The central purposes of the Rothwell gift are a Rothwell Chair of Architectural Design Leadership appointment and comprehensive Research Program aimed at advancing architectural and urbanism practice, reflecting the University’s commitment to excellence in research and education.
Atelier Bow Wow (co-Chairs 2024-2026) , represented by Momoyo Kaijima, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto and Yoichi Tamai will lead programs structured around urban-rural connections and communities, aimed at elevating the standards of architectural and urbanism practice within the School.
The firm’s projects, spanning from residential buildings to public spaces, are characterised by a commitment to sustainability, social impact and an understanding of human behaviour in the built environment.
Committed educators and Pritzker Prize-winning architects Anne Lacaton and Jean Philippe Vassal worked with students, researchers and practitioners over three years (2021-2023), exploring urban conditions and how to use architecture to create environments that improve people’s quality of life.
Living well in the big city is the most important challenge of our time and our generation.
“This issue involves many crucial topics and challenges, such as climate change, sustainability, energy savings, cost of the land, densification, affordability, integration, social equality and, simply, quality of life. Any strategy for making the city starts from the concept of quality of housing for all.”
– Anne Lacaton and Jean Philippe Vassal, Rothwell Program Co-Chairs
