"Anti-monuments" seek protection for reasons other than cultural value or beauty. In response to the increasing impact of the construction industry on carbon emissions, and how certain buildings are seen as disposable, on 7 November at the Fundación Arquia's arquia/becas 2024 Award Ceremony, founding partner and jury member Jacob van Rijs will explain MVRDV's approach to anti-monuments with regard to the Shenzhen Women and Children's Centre.

Tasked with transforming an old, mixed-used complex completed during a period of explosive growth in the 1990s, of which the tower remained empty indefinitely and was no longer fit for purpose, MVRDV delivered a vibrant and colour skyscraper, hosting a hotel and a wide range of facilities for the welfare of women and children. The comprehensive transformation allowed the building's structure to be reused, resulting in a carbon saving  equivalent to nearly 12,000 flights from Amsterdam to Shenzhen, while creating better connections with public transport, and creating a more energy efficient structure through allowing for both natural ventilation and reducing thermal heat gain. 

The arquia /becas scholarships aim to give candidates the opportunity to complement the knowledge acquired during their training through professional internships and to contribute to the rapprochement between the professional and academic fields, facilitating the beneficiaries' access to qualified European architectural studies.

The ‘VR’ of MVRDV, Jacob van Rijs is renowned for his dedication to bold concepts combining daring ideas with a humane and user-friendly approach. Van Rijs has developed this approach over the past 30 years in practice, leading to a wide range of the office’s most notable projects, from cultural and civic buildings to transformations, and from residential buildings and social housing to interiors. As a testament to his strong leadership skills, Van Rijs led a rapidly growing MVRDV office through the financial crisis, and successfully led the firm into a new era as Managing Director from 2016 to 2018. 

• Date & time: 7 November, 12:05 (CET)
• Location: Arquia Foundation, Cultural Activities Headquarters, C/ Tutor, 16. 28008 Madrid
• More information on the event can be found here