Building Dwelling Thinking
2026/05/26
75 years ago, the “Darmstädter Gespräch” took place in Darmstadt — one of the most significant forums for intellectual exchange in post-war Germany. Under the title “Mensch und Raum” (Man and Space), the 1951 conference brought philosophy and architecture into dialogue: with contributions from Otto Ernst Schweizer, Rudolf Schwarz, José Ortega y Gasset — and Martin Heidegger, whose lecture “Bauen Wohnen Denken” (Building Dwelling Thinking) remains one of the most influential philosophical contributions to architectural theory of the 20th century.
The Institute of Philosophy at TU Darmstadt invites you to the interdisciplinary conference “75 Years of 'Building Dwelling Thinking' — Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Darmstädter Gespräch 1951”. The conference explores the philosophical significance, reception history, and continued relevance of this event, bringing together contributions from philosophy, architectural history and theory, and architectural practice.
The Department of Architecture is also represented: Felix Waechter speaks on Friday on “The Potential of Nature as a Resource for Dwelling”, Sandra Meireis on “habiter | habitat — On the History and Present of a Conflict”.
Thursday, 28 May & Friday, 29 May 2026
S312/11, Wissenschaftsschloss Darmstadt (Arkaden)
The conference is open to the public — no registration required.
