‘Dreams + Disillusions’

You are cordially invited to attend the guest lecture by CJ Lim:

Date: Tuesday, 15 October 2024

Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Venue: SDE3 Level 4 LT 427-Design Forum

CPD Points: 2

Kindly register your interest here: https://nus.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bDhOh94zKupU3OK

‘Dreams + Disillusions’

‘Dreams + Disillusions’ explores the plethora of ideas and ideologies that have shaped and reshaped cities in profound ways. Its research fluctuates between the world of concrete reality and the multiple universes that exist in lucid prose, poetic visions, and the outrageous imaginations of history’s greatest and most (in)famous minds. The six chapters reveal dreams that were fundamental to the origin of great cities, underpinning the stories of the many lives within; and how, through circumstance or manipulation, fortunate coincidence or planned perfection, desires are sometimes left defeated and disillusioned.

Myth and belief. Tradition and logic. Revolution and marginalisation. Ignorance and hubris. Sins and excess. Seasons and climate. Continuously interacting, shifting to enlighten and to enrage, these themes combine critical thinking with deep-rooted influences and new agencies that are a true sign of the times. The six chapters, 18 illustrated speculations and over 150 drawings provide an abundance of curious imaginings, diverse provocations and satirical criticism. In this book, we develop a better understanding of the discourse of cities tailored to the determining factors of climate, resources, and humanity’s idiosyncrasies to address a world in crisis.

CJ Lim is the Professor of Architecture & Urbanism at the Bartlett, UCL, and has served as Vice-Dean and Pro-Provost of UCL. He is also the founding director of Studio 8 Architects and cjlim IMAGINARIUM. Lim’s design research of cities is developed through the ‘Smartcity’ paradigm, an ecological symbiosis between nature and built-form and the role that citizens play to create diverse forms of resilient landscapes and urbanism. He is the recipient of the Royal Academy of Arts London ‘Grand Architecture Prize’, and a four-time recipient of the Royal Institute of British Architects President’s Medal International Teaching Award – the highest number ever awarded to a single individual.

 Lim has authored 12 books including ‘441/10…we’ll reconfigure your space when you’re ready’ (1996), ‘Sins + Other Spatial Relatives’ (2001), ‘How Green is Your Garden?’ (2003), ‘Museums [work in process]’ (2004), ‘NeoArchitecture: Studio 8 Architects’ (2005), ‘Virtually Venice’ (2006), and ‘Short Stories – London in two-and-a-half dimensions’ (2011). His award-winning bestselling books ‘Smartcities and Eco-warriors’ (2010, 2nd edition, 2019), ‘Food City’ (2014) and ‘Inhabitable Infrastructures: Science fiction or urban future?’ (2017) which explore the potential of climate change-related urbanism that address the fundamental human requirements to protect, to provide and to participate. His latest authored books ‘Once Upon a China’ (2020) and ‘Dreams + Disillusions’ (2024) continues his interest in architectural storytelling.