Join us at 11 am BST on 13 May as David Gianotten, managing partner – architect of OMA talks about the innovative White Cube project.
Through art and architecture, the project connects people on an abandoned Unilever plantation in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Western museums and the art establishment that has benefited from the commercial and cultural exploitation of the region. The aim is to redirect capital to enable the local people to buy back and regenerate their land.
The White Cube offers a fascinating framework for institutions to move beyond symbolic gestures of decolonization to impact for the future. Don’t miss this session about a truly powerful enterprise that has valuable lessons for western museums, art galleries and zoos.
Can museums ever hope to be inclusive when no reparations have yet been paid to the plantation workers who financed – and in some cases continue to finance – the very foundations of these institutions?
greenloop is blooloop’s online conference focusing on sustainability in visitor attractions. Now in its 5th year, greenloop informs and inspires with top speakers and hot topics. Join us online on 13 &14 May. Sessions will be available on demand for ticket holders.
David Gianotten
David Gianotten is the managing partner – architect of OMA, where he oversees the firm’s organisational and financial management, business strategy, and global growth, alongside leading his architectural portfolio.
Gianotten currently leads significant projects worldwide, including the Museo Egizio 2024 in Turin; the Selman Stërmasi Stadium transformation in Tirana, Albania; the Waterkant masterplan in Rotterdam-Zuid; Amsterdam’s Bajes Kwartier, transforming a 1960s prison complex into a vibrant neighborhood of 1,350 apartments; Eindhoven’s VDMA, revitalizing an industrial site into a mixed-use urban hub; the new Koepel District in Breda, converting a Panopticon and Judicial Compound into a mixed-use area; the Innovation Partnership Schools in Amsterdam; and the Metropolitan Village, a high-rise residential building in Taipei.
Projects that Gianotten has delivered include the Gallery of the Kings at Museo Egizio (2024), AIR Circular Campus and Cooking Club in Singapore (2024), Apollolaan 171, a high-end office building in Amsterdam (2023), the Taipei Performing Arts Center (2022), Bali’s Potato Head Studios (2020), the WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth (2020), Prince Plaza in Shenzhen (2020), White Cube LIRCAEI in Lusanga (2018), and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (2013). He also oversaw the final stages of the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing (2012).
Gianotten’s leadership extends to curatorial projects, such as designing an opening exhibition for Powerhouse Parramatta in Australia and co-curating N*thing is Possible at the Singapore Design Centre (2022). His projects have garnered recognitions, including the NRC’s Best Architecture of 2024, Architectural Digest’s Great Design Awards (2020), and the Australian Institute of Architects Western Australian Chapter Awards (2021). David lectures globally on topics including the concept of circular design, the future of the architectural profession, the role of context in projects, and speed and risk in architecture.
Gianotten joined OMA in 2008, launched its Hong Kong office in 2009, and became Partner in 2010, leading the Asia-Pacific portfolio for seven years. Since 2015, he has been based in the Netherlands, managing OMA globally. Before OMA, he was Principal Architect at SeARCH in the Netherlands. Gianotten has taught extensively at the Architectural Urban Design and Engineering department at the Eindhoven University of Technology, where he is an alumnus.
Join us at greenloop 2025
greenloop, blooloop’s annual online conference for sustainability in visitor attractions, is taking place on 13 &14 May 2025.
Now in its fifth year, the event aims to inform and inspire with top speakers, cutting-edge science, and practical insights.
In today’s rapidly changing environmental and political landscape, staying informed and taking action have never been more vital. Join us to find out what the science tells us, what actions industry leaders are taking, and how you can make a real difference.
We believe climate action can’t wait, and so group tickets to greenloop are just £10 per person, making it affordable to bring your colleagues, clients, and friends. Your participation matters. Offer ends 9 May – don’t miss out!
Image Credits:
Portrait David Gianotten by Vincent van den Hoogen, image courtesy of OMA
Still from White Cube, Renzo Martens – Copyright © Institute for Human Activities, 2020
