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October 3, 2024

Archtober Invites You to Trace the Future of Architecture

Archtober 2024: Tracing the Future, taking place October 1–30 in New York City, aims to create a roadmap for how our living spaces will evolve.

By: Metropolis Editors

Archtober is an expanding initiative led by the Center for Architecture in New York City since 2011. They are committed to fostering the exploration of architecture and design through immersive experiences and a wide range of activities. The idea for Archtober is to promote the city’s architecture culture and the enormous impact it has had not only on our skyline but also in our daily lives. However, architecture culture, and learning more about these buildings and spaces can always use some push. Archtober is precisely that, a month to celebrate the impact, history, and beauty of architecture in the city.  

Archtober 2024: Tracing the Future aims to create a roadmap for how our living spaces will evolve. The festival’s programming will address critical issues such as accessibility, equity in public buildings, and the need for affordable and creative solutions to the housing crisis. While New York City’s influence on the future of American and global cities is unparalleled, the festival encourages us to rethink and reimagine possibilities across scales and communities.  

Greetings From… Archtober postcard competition. Courtesy of AIA Center for Architecture

Archtober has introduced its inaugural design competition to mark this year’s celebration: the “Greetings From…” Archtober Postcard Competition. This initiative invited creatives from all backgrounds—architects, illustrators, design enthusiasts, and more—to envision what lies ahead. The winners include Santo Jacobsson, Victoria Tentler-Krylov, and the acclaimed artist and architect James Wines, with an Honorable Mention awarded to Christian Aguilar. 

Also, a new exhibition at the Center for Architecture, “Built by New York,” celebrates the contributions of architects, designers, and professionals from the New York City design community. Designers were invited to apply to join the show while also contributing to the center’s fundraising efforts. This exhibition showcases past, present, and future works from members of AIA in all five boroughs, filling three floors of the center’s galleries and providing a snapshot of the architecture community’s impact on the city and the built environment. 

Bronx River Greenway Starlight Park. Designed by NV5. Photo courtesy: NV5

Among other exciting events, the festival will feature the highly anticipated exhibition “UMBAU: Nonstop Transformation,” presented by Goethe-Institut New York. Opening on October 9, this exhibition will showcase more than 60 projects by the architectural firm Gerkan, Marg, and Partners (gmp). It will focus on a conceptual ecological approach to UMBAU, which refers to existing structures’ conversion and ongoing transformation. 

Finally, The Center for Architecture will also host the panel discussion “Tracing the Future: Affordable Housing in NYC” on October 21, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This discussion will highlight a selection of award-winning affordable housing projects from NYSERDA’s Buildings of Excellence competition, which supports developers and architects across New York State committed to reducing carbon emissions while creating innovative and cost-effective housing. Avinash Rajagopal, editor in chief of METROPOLIS, will moderate the panel of selected firms.

Domino Sugar Refinery. Designed by Practice for Architecture (PAU) Photo courtesy: Max Touhey

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