Designing Culture, Designing Change

Please join us for the opening Dean's Lecture Series keynote presented by Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Founding Partner, Snøhetta Design.

Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, co‑founder of Snøhetta, will introduce the evolving history and guiding philosophy of the global architecture and design practice. Founded in Oslo in 1989 and inspired by the UN’s Our Common Future report, Snøhetta is built on the belief that design and architecture can strengthen the relationship between people, nature, and the built environment.

Today, Snøhetta is a transdisciplinary practice spanning architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, art, and product design, with seven studios across Europe, the United States, Asia, and Australia.

In this keynote lecture (2026 Dean's Lecture Series), Thorsen will explore how architecture and design can act as catalysts for cultural transformation and social sustainability. Through the lens of cultural precincts and performance spaces, he will highlight the creative potential of built environments in shaping inclusive futures. In addition, the talk will introduce the evolving role of public art, inviting the audience to imagine speculative futures. It will also examine the nuanced interplay between landscape and architecture as a foundation for cultural resilience.

Image: Render by MIRi/Snøhetta (The Glasshouse Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, currently under construction, due for completion in 2026).

About the speaker

Kjetil Trædal Thorsen co‑founded Snøhetta in Oslo in 1989 and has been central to shaping its philosophy and evolution into a global, transdisciplinary architecture and design practice. He has contributed to several landmark projects, including the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, Le Monde Group Headquarters in Paris, Europe’s first underwater restaurant Under, the energy‑positive Powerhouse Brattørkaia in Trondheim, and the Shanghai Grand Opera House, now under construction.

His work has earned major recognitions such as the EU Mies van der Rohe Award and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

A frequent lecturer, Thorsen served as Professor of Architecture at the University of Innsbruck from 2004 to 2008 and is currently a professor at the International Academy of Architecture. He also serves on international juries, including the Obel Award, Zumtobel Group Award, Frederick Kiesler Prize, and has chaired the Obel Awards (2024) and Holcim Awards (2025).