The inaugural Human/Nature conference, presented by AZURE, brings together a multidisciplinary and international array of perspectives on best practices for climate action design. Taking place at George Brown Waterfront Campus on

October 24 and 25, 2024, Human/Nature features an ambitious lineup of CEU-accredited talks, including keynotes, panels and workshops. Rounded out by networking lunches and cocktail evenings, immersive installations and trips to Toronto’s latest waterfront developments, this two-day event boasts a full roster of inspiration and information – and opportunities for collaboration among design professionals. This is a must-attend event for A&D practitioners who want to share and gain insights into proven approaches to climate change mitigation through design.

The four KEYNOTES kick off on Day 1 with talks by Julia Watson, the originator of LO–TEK, a design philosophy that embraces the wisdom of Indigenous practices around the globe; and Susan Carruth, a partner at Copenhagen’s 3XN, a green architecture leader that boasts such projects as Toronto’s own curvaceous Aqualuna condos and timber office tower T3 Bayside.

Taking the stage on Day 2 are Kongjian Yu, the founder of Beijing regenerative landscape firm Turenscape, whose marvels including the award-winning Fish Tail Park in Nanchang City and Tongnan Dafosi Wetland Park; and Tommaso Bitossi of Transsolar, the climate engineering company that has collaborated with firms around the world on prestigious projects including CERN – European Organization for Nuclear Research (Renzo Piano Building Workshop), the Leaf in Winnipeg (KPMB), Campus Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (MASS Design Group).

Alongside the keynotes are four engaging, multi-perspective PLENARY PANELS.

Vancouver-based Indigenous architect Alfred Waugh will discuss a landmark project to redevelop the 90-acre əy’alməxw/Iy’álmexw /Jericho Lands site in Vancouver’s West Point Grey neighbourhood as part of the əy’alməxw/Iy’álmexw /Jericho Lands: Indigenous Urban Futures panel. In Forecast for Hotter Cities, panelists including Dorsa Jalalian of DIALOG will share strategies – both social/political and design-driven – for mitigating rising urban temperatures. Circular Design for a Circular Economy will present ways of closing the loop on the manufacturing of furniture and finishes. And The Green Public Realm, featuring Pat Hanson of Toronto’s gh3* and Loreta Castro Reguera of Mexico City’s Taller Capital, will feature projects that make the most of our shared outdoor spaces.

Providing in-depth perspectives on the exemplary innovations and projects of leading practices, Human/Nature also presents 12 WORKSHOPS. These deep dives into design problems will include sessions on: what we can do to scale up affordable housing (featuring SmartDensity’s Naama Blonder); the process of master-planning Toronto’s Downsview Framework Plan (with Henning Larsen’s Michael Sorensøn and SLA’s Rasmus Astrup); the best emerging tools for assessing a project’s carbon footprint (with KPMB’s Shahrzad Soudian); and how we can actually construct health, with Tye Farrow.