En guise d'introduction à une thématique, il a déclaré : "Participants will be encouraged through a declaration of affinities to make connections with other authors and other works.  These dialogues and collaborations may involve a common proposal or a dialogue between projects even as a dialogue of provocation. In this way we wish to demonstrate the existence of a rich culture of architectural practice and research, stimulated by the work of other disciplines but defined by shared enthusiasms and concerns at a time when the singular works of architects are celebrated but the role of the profession and our place within society is continuously challenged."

Avec ses bureaux à Londres, Berlin, Milan et Shanghai, David Chipperfield est à la tête d'une équipe de 250 collaborateurs. On lui doit notamment la rénovation du Neues Museum à Berlin; le Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Alaska; la cité judiciaire de Barcelone; la Des Moines Public Library dans l'Iowa (photo); la résidence Ninetree Village à Hangzhou en China; le nouveau Museum Folkwang in Essen; le flagship store Peek &Cloppenburg à Vienna; un laboratoire Novartis à Basel...