Astronaut Claudie Haigneré, writer Erik Orsenna, architect Dominique Perrault, comic book artists François Schuiten and Benoît Peeters and droves of “intrapreneurs”, or entrepreneurs working on behalf of their companies: through their thought and foresight, artistic endeavors and entrepreneurial experiences, all these people embody some aspect of the future of our cities and living environments. The experience and expertise of these scientists, artists, writers and engineers fuel the ambitions of the “Building Beyond” festival.
Jointly organized by Leonard, the VINCI Group’s laboratory open to the future of cities and infrastructure, the think tank La Fabrique de la Cité, the Fondation VINCI pour la Cité and the VINCI-ParisTech Chair in “Eco-design of Buildings and Infrastructure”, the “Building Beyond” festival seeks to offer a fresh take on our cities, by pursuing three objectives:
- Exploring possibilities and expanding our minds together, so we can update our traditional ideas about the future of cities
- Understanding new trends and the changes now underway by talking with experts in the transformations impacting cities, infrastructure and associated businesses
- Enterprising and taking action with the key actors and innovators of the city of the future, who are determined to usher in a desirable future
Over the course of six weeks, we have organized 25 exciting events open to the public with free admission. Each event displays a strong sense of curiosity, creativity and a determination to find entrepreneurial solutions to the major challenges posed by the transformations of our urban networks. From the energy and environment transition to affordable housing, new mobilities and social inclusion, the cities of tomorrow will need to reinvent their urban models in order to step firmly into the future!
Hosted by Leonard:Paris, the “Building Beyond” festival also marks the launch of this unique space in central Paris devoted entirely to the future of cities and infrastructure.
We hope that these six weeks of thought, discovery and dialogue will inspire us to work together and invent the cities of tomorrow.
