The XVII edition of Quito’s architecture biennial opened two days ago under the title “La Bienal Abierta: La Arquitectura Rompe sus Fronteras” (Open Bienial: Architecture Breaks its Boundaries). The event which will run until the 19th of this month hosts a series of lectures, a seminar and an open competition for architects based in the Americas.

Organized by the Colegio de Arquitectos del Ecuador since 1978, “La Bienal Abierta” has as its main objective to open the architectural discourse to other fields. With this in mind, the biennial will conduct an architectural open dialogue with five key subjects: nature, society, economy, culture, and science.

The conference series includes: Sou Fujimoto (Japan), R&SIen (France), Andrés Jaque (Spain), Javier Sánchez (Mexico), Al-Borde (Ecuador), Josep María Montaner (Spain), Felipe Mesa (Colombia), and Rafael Doctor Doncero (Spain).

The winners of the competition’s multiple categories—architectural design, urban design, landscape design, social habitat and development, renovation and reuse, and theory, history and criticism,—will be announced on the 17th.