Designing Culture, Designing Change: Architecture as a Catalyst for Collective Futures

Speaking at the University of Melbourne for the first time, Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, co‑founder of Snøhetta, will introduce the evolving history and guiding philosophy of the global architecture and design practice. Founded in Oslo in 1989 and inspired by the UN’s Our Common Future report, Snøhetta is built on the belief that design and architecture can strengthen the relationship between people, nature, and the built environment.

Today, Snøhetta is a transdisciplinary practice spanning architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, art, and product design, with seven studios across Europe, the United States, Asia, and Australia.

In this original presentation, Thorsen will explore how architecture and design can act as catalysts for cultural transformation and social sustainability. Through the lens of cultural precincts and performance spaces, he will highlight the creative potential of built environments in shaping inclusive futures. In addition, the talk will introduce the evolving role of public art, inviting the audience to imagine speculative futures. It will also examine the nuanced interplay between landscape and architecture as a foundation for cultural resilience.

Speaker bio

Kjetil Trædal Thorsen
Founding Partner, Architect
Snøhetta

Kjetil Trædal Thorsen cofounded Snøhetta in Oslo in 1989 and has been central to shaping its philosophy and evolution into a global, transdisciplinary architecture and design practice. He has contributed to several landmark projects, including the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, Le Monde Group Headquarters in Paris, Europe’s first underwater restaurant Under, the energy-positive Powerhouse Brattørkaia in Trondheim, and the Shanghai Grand Opera House, now under construction.