accessed by you
on this play cannot be accessed by you are forgotten or excluded because for
are forgotten or excluded because for
are forgotten or excluded because for example you cannot afford it or you lack
example you cannot afford it or you lack
example you cannot afford it or you lack so-called appropriate cultural
so-called appropriate cultural
so-called appropriate cultural backgrounds then you’re not at home a
backgrounds then you’re not at home a
backgrounds then you’re not at home a stranger in the city you live in you’re
stranger in the city you live in you’re
stranger in the city you live in you’re not able to contribute not involved not
not able to contribute not involved not
not able to contribute not involved not responsible from a very young age I got
responsible from a very young age I got
responsible from a very young age I got to know what nationalism exclusion war
to know what nationalism exclusion war
to know what nationalism exclusion war and being a refugee was and as a result
and being a refugee was and as a result
and being a refugee was and as a result of that I also had an opportunity to
of that I also had an opportunity to
of that I also had an opportunity to start a new life here in the Netherlands
start a new life here in the Netherlands
start a new life here in the Netherlands with my family and to position myself in
with my family and to position myself in
with my family and to position myself in a new environment in those years I lived
a new environment in those years I lived
a new environment in those years I lived in a so-called mixed but actually
in a so-called mixed but actually
in a so-called mixed but actually segregated neighborhoods and this
segregated neighborhoods and this
segregated neighborhoods and this influenced the way I view architecture a
influenced the way I view architecture a
influenced the way I view architecture a lot in those years and in that
lot in those years and in that
lot in those years and in that neighborhood I had gradually become
neighborhood I had gradually become
neighborhood I had gradually become Dutch but also a little bit CERN amis
Dutch but also a little bit CERN amis
Dutch but also a little bit CERN amis Turkish Antillean and all the other
Turkish Antillean and all the other
Turkish Antillean and all the other cultures and
cultures and
cultures and identities which I met in the massive
identities which I met in the massive
identities which I met in the massive apartment building we were living in and
apartment building we were living in and
apartment building we were living in and this is actually one of the most
this is actually one of the most
this is actually one of the most valuable experiences that I had and the
valuable experiences that I had and the
valuable experiences that I had and the reason why I became an architect is
reason why I became an architect is
reason why I became an architect is because I realized that architecture can
because I realized that architecture can
because I realized that architecture can facilitate this but it can also
facilitate this but it can also
facilitate this but it can also discourage it by excluding certain
discourage it by excluding certain
discourage it by excluding certain groups of people in using these spaces
groups of people in using these spaces
groups of people in using these spaces and only if we recognize the multiple
and only if we recognize the multiple
and only if we recognize the multiple realities of identities and
realities of identities and
realities of identities and identifications can a city be formed
identifications can a city be formed
identifications can a city be formed that facilitates inclusivity and I will
that facilitates inclusivity and I will
that facilitates inclusivity and I will give you an example of what is at stake
give you an example of what is at stake
give you an example of what is at stake if this inclusivity is not our ambition
if this inclusivity is not our ambition
if this inclusivity is not our ambition after the war ended I visited my family
after the war ended I visited my family
after the war ended I visited my family city mostar in bosnia herzegovina almost
city mostar in bosnia herzegovina almost
city mostar in bosnia herzegovina almost every summer about 70 percent of the
every summer about 70 percent of the
every summer about 70 percent of the city did not survive the war and even
city did not survive the war and even
city did not survive the war and even when the violence was over returning
when the violence was over returning
when the violence was over returning home was no option because everything
home was no option because everything
home was no option because everything that was familiar was gone because an
that was familiar was gone because an
that was familiar was gone because an important war strategy to destroy a
important war strategy to destroy a
important war strategy to destroy a people is to destroy everything they
people is to destroy everything they
people is to destroy everything they know and this is what happened to my
know and this is what happened to my
know and this is what happened to my family but is also daily reality right
family but is also daily reality right
family but is also daily reality right now for a lot of families for example
now for a lot of families for example
now for a lot of families for example families from Syria or every TRAI that
families from Syria or every TRAI that
families from Syria or every TRAI that have fled to the Netherlands these last
have fled to the Netherlands these last
have fled to the Netherlands these last few years and are maybe your new
few years and are maybe your new
few years and are maybe your new neighbors right now people identify
neighbors right now people identify
neighbors right now people identify themselves with public buildings and
themselves with public buildings and
themselves with public buildings and public spaces landmarks of their lives
public spaces landmarks of their lives
public spaces landmarks of their lives in the city connecting them to their
in the city connecting them to their
in the city connecting them to their personal story their history bridges
personal story their history bridges
personal story their history bridges museums libraries and squares these are
museums libraries and squares these are
museums libraries and squares these are all chapters and verses of lives
all chapters and verses of lives
all chapters and verses of lives connected to the people that are using
connected to the people that are using
connected to the people that are using them what if we could create cities in
them what if we could create cities in
them what if we could create cities in which all its citizens could recognize
which all its citizens could recognize
which all its citizens could recognize themselves cities in which everyone gets
themselves cities in which everyone gets
themselves cities in which everyone gets to write a verse architecture was used
to write a verse architecture was used
to write a verse architecture was used as a tool in the war in Bosnia
as a tool in the war in Bosnia
as a tool in the war in Bosnia Herzegovina by deliberately destroying
Herzegovina by deliberately destroying
Herzegovina by deliberately destroying public buildings and spaces a history
public buildings and spaces a history
public buildings and spaces a history and a culture of a city vanished the
and a culture of a city vanished the
and a culture of a city vanished the most profound act of destruction was
most profound act of destruction was
most profound act of destruction was that of the old bridge in mostar the
that of the old bridge in mostar the
that of the old bridge in mostar the bridge was a symbol for the city the
bridge was a symbol for the city the
bridge was a symbol for the city the city was named after the bridge it stood
city was named after the bridge it stood
city was named after the bridge it stood for the connection between the two
for the connection between the two
for the connection between the two halves of the city for tolerance and you
halves of the city for tolerance and you
halves of the city for tolerance and you it was a important location for meeting
it was a important location for meeting
it was a important location for meeting people the location of the celebrated
people the location of the celebrated
people the location of the celebrated yearly diving competition and the best
yearly diving competition and the best
yearly diving competition and the best place for first dates for generations of
place for first dates for generations of
place for first dates for generations of people the city was the bridge and the
people the city was the bridge and the
people the city was the bridge and the bridge was the city but destroying the
bridge was the city but destroying the
bridge was the city but destroying the bridge the soul of the city was
bridge the soul of the city was
bridge the soul of the city was extinguished the city became mortal the
extinguished the city became mortal the
extinguished the city became mortal the city died destruction is not the only
city died destruction is not the only
city died destruction is not the only way to remove the soul from a city
way to remove the soul from a city
way to remove the soul from a city changing the rules changing the access
changing the rules changing the access
changing the rules changing the access can have the same devastating effect and
can have the same devastating effect and
can have the same devastating effect and when I visited most that after the war I
when I visited most that after the war I
when I visited most that after the war I saw how a lot of public places were
saw how a lot of public places were
saw how a lot of public places were transformed into nationalist hotspots
transformed into nationalist hotspots
transformed into nationalist hotspots where certain rules and politics applied
where certain rules and politics applied
where certain rules and politics applied and where specific groups of people were
and where specific groups of people were
and where specific groups of people were excluded witnessing this I realized
excluded witnessing this I realized
excluded witnessing this I realized cities are not only built from bricks
cities are not only built from bricks
cities are not only built from bricks concrete or stone but rather by memories
concrete or stone but rather by memories
concrete or stone but rather by memories millions of memories inherently linked
millions of memories inherently linked
millions of memories inherently linked to a certain place and a place you need
to a certain place and a place you need
to a certain place and a place you need access to in order to access those
access to in order to access those
access to in order to access those memories or to create them and people in
memories or to create them and people in
memories or to create them and people in most of that were excluded from those
most of that were excluded from those
most of that were excluded from those hotspots were unable to access a part of
hotspots were unable to access a part of
hotspots were unable to access a part of their history and by deaths their
their history and by deaths their
their history and by deaths their history was denied and linking this
history was denied and linking this
history was denied and linking this phenomenon to for example this country
phenomenon to for example this country
phenomenon to for example this country where Dutch colonial past and especially
where Dutch colonial past and especially
where Dutch colonial past and especially its victims is denied in public space
its victims is denied in public space
its victims is denied in public space can have the same devastating effects
can have the same devastating effects
can have the same devastating effects for some of our citizens and people that
for some of our citizens and people that
for some of our citizens and people that know me really well they know that’s
know me really well they know that’s
know me really well they know that’s talking about this combination of war
talking about this combination of war
talking about this combination of war and architecture it’s not my favorite
and architecture it’s not my favorite
and architecture it’s not my favorite thing to do because I’ve been doing it a
thing to do because I’ve been doing it a
thing to do because I’ve been doing it a lot these last few years because I think
lot these last few years because I think
lot these last few years because I think it’s important to learn from mistakes
it’s important to learn from mistakes
it’s important to learn from mistakes that are made in history and as you
that are made in history and as you
that are made in history and as you notice this story is not about the
notice this story is not about the
notice this story is not about the Bosnia of 1993 it’s about you and me and
Bosnia of 1993 it’s about you and me and
Bosnia of 1993 it’s about you and me and the cities we live in today and is it
the cities we live in today and is it
the cities we live in today and is it possible to create cities in which a
possible to create cities in which a
possible to create cities in which a centuries of memories are preserved but
centuries of memories are preserved but
centuries of memories are preserved but new ones are collected as well Callay do
new ones are collected as well Callay do
new ones are collected as well Callay do skopic spaces with each turn you see a
skopic spaces with each turn you see a
skopic spaces with each turn you see a different story and the multitude of
different story and the multitude of
different story and the multitude of them is the beauty as guilty as the act
them is the beauty as guilty as the act
them is the beauty as guilty as the act of destruction and exclusion are the act
of destruction and exclusion are the act
of destruction and exclusion are the act of building a city can be just as
of building a city can be just as
of building a city can be just as exclusive and destructive in so many
exclusive and destructive in so many
exclusive and destructive in so many cities today
cities today
cities today the public spaces that are built tell
the public spaces that are built tell
the public spaces that are built tell the stories of the few other people can
the stories of the few other people can
the stories of the few other people can walk the streets sometimes even enter a
walk the streets sometimes even enter a
walk the streets sometimes even enter a building but they will never be part of
building but they will never be part of
building but they will never be part of the story if we are to build inclusive
the story if we are to build inclusive
the story if we are to build inclusive cities this needs to change but who
cities this needs to change but who
cities this needs to change but who decides which stories are told by the
decides which stories are told by the
decides which stories are told by the buildings around us who decides which
buildings around us who decides which
buildings around us who decides which part of history is on display by
part of history is on display by
part of history is on display by choosing this we choose what is
choosing this we choose what is
choosing this we choose what is important we choose who is important the
important we choose who is important the
important we choose who is important the cities that we create right now these
cities that we create right now these
cities that we create right now these pricey picture-perfect cities makes us
pricey picture-perfect cities makes us
pricey picture-perfect cities makes us lose touch they’re short-lived not
lose touch they’re short-lived not
lose touch they’re short-lived not shared and not remembered and don’t get
shared and not remembered and don’t get
shared and not remembered and don’t get me wrong I’m not against pricey places
me wrong I’m not against pricey places
me wrong I’m not against pricey places like the ones you saw on these last
like the ones you saw on these last
like the ones you saw on these last images but if it cannot exist next to
images but if it cannot exist next to
images but if it cannot exist next to places that are less pricey or offer
places that are less pricey or offer
places that are less pricey or offer other possibilities of use or maybe
other possibilities of use or maybe
other possibilities of use or maybe other products then we will create
other products then we will create
other products then we will create homogeneous cities cities where that are
homogeneous cities cities where that are
homogeneous cities cities where that are filled with places like these where we
filled with places like these where we
filled with places like these where we can drink coffee and eat banana bread
can drink coffee and eat banana bread
can drink coffee and eat banana bread till we drop dead yeah like I said we as
till we drop dead yeah like I said we as
till we drop dead yeah like I said we as citizens don’t like any other products
citizens don’t like any other products
citizens don’t like any other products and we have to ask ourselves the
and we have to ask ourselves the
and we have to ask ourselves the question who decides about this and why
question who decides about this and why
question who decides about this and why we need to cultivate the fact that human
we need to cultivate the fact that human
we need to cultivate the fact that human encounters between different people are
encounters between different people are
encounters between different people are important because it’s the connection
important because it’s the connection
important because it’s the connection between you and someone else someone
between you and someone else someone
between you and someone else someone different than you that makes us who you
different than you that makes us who you
different than you that makes us who you are if we lose sight of the other if the
are if we lose sight of the other if the
are if we lose sight of the other if the other is not part of our daily reality
other is not part of our daily reality
other is not part of our daily reality anymore whoever that other is we will
anymore whoever that other is we will
anymore whoever that other is we will lose something very valuable the ability
lose something very valuable the ability
lose something very valuable the ability to constantly redefine ourselves in
to constantly redefine ourselves in
to constantly redefine ourselves in relation to others and this is exactly
relation to others and this is exactly
relation to others and this is exactly what runs wrong in mostar because people
what runs wrong in mostar because people
what runs wrong in mostar because people outside of each other the old bridges
outside of each other the old bridges
outside of each other the old bridges rebuilt but it’s lost its meaning
rebuilt but it’s lost its meaning
rebuilt but it’s lost its meaning because it’s just a symbol of a fake
because it’s just a symbol of a fake
because it’s just a symbol of a fake connection Muslims and Catholics live
connection Muslims and Catholics live
connection Muslims and Catholics live separated from each other each on on one
separated from each other each on on one
separated from each other each on on one side of the bridge with our own
side of the bridge with our own
side of the bridge with our own hospitals schools football clubs etc can
hospitals schools football clubs etc can
hospitals schools football clubs etc can we see a city as a book that is
we see a city as a book that is
we see a city as a book that is constantly being written without losing
constantly being written without losing
constantly being written without losing any old chapters even the wounds of the
any old chapters even the wounds of the
any old chapters even the wounds of the past interpretations of the present and
past interpretations of the present and
past interpretations of the present and with space for new thoughts that even
with space for new thoughts that even
with space for new thoughts that even haven’t been been taught yet
haven’t been been taught yet
haven’t been been taught yet we have to find shared points of
we have to find shared points of
we have to find shared points of reference in public space to bind
reference in public space to bind
reference in public space to bind different people to one place that is
different people to one place that is
different people to one place that is what I try to do in most that I made a
what I try to do in most that I made a
what I try to do in most that I made a design proposal in which I included a
design proposal in which I included a
design proposal in which I included a ritual as old as time diving off of the
ritual as old as time diving off of the
ritual as old as time diving off of the old bridge is a custom where young men
old bridge is a custom where young men
old bridge is a custom where young men are learned how to dive and ultimately
are learned how to dive and ultimately
are learned how to dive and ultimately test their manhood by diving into the
test their manhood by diving into the
test their manhood by diving into the river every year a diving contest is
river every year a diving contest is
river every year a diving contest is held where high bore divers from
held where high bore divers from
held where high bore divers from different religious backgrounds take the
different religious backgrounds take the
different religious backgrounds take the plunge and in this urban activity it
plunge and in this urban activity it
plunge and in this urban activity it doesn’t matter who you are or where
doesn’t matter who you are or where
doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from it connects people through
you’re from it connects people through
you’re from it connects people through the courage to do so I use this to
the courage to do so I use this to
the courage to do so I use this to design a monument which is dedicated to
design a monument which is dedicated to
design a monument which is dedicated to the ritual of diving where citizens can
the ritual of diving where citizens can
the ritual of diving where citizens can learn step by step how to die from great
learn step by step how to die from great
learn step by step how to die from great heights and with the plunge from the new
heights and with the plunge from the new
heights and with the plunge from the new old bridge as the final step the three
old bridge as the final step the three
old bridge as the final step the three second jump towards the water provides a
second jump towards the water provides a
second jump towards the water provides a feeling of weightlessness and freedom
feeling of weightlessness and freedom
feeling of weightlessness and freedom where one becomes detached from
where one becomes detached from
where one becomes detached from everything around oneself including the
everything around oneself including the
everything around oneself including the struggles of living in a divided city in
struggles of living in a divided city in
struggles of living in a divided city in order to give all stories past present
order to give all stories past present
order to give all stories past present and future the space they deserve we
and future the space they deserve we
and future the space they deserve we need to start creating cities
need to start creating cities
need to start creating cities differently with public space and
differently with public space and
differently with public space and architecture that creates and
architecture that creates and
architecture that creates and facilitates encounters between different
facilitates encounters between different
facilitates encounters between different people through shared rituals and
people through shared rituals and
people through shared rituals and activities we need bold policy makers
activities we need bold policy makers
activities we need bold policy makers who recognize the power of diversity and
who recognize the power of diversity and
who recognize the power of diversity and inclusivity we need visionary
inclusivity we need visionary
inclusivity we need visionary politicians from different backgrounds
politicians from different backgrounds
politicians from different backgrounds that are willing to listen to the
that are willing to listen to the
that are willing to listen to the stories of all of their citizens and are
stories of all of their citizens and are
stories of all of their citizens and are true representatives of those who they
true representatives of those who they
true representatives of those who they decide for we need architects to create
decide for we need architects to create
decide for we need architects to create public space that connect people and
public space that connect people and
public space that connect people and that reflects shared history and
that reflects shared history and
that reflects shared history and possible futures I invite you to walk
possible futures I invite you to walk
possible futures I invite you to walk the streets write your own verse and to
the streets write your own verse and to
the streets write your own verse and to open up to all the unknown stories of
open up to all the unknown stories of
open up to all the unknown stories of your fellow city dwellers thank you
your fellow city dwellers thank you
your fellow city dwellers thank you [Applause]
”
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