The UIA (International Union of Architects) 2024 International Forum was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from November 15 to 19, with the theme "DIVERSECITY" - an encapsulation of two words; diverse and city. Meng Jianmin, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Distinguished Professor at Shenzhen University, and Director of the Shenzhen University Benyuan Design and Research Center, was invited to attend the forum. On November 17, he delivered a keynote speech titledThe Alienation of Human and Architectureat the main session.
Meng and his team have focused their research and practice on the future of cities and architecture.The Alienation of Human and Architectureis a scholarly monograph published by Academician Meng and his team at Shenzhen University in 2023. In his presentation, Meng shared the background and significance of the book's title and elaborated on its four central ideas.
(1) The concept of the "new human", predicting that technological advancements will profoundly reshape both human nature and the artificial aspects of humanity; (2) A redefined relationship between humans and replicants, suggesting that rather than conflict, the future will see deeper integration; (3) In the future, humans, matter, information, and energy will form a seamlessly interconnected system, moving beyond simple juxtaposition; (4) The relationship between humans and architecture will evolve from external attachment to full integration. Meng proposed that future architecture will not merely interact with humans but will become an inseparable part of the human body, encapsulated in the idea: "The human is architecture, and architecture is the human".
Meng also presented a timeline graphic from his book, tracing events over the past 7 million years and speculating on future developments over the next 100,000 years, considering the environment, human society, technology, and architecture. This timeline serves as a call for architects and professionals in other fields to embrace values of health, humanity, and efficiency, while being mindful of the potential negative effects of technological advancements.
At the conclusion of his speech, Meng posed several thought-provoking questions about the coming era of the "new human" and engaged in a lively and in-depth discussion with the audience during a panel session on the future of cities and architecture.
▲ Panel Session
(From left to right: Sarly Adre Sarkum, Zhang Shuochen, Meng Jianmin, Zhang Qimin, and Erdayu Os'hara)
The forum was also attended by Xiu Long, Chairman of the Architectural Society of China (ASC), Li Cundong, Secretary General, and other representatives from the ASC. The event served as an important platform for fostering exchange and collaboration between Chinese and international architectural communities.
▲ Group Photo of the ASC Delegation
