Disputed City

40 X controversial architectural designs Gallery 1 40 times ado bout architecture. About citizens who where ignored. Architects who where ridiculed. About pig-headed project developers and vain mayors. But the public makes the verdict. Now in February in the NAI: the forty most controversial designs from the world's largest architecture collection. Starting on 20 February 2010, the NAI presents forty controversial models. Forty designs that prompted an outcry. Because the public was asked for input which was ignored. Because the architect went ahead with the commission, undermining the principal’s initial wishes. Because the various suggestions and ideas resulted in a compromised design that was a watered-down version of the original. Because a commissioning agency insisted on forcing through its own views. The exhibition will consist of two important parts: the 40 models from the NAI collection and an opportunity for the public to participate and decide which of the designs deserve to become part of ‘City of Holland’, the new permanent exhibition scheduled to open at the NAI in the autumn. http://en.nai.nl/toolbar/press/pressdetail/_pid/center1/_rp_center1_elementId/1_641247/_rp_center1_to/1_detail The NAI warmly invites you to the press preview of both exhibitions on Friday 19 February starting from 11.00 – 12.30 pm. Please register for the event by mailing [email protected]. Press preview programme 11.00 welcome 11.10 Ole Bouman introduces both exhibitions 11.30 curator Saskia van Stein gives a guided tour of Architecture of Consequence 11.45 curator Huib Haye van der Werf gives a guided tour of Disputed City 12.00 questions and interviews. You are warmly invited to the official opening on Friday 19 February from 18.00 to 20.00. Speakers include Ole Bouman. Please reserve your place at the official opening via www.nai.nl/register ** on Thursday evening 18 february Ole Bouman will give a lecture on the Architecture of Consequence. Sign on to www.nai.nl/register for this as well.