IE University and Hay Festival Segovia will feature architecture and innovation

Hay Festival, IE University, American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and the Danish Embassy have presented the architecture and design content of the upcoming edition of the festival in Spain, in the Chapter Room of IE University’s Segovia campus. From September 17 to 25 Hay Festival Segovia 2011 will serve as a hub for the discussion of literature and ideas, bringing together authors and artists from the five continents.

"Together we are stronger,” says Maria Sheila Cremaschi, Director of Hay Festival Segovia. “In these difficult times putting together all these ideas centered around design and architecture, with the support of prestigious institutions who have brought innovation and youth to the festival, has been a source of great satisfaction.”

This year’s guest of honor is Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, founder of the BIG studio, and considered to be one of the most innovative architects of the moment due to his ability to combine magnificent buildings with sustainability. In February of this year he brought out the Spanish version of “Yes is More”, an archicomic about architechtonic evolution, which has been extremely well received worldwide. Ingels will be talking to Martha Thorne, Executive Director of the Pritzker Prizes and Associate Dean of External Relations at IE School of Architecture at IE University. Ingels was recently selected as one of the 100 most creative professionals in business by New York magazine “Fast Company”.

“Bjarke Ingels enjoys great international renown and represents a new generation of architects who are committed to the environment,” says Martha Thorne.

AHEC at Hay Festival: 

David Venables, Director for Europe of the American Hardwood Export Council, announced that this year the exhibition organized by AHEC jointly with Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño de Segovia at Casa de los Picos will feature “The American Tulipwood Bar”, designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto for the “Hand Made” exhibition held in Milan, organized by the world famous Wallpaper magazine. The exhibit will be inaugurated by Venables and Richard Cook, editor at Wallpaper.

AHEC also announced the agreement signed this Wednesday with IE School of Architecture and Hay Festival for the joint organization of a series of activities that will culminate in an exhibition, in the 2012 edition of the festival, of projects that reach the finals of a competition that AHEC and the School of Architecture are currently organizing among their students.

“We feel it is important to inspire students of architecture and future professionals in the field to use wood for sustainable design solutions. This is why we intend to forge even closer links with IE School of Architecture,” said Venables. “Moreover, we are delighted that this activity is connected with the wonderful Hay Festival.”