UPCOMING COURSES

The Independent School for the City is a school in, of, and for the city. It builds on the conviction that strategies for the city - architectural and economic, spatial and social - should be based on real, first hand, empirical research. The Independent School for the City offers a variety of post-graduate educational programmes ranging from shorter one-day workshops and masterclasses, one or two-week studio's to an intensive 3 month programme on contemporary Urbanism. Below we'll give you and overview of our upcoming activities.

A multi-day course with AFFR and Jord den Hollander, taking place between 05 September and 09 October 2025

Film & Architecture Studio 2025

The Film and Architecture Studio is a multi-day course that offers an in-depth introduction to film as a tool for exploring the relationship between cities, architecture, and storytelling. Over the span of five weeks, participants will learn how to use filmmaking as a research method to better understand urban environments. The course focuses on crafting narratives that connect architecture and the city, culminating in the creation of a short, two-minute film by each participant. Rather than emphasising the technical aspects of filmmaking or post-production, the studio prioritises scriptwriting and the development of a clear narrative. The aim is to use film as a medium for organising ideas and conveying stories about the built environment. These produced films will be screened and discussed during a public presentation at the Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam (AFFR) on Thursday 9 October 2025.

Empowering the Informal City - Climate Justice in Cairo's Self-Built Neighbourhoods. 15 - 18 September 2025

International Workshop Cairo

This four-day international workshop, organised together with CLUSTER, AP+E, and Loom: Practice for cultural transformation (Netherlands), builds on the ongoing research project ‘Empowering the Informal City’ which explores community-driven, climate-adaptive solutions for Cairo’s informal neighbourhoods. The workshop will investigate solutions to improve indoor climate and energy performance in typical housing units. Participants will design prototypes, as a starting point for broader discussions on climate adaptation and justice.

Taking place from Monday 15 - Tuesday 18 September 2025 in Cairo, Egypt. More info soon.