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This is an audio-introduction to the exhibition How Modern, on view at CCA from 20 November 2025 to 5 April 2026.   The exhibition How Modern: Biographies of Architecture in China 1949-1979, produced and curated in collaboration with M+ Museum in Hong Kong, reconsiders these assumptions. The exhibition takes the multimedia documentation of architectural production under the socialist Chinese regime as a point of departure, illuminating specific social and cultural microhistories that are not evident in purely textual historical sources. These social biographies of projects—characterized by material and technical inventiveness, continuities and discontinuities with social, economic, and political inclinations, and direct and indirect influences from within and beyond the Eastern bloc—challenge prevailing assessments of design and architectural practice in Mao's China as monolithic, hermetic, and autocratic. Examining more nuanced histories and narratives behind projects from the undocumented perspectives of design institutes, architects, and inhabitants, the exhibition extends the CCA's research into new readings of modern architecture and practice across different geographies, cultures and sociopolitical contexts. The exhibition is organized by the CCA in collaboration with M+, Hong Kong.

You are listening to the audio-introduction of With an Acre.  With an Acre follows architect Carla Juaçaba as she develops a museum and community space in solidarity with Flor de Café, a collective of smallholder farmers in Minas Gerais. Inspired by the temporality of Indigenous collective structures and the form of highway billboards that mark the extended rural landscape in the region, Juaçaba proposes a landmark on an elevated plantation overlooking the town of Nepomuceno. Light and tactical construction will provide a space for sharing knowledge, offering a symbolic stage of resistance while leaving a minimal trace on the earth. The pavilions will frame views of the region, but more importantly will set a vision for the future of the territory. With an Acre is the third chapter of Groundwork, a three-part film and exhibition series exploring the conceptual development and field research of contemporary architects cultivating alternative modes of practice.

To Build Law This is an audio-introduction to the exhibition To Build Law, on show at the Canadian Centre for Architecture from 10 December  2024 to 22 May 2025.  According to a 2020 report by the UN Environment Programme, the construction industry accounts for at least 38 per cent of carbon emissions globally, operating with narrow methods geared toward profit. Buildings are held as assets, torn down, and redeveloped, with limited consideration of community and environmental impacts. Meanwhile, housing crises escalate. Evidently, a systemic shift in the way we build and value our built environment is urgently needed. To Build Law follows bplus.xyz (b+) and station.plus (s+) as they establish a policy lab, HouseEurope!, to propose industry reforms and shift cultural norms. The film closely observes the b+ team during various phases of conceptualization and development of a European Citizens' Initiative meant to incentivize renovation over demolition and new construction. Through this bottom-up legal tool, architecture becomes an open process of establishing partners, drafting legislation, filming stories, strategizing communications, coordinating campaigns, collecting votes, and building a movement. To Build Law is the second chapter of Groundwork, a three-part film and exhibition series exploring the conceptual development and field research of contemporary architects cultivating alternative modes of engagement with new project sites.

"Market Landscape" is an investigation into the urban ecologies of two major financial districts: Hong Kong's Central District and London's Canary Wharf. Entangled by histories of empire stretching from the early stages of industrial capitalism up to the present day, this project explores how seemingly mundane design features—like parks, plantings, and land works—reveal new frameworks to understand the inner workings of global financial markets and their wider planetary impact. In doing so, the project aims to contribute to the knowledge of architecture's role in the Anthropocene. (38 min English) To learn more on the project: https://www.cca.qc.ca/marketlandscape « Le paysage du marché » est une enquête sur les écologies urbaines de deux grands quartiers financiers : le district central de Hong Kong et Canary Wharf à Londres. Empêtré dans des histoires impériales s'étalant des premiers stades du capitalisme industriel jusqu'à nos jours, ce projet explore comment des caractéristiques de conception apparemment banales, telles que parcs, parterres et terrassements, révèlent de nouveaux cadres pour comprendre le fonctionnement des marchés financiers mondiaux et leur impact planétaire plus large. Ce faisant, ce projet vise à contribuer à la connaissance du rôle de l'architecture dans l'anthropocène. (38 minutes, Anglais)   Pour en apprendre plus sur le projet : https://www.cca.qc.ca/fr/evenements/70873/le-paysage-du-marche

The audio documentary "Off:Re:OnShore" explores the legacy of industrial offshoring, the effects of corporate actions on the built environment of labour, and the role of architecture in bringing closer ideas of work and the good life. This documentary was conceived and developed by Victor Muñoz Sanz during his residence at the Canadian Centre for Architecture as 2015–2016 Emerging Curator. (35min. In English) L'audiodocumentaire « Off:Re:OnShore » explore les legs de la délocalisation industrielle, les effets des actions corporatives sur l'environnement bâti du travail, ainsi que les manières dont l'architecture peut réconcilier travail et bien-être. Ce documentaire a été conçu et élaboré par Victor Muñoz Sanz lors de sa résidence au Centre Canadien d'Architecture à titre de Commissaire émergent 2015–2016. (35 min. En anglais) #offreonshore http://cca.qc.ca/offreonshore

"Sustainable?," an international colloquium and roundtable, historically situates architectural engagement with sustainability, and constructs a program for future engagement based in collaborations and conversations between architects, engineers, and scholars from various disciplines. It was intiated by architect and scholar Iñaki Àbalos. « Sustainable? », un colloque international et une table ronde, situe historiquement l'engagement de l'architecture envers le développement durable, et met en place un programme pour l'avenir sur la base de collaborations et de conversations entre architectes, ingénieurs et chercheurs. Organisé par l'architecte et chercheur Iñaki Àbalos. En anglais. Ábalos & Herreros, architectural firm. Sample of motif of vegetation for the decorative windows, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, between 2001 and 2005. Ábalos & Herreros fonds, CCA. ARCH272011 © Iñaki Ábalos and Juan Herreros Ábalos & Herreros, bureau d'architectes.Échantillon de motif végétal pour les fenêtres décoratives, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Îles Canaries, entre 2001 and 2005. Fonds Ábalos & Herreros, CCA. ARCH272011

"Sustainable?," an international colloquium and roundtable, historically situates architectural engagement with sustainability, and constructs a program for future engagement based in collaborations and conversations between architects, engineers, and scholars from various disciplines. It was intiated by architect and scholar Iñaki Àbalos. « Sustainable? », un colloque international et une table ronde, situe historiquement l'engagement de l'architecture envers le développement durable, et met en place un programme pour l'avenir sur la base de collaborations et de conversations entre architectes, ingénieurs et chercheurs. Organisé par l'architecte et chercheur Iñaki Àbalos. En anglais.   Ábalos & Herreros, architectural firm. Sample of motif of vegetation for the decorative windows, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, between 2001 and 2005. Ábalos & Herreros fonds, CCA. ARCH272011 © Iñaki Ábalos and Juan Herreros Ábalos & Herreros, bureau d'architectes.Échantillon de motif végétal pour les fenêtres décoratives, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Îles Canaries, entre 2001 and 2005. Fonds Ábalos & Herreros, CCA. ARCH272011

"Sustainable?," an international colloquium and roundtable, historically situates architectural engagement with sustainability, and constructs a program for future engagement based in collaborations and conversations between architects, engineers, and scholars from various disciplines. It was intiated by architect and scholar Iñaki Àbalos. « Sustainable? », un colloque international et une table ronde, situe historiquement l'engagement de l'architecture envers le développement durable, et met en place un programme pour l'avenir sur la base de collaborations et de conversations entre architectes, ingénieurs et chercheurs. Organisé par l'architecte et chercheur Iñaki Àbalos. En anglais. Ábalos & Herreros, architectural firm. Sample of motif of vegetation for the decorative windows, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, between 2001 and 2005. Ábalos & Herreros fonds, CCA. ARCH272011 © Iñaki Ábalos and Juan Herreros Ábalos & Herreros, bureau d'architectes.Échantillon de motif végétal pour les fenêtres décoratives, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Îles Canaries, entre 2001 and 2005. Fonds Ábalos & Herreros, CCA. ARCH272011

"Sustainable?," an international colloquium and roundtable, historically situates architectural engagement with sustainability, and constructs a program for future engagement based in collaborations and conversations between architects, engineers, and scholars from various disciplines. It was intiated by architect and scholar Iñaki Àbalos. « Sustainable? », un colloque international et une table ronde, situe historiquement l'engagement de l'architecture envers le développement durable, et met en place un programme pour l'avenir sur la base de collaborations et de conversations entre architectes, ingénieurs et chercheurs. Organisé par l'architecte et chercheur Iñaki Àbalos. En anglais. Ábalos & Herreros, architectural firm. Sample of motif of vegetation for the decorative windows, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, between 2001 and 2005. Ábalos & Herreros fonds, CCA. ARCH272011 © Iñaki Ábalos and Juan Herreros Ábalos & Herreros, bureau d'architectes.Échantillon de motif végétal pour les fenêtres décoratives, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Îles Canaries, entre 2001 and 2005. Fonds Ábalos & Herreros, CCA. ARCH272011

"Sustainable?," an international colloquium and roundtable, historically situates architectural engagement with sustainability, and constructs a program for future engagement based in collaborations and conversations between architects, engineers, and scholars from various disciplines. It was intiated by architect and scholar Iñaki Àbalos. « Sustainable? », un colloque international et une table ronde, situe historiquement l'engagement de l'architecture envers le développement durable, et met en place un programme pour l'avenir sur la base de collaborations et de conversations entre architectes, ingénieurs et chercheurs. Organisé par l'architecte et chercheur Iñaki Àbalos. En anglais. Ábalos & Herreros, architectural firm. Sample of motif of vegetation for the decorative windows, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, between 2001 and 2005. Ábalos & Herreros fonds, CCA. ARCH272011 © Iñaki Ábalos and Juan Herreros Ábalos & Herreros, bureau d'architectes.Échantillon de motif végétal pour les fenêtres décoratives, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Îles Canaries, entre 2001 and 2005. Fonds Ábalos & Herreros, CCA. ARCH272011

"Sustainable?," an international colloquium and roundtable, historically situates architectural engagement with sustainability, and constructs a program for future engagement based in collaborations and conversations between architects, engineers, and scholars from various disciplines. It was intiated by architect and scholar Iñaki Àbalos. « Sustainable? », un colloque international et une table ronde, situe historiquement l'engagement de l'architecture envers le développement durable, et met en place un programme pour l'avenir sur la base de collaborations et de conversations entre architectes, ingénieurs et chercheurs. Organisé par l'architecte et chercheur Iñaki Àbalos. En anglais.

"Sustainable?," an international colloquium and roundtable, historically situates architectural engagement with sustainability, and constructs a program for future engagement based in collaborations and conversations between architects, engineers, and scholars from various disciplines. It was intiated by architect and scholar Iñaki Àbalos. « Sustainable? », un colloque international et une table ronde, situe historiquement l'engagement de l'architecture envers le développement durable, et met en place un programme pour l'avenir sur la base de collaborations et de conversations entre architectes, ingénieurs et chercheurs. Organisé par l'architecte et chercheur Iñaki Àbalos. En anglais. Ábalos & Herreros, architectural firm. Sample of motif of vegetation for the decorative windows, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, between 2001 and 2005. Ábalos & Herreros fonds, CCA. ARCH272011 © Iñaki Ábalos and Juan Herreros Ábalos & Herreros, bureau d'architectes.Échantillon de motif végétal pour les fenêtres décoratives, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Îles Canaries, entre 2001 and 2005. Fonds Ábalos & Herreros, CCA. ARCH272011

"Sustainable?," an international colloquium and roundtable, historically situates architectural engagement with sustainability, and constructs a program for future engagement based in collaborations and conversations between architects, engineers, and scholars from various disciplines. It was intiated by architect and scholar Iñaki Àbalos. « Sustainable? », un colloque international et une table ronde, situe historiquement l'engagement de l'architecture envers le développement durable, et met en place un programme pour l'avenir sur la base de collaborations et de conversations entre architectes, ingénieurs et chercheurs. Organisé par l'architecte et chercheur Iñaki Àbalos. En anglais. Ábalos & Herreros, architectural firm. Sample of motif of vegetation for the decorative windows, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, between 2001 and 2005. Ábalos & Herreros fonds, CCA. ARCH272011 © Iñaki Ábalos and Juan Herreros Ábalos & Herreros, bureau d'architectes.Échantillon de motif végétal pour les fenêtres décoratives, Plaza y torre Woermann, Las Palmas, Îles Canaries, entre 2001 and 2005. Fonds Ábalos & Herreros, CCA. ARCH272011