The festive closing event for Activating Common Ground will take place on 22 January 2026, starting at 7.30PM, at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam.

Marking the conclusion of the cultural programme of the Netherlands Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, the evening brings together participants to reflect on the activities and collaborations that emerged through performances, artworks, and the graphic and spatial design of the Showcases.

The programme includes an interview with architect Jarrik Ouburg on the project and publication Re-Thinking Re-Use. Copies of the book will be available for purchase after the programme in the foyer of the Nieuwe Instituut, through NAi Booksellers.

The event also marks the opening of the MONO JAPAN Fair, celebrating contemporary Japanese craft, design and culture, taking place in Rotterdam from 23 to 25 January 2026.

More information & RSVP at the Nieuwe Instituut >>>

About Re-Thinking Re-Use

Re-Thinking Re-Use is a dialogue and collaboration between Dutch and Japanese (building) cultures, where differing perspectives enrich and inspire one another. By learning from each other’s traditions and views on old, new and change, the project seeks a new and guiding balance. It embraces the reuse and transformation of existing buildings, structures and materials, encouraging an exchange between generations of architects and builders, and between innovation and craftsmanship. At a time when the construction sector faces the ecological impact of its actions, Re-Thinking Re-Use offers a sustainable perspective, rooted in continuity and evolution within the built environment.

Re-Thinking Re-Use is a publication by HOH Architecten, in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) and the Japan-Netherlands Architecture and Cultural Association (JNACA).

Order Re-Thinking Re-Use >>>