As part of the anniversary year, we celebrate the visionary work of Frei Otto through exhibitions, talks, student projects, and creative interventions in public space. A special focus lies on the dialogue between generations and cultures – with international guests like Kengo Kuma, students from Europe and Japan, and committed local actors.
Zeit: Sunday, 8 June 2025 | 6:00 PM
Location: Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Theaterplatz 1
Here you can register for the event!
An inspiring evening dedicated to the life and ideas of Frei Otto – with a keynote by his daughter and long-time collaborator Christine Kanstinger, followed by a conversation with renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
Time: Monday, 9 – Friday, 13 June 2025
Location: Garagen-Campus & public spaces across Chemnitz
An international project week with architecture and design students from Manchester, Tokyo, Weimar, Saarbrücken, and Schneeberg. Together, they explore creative ideas for the future of urban living.
Time: Friday, 13 June 2025
Start: 6:00 PM | Karl Marx Monument → Walk through the city
From 8:00 PM | Garagen-Campus Chemnitz
The projects developed throughout the week will be presented during a performative walk through the city.
From 8:00 PM: “Chemnitz needs Karaoke” – a participatory performance by Élisabeth de Bézenac, featuring a mini echo chamber ready to amplify the voices of Chemnitz residents eager to sing their favorite songs.
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma is one of the most important voices in contemporary architecture focused on harmony between nature, humanity, and materials. His work embodies a lightness and responsiveness deeply inspired by Frei Otto.
As part of the “100 Years of Frei Otto” program, Kuma is not only a guest speaker on 8 June, but also contributes to the City-Making Summit with an opening talk for students. He previously gave a lecture titled “Go Back to Nature” at TU Chemnitz in 2024. His perspective connects global architectural challenges with local opportunities for sustainable design in the 21st century.
