Major themes that examine “response and repair” and “recovery and rethink”, and the ways that architects can make a difference, will form the basis for this year’s exhibition and seminar program at the World Architecture Festival (WAF), taking place between 2 and 4 November in Barcelona.

Thirty-five speakers will take to the stage, including Sou Fujimoto (principal of Sou Fujimoto Architects), David Mackay (founding principal of MBM Architects), Akihiko Hamanda (senior executive officer and head of international design at Nikken Sekkie), James Grose (national director at BVN Architecture), Michael Rayner (principal at Cox Rayner Architects, Queensland Smart State Council board member and professor of architecture at University of Queensland), Sangay Puri (principal of Sanjay Puri Architects) and Pauline Nee (associate and head of Historic Buildings at John McAslan and Partners).

These leading figures will discuss issues confronting architecture practices, using examples and best practice from Japan, Christchurch, Chile, Brisbane and New Orleans. They will focus on how the architecture community has spearheaded responses to natural disasters and how to ensure such significant levels of damage can be avoided in the future. Discussions will review what expertise architects can offer to support post-disaster damage assessments to improve structures, rethink land use and review new approaches to materials and products.