Spencer de Grey - Foster and Partners
in conversation with
Saskia Sassen - LSE & Columbia University, New York

Building Futures hosts a landmark evening event exploring the nature of global architecture. What do we mean by this term and what are the various binding issues uniting practice around the world?

Since 1989, the number of practices with offices abroad has gone from 20 to 50 (BD Survey, 'World Architecture.' Jan 2007). Architecture has followed financial capital and consumer goods into new territories with the profession building new landmarks confirming a city's revival or new found confidence. Recently completed schemes across Asia and the Middle East demonstrate an extra-ordinary style of architecture on a vast scale by a number of global architects, but how does an international approach to building address its immediate audience and in what context is it placed? The Global or the Local?

This event is part of Futures Fair 08 and is in conjunction with the RIBA Trust.