Archtober's Festival Itineraries offer a curated selection of festival events, hand picked by a thought leader, editor, or creative mind that we admire in New York City. Our first itinerary is from Ben Dreith, US editor at Dezeen, where he leads Dezeen's architecture, interiors and design coverage in the US and the Americas. Dreith has written widely about architecture and interior design. Prior to joining Dezeen, he was the managing editor for Canada’s NUVO magazine. Dreith was born in Colorado. Before receiving his masters degree in English language at the University of British Columbia, he studied anthropology at the University of Denver.

Take a look at what Dreith is excited for during the 2023 festival, and start planning your own itinerary!

1. Indigenous Society of Architecture event series. (October 3, 17, 25, 24) Dreith says: 

"The importance of embracing Indigenous design cannot be overstated, both in terms of acknowledgement of historical crimes against native peoples and for the unique, land-oriented design techniques many of the practitioners offer. 

The Indigenous Society of Architecture is holding a variety of talks and workshops on topics as wide as designing with nonhumans in mind and land reclamation strategies. These perspectives should be essential for any person who seeks to design with the grain of our contemporary cultural landscape."

2. Tom Kundig lecture (October 3). Dreith says:

"Tom Kundig of Seattle-based architecture practice Olson Kundig is one of the most dynamic designers working today. His firm’s material-forward and region-specific approach has led to impressive and practical structures nationally and abroad.

This year, the architect is giving the prestigious Arthur Rosenblatt Memorial Lecture to be moderated by Vanity Fair contributing editor and author Mark Rozzo. It’s a meeting of the minds not to be missed."

3. Climate Ready Buildings Training (October 4). Dreith says:

"On the practical side, the festival comprises training for professionals and owners.

This workshop, put on by Building Energy Exchange, was created to make climate-friendly building tactics more understandable – an important counterpoint to the more concept-oriented aspects of the festival."

‍4. Building of the Day: Perelman Center (October 8). Dreith says:

"Rex Architects’ recently completed Perelman Center is one of the most talked about buildings in Manhattan. While many projects reach a similar scale, the true interest in the monolithic, marble-clad building is the insides.

With movable floors and massive guillotine walls, this building is literally a machine for performance"

5. The Power of Utopia – Living with Le Corbusier in Chandigar (October 13). Dreith says:‍

"The Architecture and Design Film Festival (ADFF) is putting on a variety of films during the month, and among the many highlights is this one by Swiss directors Karin Bucher and Thomas Karrer. 

The film looks at the legacy of modernist architect Le Corbusier’s massive planning project in India through the eyes of four people who have lived alongside the famous and fraught project."‍