By George Brugmans

Down to Earth: Designing for the endgame about designing in times of climate crisis – the endgame is a given, we are smack dab in the middle of it – and is the concluding project of DOWN TO EARTH, the antitypical 9th edition of the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam. In a world in lockdown, chief curator George Brugmans turned the traditional biennale model inside out and focused on completely unfolding the IABR–Ateliers’ research on how to use the energy transition and water issue as leverage to find real world solutions to help realise the world community’s sustainable development goals. Featuring research by design by:IABR–Atelier Rotterdam III: OOZE architects & urbanists led by Eva PfannesIABR–Atelier East Flanders Core Region: PLUSOFFICE architects and Architecture Workroom Brussels led byJoachim DeclerckIABR–Atelier Drought in the Delta: Studio Marco VermeulenWaterschool M4H+: Studio Makkink & BeyIABR–Atelier Dordrecht: West 8, VenhoevenCS architecture+urbanism, PosadMaxwan, EGMarchitects, and Studio Donna van Milligen Bielke led by Adriaan Geuze.