IMPORTANT Website terms of use and cookie statement

RIBA keyboard_arrow_right
RIBA + VitrA Talks

RIBA + VitrA Talks

Building Empathy: Design for our time

How can architecture foster inclusivity, dignity, and social equity?

The 2025 RIBA + VitrA talks programme explores the power of design to create positive change in communities. This year’s theme, Building Empathy: Design for our time, highlights the role of architects in shaping environments that are accessible, meaningful, and responsive to the people who use them.

Through a series of thought provoking talks, leading architects will share their approaches to empathy-driven design, social value in architecture, and creating spaces that encourage belonging. From community led housing to transformative public spaces, these discussions will showcase innovative solutions that create a lasting impact.

Join us as we examine the future of architecture; one that prioritises people, place, and purpose.
This 2025 series marks the seventh year of the partnership between RIBA and VitrA curating high-profile events exploring key themes in architecture and the built environment.

RIBA + VitrA Talks is sponsored by VitrA Bathrooms

Vitra logo

Further information

For more information on the RIBA + VitrA Talks series, contact our Public Programmes team

email talks@riba.org

Upcoming events

15 May 2025, 7pm to 8:30pm

RIBA+VitrA Building Empathy: Unity of Place

Join us to explore how empathy, craftsmanship, and community participation can shape lasting and inspiring spaces

England - London

RIBA + VitrA talks recordings

Explore the video library of previous talks in the series

Living buildings, thoughtful landscapes with Craig Dykers, Snohetta

Istanbul RIBA+VitrA Talk: Living buildings, thoughtful landscapes with Craig Dykers, Snohetta

Craig Dykers explores how Snøhetta's creative process creates connections between architecture and landscape, focusing on new projects such as the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

Rethink Conventions with Lina Ghotmeh

Internationally and critically acclaimed architect Lina Ghotmeh explores how her portfolio of work challenges conventions, pushing the boundaries of innovative and sustainable design

Rethink Regenerate

Our panel met in Bristol to discuss the value of using heritage assets to regenerate community spaces and the impact that has on local identity and exploring how we can best manage the places that matter most to residents and communities

Housing and streetscape rendering by Studio Mutt

Rethink Housing panel discussion

Panellists Cany Ash, Alexander Turner, Paul Karakusevic and Joseph Zeal-Henry address how architects can collectively rethink their approach to housing

Rethink Sustainability with Mario Cucinella

Mario Cucinella of Mario Cucinella Architects shares their approach to building sustainably through the different contexts of building and regeneration in Italy, from rural revival to the transformation of cities

Rethink Boundaries with Kim Herforth Nielsen

Kim Herforth Nielsen of Danish architectural practice 3XN discusses their revolutionary Quay Quarter Tower

Rendering of Aviva Studios in Manchester

Ellen van Loon, OMA - architecture for expression

Ellen van Loon of OMA highlights the inception and design features of Aviva Studios, the new permanent home of Factory International and the landmark new cultural space in the heart of Manchester

Collective Collaborations

Jayden Ali, Dr Julia King, and Akil Scafe-Smith of RESOLVE Collective discuss their collaborative approach within architecture and the invaluable engagement with communities that use the spaces

Asif Khan

Continuing the Forms of Exchange series, the start of the autumn programme began with Asif Khan - an architect whose work transcends conventional practice

Caples Jefferson

Architecture practice Caples Jefferson discuss the thinking behind their human-centred design projects, including Heritage Health & Housing social services agency and Queens Theatre-in-the-Park

Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen - silver round building

London Festival of Architecture lecture: Winy Maas, MVRDV

Winy Maas explores how architecture transcends physical forms and becomes a tool for creating new connections and interactions between people, delving into the ways in which design choices can shape our experiences of space and influence our behaviours

Upward view of Batter Power Station and two front chimneys

A new powerhouse for London - rebuilding the brick cathedral

Lead architect Sebastien Ricard of WilkinsonEyre outlines one of the most important regeneration projects of the 21st century, the new Battersea Power Station in London

St Johns Music pavilion wooden beam structure

Shaping integrity - new forms of architecture

Focusing on accessibility, the consideration of materials, as well as collaborative methods to create public spaces, architects share their approaches to creating well-crafted buildings that last and are meaningful for those that occupy them

Black and white photo of Nigel Coates

A Life in Architecture - Nigel Coates

Nigel Coates, one of the UK's most versatile designers, gives a keynote lecture to coincide with the launch of his new autobiography, Lives in Architecture: Nigel Coates

Giants Causeway Visitors’ Centre at night with glowing lights through the window

Istanbul RIBA + VitrA Talk: Heneghan Peng

Co-founder of the award-winning Dublin based practice, Shih-Fu Peng presents a number of key projects and is joined by co-founder Róisín Heneghan for a Q&A session

Aranya Art Center

Neri&Hu

Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, founding partners of the award-winning Shanghai based design studio discuss their own distinct approach to architecture that pushes beyond traditional boundaries to incorporate interior, product, and graphic design

Gable roof attached cabins with floor to ceiling glass fronts and a lake with dock in the foreground

3XN

Danish practice 3XN present some of the practice’s most innovative and human-focus architecture as part of ongoing research into how human behaviour both reflects and influences buildings and the wider environment

Glider Centre - Rendering of a large open space with white walls and round windows and balcony openings

Jeanne Gang

2019 TIME100 Honoree and practice founder Jeanne Gang discusses architectural highlights from the global practice Studio Gang

Concrete arches of Long Museum West Bund by Atelier Deshaus

Atelier Deshaus

Liu Yichun, principle of Atelier Deshaus, shows highlights from the practice’s last 20 years designing iconic educational, cultural, and domestic buildings, recorded as a live stream from Shanghai

Mercedes-Benz Museum in Germany with a football pitch in the foreground

Istanbul RIBA + VitrA Talk: UNStudio

Founder of UNStudio, Ben van Berkel, talks about some of the practice’s recently built works, future projects, and new research at the UNIQ Hall in Istanbul

A series of rounded huts with dome grass roofs and glass windows surrounded by dirt covered ground

Yasmeen Lari at V&A Dundee

Yasmeen Lari, the first woman to qualify as an architect in Pakistan, talks about her humanitarian work building zero carbon structures with communities in disaster-prone areas of Pakistan, in what she calls "anti-architecture"

A rendering of the Icefjord Centre in Ilulissat, Greenland surrounded by fjords

Dorte Mandrup

The founder of the award-winning Copenhagen based practice speaks about their ‘hands on’ approach to design and her commitment to improving the culture of architectural practice

An orange pink clay coloured building with two pyramids by Eduardo Souto de Moura

Eduardo Souto de Moura

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Eduardo Souto de Moura speaks about recent projects in his office and the possibilities for architecture that coexists with nature

"Under" by Snøhetta - an angled building that appears to be falling into rough sea

Snøhetta

Craig Dykers and Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, founding partners of the global office Snøhetta present some of the practice’s recent works and outline their trans-disciplinary approach to architecture and landscape

Coolage of images from South America, buildings by Aleph Zero and Grafton Architects

Intergenerational dialogues with Aleph Zero and Grafton Architects

Grafton Architects are joined by Aleph Zero to discuss their award-winning education projects in South America, where the design of both projects is informed by the unique environmental context

Centre de Congres a Mons

Istanbul RIBA + VitrA Talk: Daniel Libeskind

Internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind presents recent projects at the İş Sanat Culture Centre in Istanbul

Aerial view of the National Holocaust memorial in Ottawa, Canada

Daniel Libeskind

Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind is joined in conversation with Priya Khanchandani, Editor of design and architecture magazine, Icon

Sancaklar Mosque in Istanbul

Emre Arolat

The principal of award-winning practice Emre Arolat Architecture discusses recent work including the Sancaklar Mosque in Istanbul which won a RIBA Award for International Excellence in 2018

2018 Serpentine Pavilion by Frida Escobedo

Frida Escobedo

Frida Escobedo discusses recent projects, including the 2018 Serpentine Pavilion - at the time, Escobedo was the youngest architect commissioned for the prestigious project

Kate Macintosh and Mary Duggan

Intergenerational dialogues with Kate Macintosh and Mary Duggan

Pioneering architect Kate Macintosh is joined in conversation with emerging architect Mary Duggan to discuss the relationship of those working in the field, from past to present

Various adults in street clothes working on a timber frame building

RIBA + VitrA Talk: Assemble

Turner Prize-winning collective Assemble discuss recent projects including major commission, Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art which opened in September 2018

Sir David Adjaye and Lesley Lokko

Sir David Adjaye with Lesley Lokko

Sir David Adjaye discusses his exceptional career with Lesley Lokko, author and Head of School at the Graduate School of Architecture, University of Johannesburg

keyboard_arrow_up To top