The two day Leaf International Conference took place in Dusseldorf from 9-10 October. Moderated by Keith Williams, the conference featured many speakers from the world of architecture and design covering a wide range of topics and subjects.
Key speakers included Richard Ware from Houses of Parliament, Joost Moolhuijzen from Renzo Piano Building Workshop, architect and organiser of architectural competitions Malcolm Reading, Michel Mossessian and Rysia Suchecka from NBBJ. The debates ranged from the effect of forthcoming new European legislation on the procurement of design teams and building construction, through the technology of lightweight insulation, through to specific case studies on major buildings.
Patrick Richard, a director at Stanton Williams, spoke at length on the practice’s forthcoming Musée d’arts de Nantes project in France, while Joost Moolhuijzen spoke of the design principles governing the design of Europe’s tallest building, the Shard at London Bridge.
The two day event culminated in the Leaf Awards ceremony and dinner where Keith Williams presented the award for the best public building to Irish architects, O’Donnell & Tuomey for their Saw Swee Hok Student building at the London School of Economics, whilst the Best Sustainable Development of the Year went to Ateliers Jean Nouvel and PTW Architects for their green eco-tower at One Central Park, Sydney, Australia.