Georges Descombes, architect, trained at the University of Geneva and the Architectural Association in London, has worked 'in the landscape' since the Parc de Lancy (1980-1986) and his participation in the 'Swiss Path' (1987-1991). During his 1·Lectures, Descombes will share some of his works, including the prize-winning Aire River project.

Among his other best known architectural realizations are the Swiss Path around Lake Uri in Switzerland, the Bijlmer Memorial in Amsterdam, and Parc de la Cour du Maroc in Paris. He teaches at the Institut d’Architecture in Geneva, and has been a guest professor at the Berlage Institute, Versailles, Rapperswill, at Harvard and the University of Virginia.

The Aire River project
In 2001, the State of Geneva opened a competition with the idea of restoring the Aire to its original shape and meanders by eliminating the canal. In the process, as Georges Descombes stated in the proposal, 'the canal becomes the pointer for the transformations, a reference line giving the possibility to understand the "before" and 'after’ - a becoming which superimposes both situations” and accepts that 'something began which was already there'.

Tickets and venue
Thursday, May 18th, starting at 20h00, at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture, Waterlooplein 213 in Amsterdam. Tickets at €5 are available in the webshop of the Amsterdam Centre for Architecture. Academy students get free admission with their student card.