independent school for the city

WHAT's GOING ON?

The Independent School for the City offers a diverse range of activities, where urban professionals can meet to informally discuss and work on the challenges of modern city, ranging from events and masterclasses to multiple-day programmes on contemporary urbanism. Here's an overview of our upcoming activities.

STUDIOS

19, 20, 26 & 27 June 2026
Lifehouse: Community Led Property Development

A studio with Stad in de Maak / City in the Making, exploring unconventional models for developing affordable housing and workspaces, working on an actual case study. Taking place on 19, 20, 26 & 27 June 2026. Fully booked.

3 & 4 July 2026
Harbours are for Swimming

A two-day exploration into the potential of Rotterdam’s harbour basins as public space for swimming, through lectures, fieldwork, mapping, and design exercises. Friday 3, and Saturday 4 July 2026. Participation fee: 100 euro. Register here before 19 June 2026

04 Sept - 08 Oct. 2026
Film & Architecture Studio 2026 - We Are The City

An introduction to the language of film as a way to explore the relationship between film, cities and architecture, supervised by architect, curator, and filmmaker Jord den Hollander. Taking place between 04 September and 08 October 2026.

EVENTS

13 June 2026
Public lecture by Vikram Prakash

About his father's architecture in Chandigarh and modernism as an ongoing global project. New date: Saturday 13 June 2026, 17:00 - 19:00h. Tickets available for 5 euro here

15 June 2026
What Design Can’t Do: But can placemaking?

A a film screening and lecture by urbanist Rashiq Fataar, of the South African-based urbanism practice Our Future Cities. Monday 15 June 2026. 18:00 - 19:30. Free entrance, but you have to register here

26 June 2026
School's Out! #60 with Holly Smith and Alva Gotby

An evening with writers Holly Smith and Alva Gotby about the politics of housing and homeliness. Organised in collaboration with Verso Books. Friday 26 June 2026, 20:00 - 22:00. Tickets available for 5 euro

03 July 2026
Public Lecture Pool is Cool

A public lecture by Paul Steinbrück from the Brussels based initiative Pool is Cool as part of our upcoming studio Harbours are for Swimming. taking place on Friday 03 July, 19:00 - 21:00. Tickets available for 5 euro here

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