Chimera: The Architecture of Contemporary Utopias 2026
March 26 @ 8:00 am - March 27 @ 5:00 pm
NA
Overview
The event “Chimera: The Architecture of Contemporary Utopias” is a two-day symposium. SCI-Arc organizes it to celebrate the launch of Architectural Design Magazine, specifically volume 96.2. This symposium will take place in two locations in Los Angeles. The main topics that will be discussed at “Chimera: The Architecture of Contemporary Utopias” are architecture theory, speculative design, and critical discourse related to “Chimera: The Architecture of Contemporary Utopias”.
Focus
The symposium is about one big question: Does thinking about utopias still matter in architecture today? The issue of AD that it is celebrating says that people are not imagining things together as they used to because of the way the market works. It also says that people are still thinking about utopias, just not as a set plan but as a way to think about what is possible and what can be built. People who are contributing to this are looking at it from angles. Some think that new technology can help make things better. Others think that architecture should be about something more than just making money. The issue says that thinking about utopias can be a tool for imagining what the world could be like, especially when you consider things like computers taking over the planet, the weather getting worse, and machines being able to think for themselves.
When collective imagination falters, the utopian impulse returns, not as a blueprint for perfection, but as a means of reopening what can still be conceived and made. AD Vol 96.2, Editorial Statement
Program
Day 1 — March 26, 2026 (Off-site)
The first session takes place at the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, 1023 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles. The schedule runs from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.-
6:05 pm — WelcomeEmanuele Amendola, Director, IIC Los Angeles
-
6:10 pm — IntroductionElena Manferdini
-
6:15 pm — LectureCarlo Ratti, MIT and Politecnico di Milano
-
6:55 pm — Q&AOpen floor
-
7:00 pm — Reception
Day 2 — March 27, 2026 (SCI-Arc)
The second session is held at SCI-Arc W.M. Keck Lecture Hall, 960 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles. It runs from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.-
5:05 pm — WelcomeWinka Dubbeldam
-
5:10 pm — IntroductionElena Manferdini and Damjan Jovanovic
-
5:30 pm — Panel Discussion 1Moderator: Damjan Jovanovic. Panelists: Adil Bokhari (ETH), Robert Cha, Jennifer Chen (SCI-Arc), Graham Harman (SCI-Arc), Elena Manferdini (SCI-Arc)
-
6:20 pm — Panel Discussion 2Moderator: Elena Manferdini. Panelists: John Cooper and Krish Dittmer (SCI-Arc), Damjan Jovanovic (SCI-Arc), Liam Young (SCI-Arc), Andrew Witt (WashU)
-
7:00 pm — Reception
AD Vol 96.2 Contributors
Audience
This event is for students who study architecture, teachers, people who work in architecture, and anyone who is interested in thinking about design in any way, and talking about architecture. You can attend both parts of the event. They will also be available to watch online, so anyone can see them.Event Details
| Day 1 Date | March 26, 2026, 6:00 pm |
| Day 1 Venue | Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, 1023 Hilgard Ave, LA |
| Day 2 Date | March 27, 2026, 5:00 pm |
| Day 2 Venue | SCI-Arc W.M. Keck Lecture Hall, 960 East 3rd Street, LA |
| Event Type | Symposium and Panel Discussions |
| Live Stream | Available on Vimeo |
| Access | RSVP required for Day 1 / Open for Day 2 |
| Fees | Not specified |
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The conference brings up a question that architecture people have been talking about for a time without figuring it out: can thinking about what might be really work as a way to criticize things, or is it just something people in the field do that does not actually change anything? Saying that thinking about a world can be a useful way to think is a smart thing to say, but it might also make radical ideas seem okay to universities without actually changing how things work. The people who wrote for this thing are mostly connected to SCI-Arc, which means it is not really an open group of people with different ideas, and that limits the kinds of discussions that the title of the conference suggests. Architecture people like to talk about this stuff. The conference does not really show a lot of different views on architecture.Closing Note
The event is held in two places: the Italian Cultural Institute and SCI-Arc. This setup helps the symposium reach people from different cultural backgrounds, not just those on the academic campus. The event is also streamed on Vimeo, so even more people can watch it. The symposium talks about questions in architecture, but it does not try to change how architects work. Instead, it provides a space for architects to discuss their field and how it fits into today’s world. The event covers some topics.Explore the Latest Architecture Exhibitions & Conferences
ArchUp offers daily updates on top global architectural exhibitions, design conferences, and professional art and design forums. Follow key architecture competitions, check official results, and stay informed through the latest architectural news worldwide. ArchUp is your encyclopedic hub for discovering events and design-driven opportunities across the globe.
