Cauliflower is Nothing but Cabbage with a College Education—Or: New Metaphors for Architecture Schools

Panel discussion: “Cauliflower is Nothing but Cabbage with a College Education—Or: New Metaphors for Architecture Schools” with Shumi Bose (Royal College of Art Syracuse University London / KoozArch), Jesko Fezer (HFBK Hamburg), Brigitte Felderer (University of Applied Arts Vienna, Social Design), alongside the I oA’s new professors of Architecture: Sam Chermayeff, Lara Lesmes & Fredrik Hellberg, and Sam Jacob.

On the occasion of the 19th International Venice Architecture Biennale, the Institute of Architecture (I oA) at the University of Applied Arts Vienna warmly invites you to a panel discussion, presented as part of the Biennale Sessions. The event will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 4–5:30pm at The Venice Biennale, Arsenale, Sale d’Armi D, First Floor, Ramo de la Tana 2169/F, Castello.

Reyner Banham once described architecture schools as a “tribal longhouse,” where architects are “socialized into the profession.” Today, in an era of pluralism and institutional uncertainty, the “black box” he referred to feels not only outdated but is increasingly untenable. What if we moved out of the longhouse? What if we opened up the black box? What if teaching and learning relied on other metaphors, sites, or social structures? A garden, a café, a living room, or out on the street? How could that reshape the act of teaching? How might it reframe what it means to be a student? What different kinds of knowledge might be generated and shared? 

In more open, permeable, and transparent settings, would more relevant relationships, hierarchies, and dynamics emerge? What might be lost? This conversation brings the new lineup of studio heads at Angewandte’s Institute of Architecture together with invited guests to reflect on the institute’s new chapter and the wider context of architectural education as we move further into the 21st century. According to Mark Twain, cauliflower is just cabbage with a college education. Perhaps it’s time to ask not only what we’re teaching and learning, but how we tend the garden and what we want to grow into.

The panel is organized by Sam Jacob (I oA, University of Applied Arts Vienna; Sam Jacob Studio) and Roswitha Janowski-Fritsch (University of Applied Arts Vienna).