Cherish & Destroy

Cherish & Destroy
Arts and Architecture Festival

Hans van Houwelingen, Marjan Teeuwen, Niels Weerheim, Camiel Berns, Erik Pasveer, Alexander de Ridder, Ronald Sleurholts, Esther Stevelink

In the work of artists and architects, the confrontation between cherishing and destroying is an integral part of the creative design process. Artistic traditions lose their meaning and are dismantled; buildings are demolished and give way to new forms. Opposed to this is the desire to preserve values that we want to cherish and maintain. Some things you do not want to lose because you associate them with quality and with values that give meaning and significance to the here and now.

Things you regard as treasures to be cherished. Three architects and three artists have been asked to tell a story about the dilemmas they encounter in their work, in which they must choose between destruction and preservation. In what way do they choose between one and the other? Also important is the question of whether, in their work, they employ a frame of reference that guides the choices they make during their design process.

At the end of the lecture series, a debate will take place between all speakers, led by a moderator.

Program Friday 24 April 2026

13:00 — 13:20 Doors open
13:20 — 13:30 Welcome and short introduction
13:30 — 14:25 Architect 1 and Artist 1 each give a lecture of approx. 20 minutes, followed by a conversation led by the moderator
14:30 — 15:25 Architect 2 and Artist 2 each give a lecture of approx. 20 minutes, followed by a conversation led by the moderator
15:30 — 16:25 Architect 3 and Artist 3 each give a lecture of approx. 20 minutes, followed by a conversation led by the moderator
16:25 — 17:00 Break
17:00 — 18:00 Debate with the moderator, in the presence of all speakers and students

This event is in English.

Organized by: West Den Haag and Heritage & Architecture section of the Faculty of Architecture at TU Delft

Supported by: Municipality of The Hague and Ministry of Education, Culture and Science