Events

Hosted as part of the VOCLA Talks series, BIG Founder and Creative Director Bjarke Ingels joined Alcova Co-Founders and BIG Atlas collaborators Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima for a conversation celebrating BIG Atlas, the first comprehensive monograph of BIG’s completed work. Held inside an industrial hangar at the Baggio Military Hospital, reimagined for Alcova during Milan Design Week, the talk detailed the editorial and creative journey behind bringing an over two-decade body of architectural work to the page.

BIG Atlas is available for purchase through Phaidon.

To celebrate the release of Phaidon’s new monograph, BIG Atlas, BIG Founder and Creative Director Bjarke Ingels and Architectural Digest Global Editorial Director and U.S. Editor-in-Chief Amy Astley sat down for a fireside chat at the Guggenheim’s Peter B. Lewis theater to reflect on two decades of BIG’s built work. The conversation touched on Bjarke’s core design philosophies including ‘utopian pragmatism’ and ‘hedonistic sustainability,’ as well as the stories behind several landmark projects within BIG Atlas, such as CopenHill, the waste-to-energy power plant in Copenhagen; VIA 57 West, the pyramid-shaped residential building in New York City; and Bukken Bruse, Bjarke’s houseboat in Copenhagen.

This year’s Facades+ NYC brought together leaders in building enclosure design and technology for a two-day conference co-hosted by BIG and The Architect’s Newspaper. Spearheaded by NYC Partner Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Director of Enclosures Margaret Tyrpa, and Director of Specifications Ben Caldwell, the conference included a symposium surrounding the theme of materiality, as well as a methods and materials expo, workshops, and networking opportunities. More than 53 speakers participated in the conference, with Kai-Uwe delivering the keynote speech and BIG Senior Architect Christina Papadopoulou, Associate Jason Wu, and Senior Urban & Architectural Designer Einat Lubliner moderating panel discussions.

BIG’s Barcelona studio opened its doors to kick off the city’s year as the UIA World Capital of Architecture. The event, organized in collaboration with World-Architects as part of their Architecture Studio Sessions, is one of ten visits to leading practices, offering insight into their philosophies and creative processes. More than 130 guests joined BIG BCN for the occasion, co-hosted with Artemide, Roca, LAUFEN, and Simon, gaining a glimpse into the studio’s inner workings and a preview of some of the projects currently underway.

President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel and First Lady Eva Pavlová visited the future site of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall in Prague, where they were introduced to the project alongside Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda and Deputy Mayor for Spatial Development Petr Hlaváček. During the visit, the presidential couple was presented with the vision for the new cultural landmark and the broader transformation of the surrounding district, before exploring the design in virtual reality.

Designed by BIG, the Vltava Philharmonic Hall is envisioned as a new civic and cultural destination for Prague, bringing music, public life, and urban development together on the banks of the Vltava river. Set within the rapidly evolving Bubny area, the project will not only provide a home for world-class performance spaces, but also help shape a new piece of the Czech capital.

Construction of the new bus square in Västerås is officially underway, marking the first step towards the realization of the city’s travel center. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Staffan Jansson, Chair of the Municipal Executive Board, and Jenny Landernäs, Regional Councilor of Region Västmanland, took the first collective sod. The new bus square will at least double the capacity of Busstorget – currently the county’s busiest bus stop – improving passenger flow, weather protection, and connections to surrounding services.

The 2,800-m² Dymak HQ in Odense, Denmark, has been delivered and marked with a celebration attended by Dymak staff, the BIG design team, and project collaborators. The circular headquarters is organized around a central courtyard and defined by a radial timber structure and an undulating roof with integrated solar panels, and will become Dymak’s new home when staff move into the building in early 2026. The project has received DGNB Gold certification along with Heart and Diamond distinctions, reflecting its performance across sustainability, indoor climate, and architectural quality.

I AM MSHRM, a modular pavilion made from 3D-printed recycled plastic and mycelium, opened at Herningsholm College in Denmark. Designed together with Danish AM Hub, MDT and Naturpladen, the installation explores how additive manufacturing and bio-based materials can support circular construction, allowing the pavilion to be disassembled, reassembled and reused.

On the opening day, 150 students took part in workshops and discussions about the future of building, imagining how technology and new materials could address climate challenges in 2125.

Earthworks and land preparation are now underway for the Gelephu International Airport – the first major infrastructure component of the Gelephu Mindfulness City masterplan. At the groundbreaking ceremony, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema, and Their Royal Highnesses Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel and Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck were joined by over a thousand Desuup and Gyalsup volunteers to offer zhabtog – a tradition of voluntary service that has shaped communities and nation-building throughout Bhutanese history. His Majesty addressed the nation at the project site, calling the airport a vital link for Bhutan’s future and a legacy for generations to come.

Rooted in Bhutanese culture and ecology, the airport design draws inspiration from the nation’s four forest ecosystems – evergreen oak, cool broadleaf, warm broadleaf, and subtropical – and will incorporate traditional craftsmanship, landscape zones of native flora, and future connections to the broader Mindfulness City.

Main construction of the new airport will begin in April 2026, with inauguration set for December 2029.