European architect to speak at UF's Museum of Art

October 3, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida School of Architecture and the France-Florida Research Institute will bring European architect Didier Rebois to UF as a FFRI visiting professor on Oct. 10.

Rebois, an architect, scholar and general secretary of EUROPAN, will speak at 6 p.m. at the UF Harn Museum of Art as part of the School of Architecture’s fall lecture series.

Rebois is the acting general secretary of EUROPAN, a multinational organization whose primary goal is to assist the young architects of Europe in developing and disseminating their design ideas through built projects in collaboration with a number of different developers and municipalities. EUROPAN confronts both the largest of urban scales as well as more modest insertions, establishing real projects that help to advance the ambitions and careers of young designers while also providing an invaluable service and design sensibility to the depleted urban conditions that are found in many modern cities. This biannual competition structure is in its eighth cycle, with 19 simultaneous national competitions involving 74 different sites. Since EUROPAN’s establishment in 1989, it has been instrumental in founding such notable practices as the Dutch firm MVRDV as well as having produced over 70 finished projects.

Rebois has been involved with EUROPAN since its inception and has continued to offer guidance and insight for its continued development. In addition to his lecture, Rebois will be working on the UF campus and in the Orlando area in a number of different venues and engaging students, faculty and practitioners alike.