London's architectural debate society, Turncoats, is coming to D.C.

2016-08-23T13:13:00-04:00

The idea behind Turncoats is for people to relax, slough off their more cautious professional selves, and engage in full-throated (yet respectful!), rapid-fire debate on a broad range of topics. Audience members are encouraged to speak up, Powerpoints are strictly forbidden, and alcohol is served liberally.

Started in London in the last couple years, Turncoats has chapters in Scotland, Vancouver, Serbia and now, the U.S. The first D.C. Turncoats event takes place tomorrow, August 24, and is centered around the debate topic of "D.C. Wants Boring Architecture". Find more details here.

Provocative architecture debating series Turncoats goes international

2016-07-13T11:46:00-04:00

Debates are rubbish. We've all been there: a panel of similar people with similar views taking it in turns to talk at length about their similar work - too polite, too deferential, too dull. At best they are lukewarm love-ins, critically impotent, elitist and stuffy. Turncoats is a shot in the arm.

Turncoats, a provocative architectural debating society that originated in London last year, has expanded to Scotland, the USA, Canada and Serbia, with more cities in the pipeline. The London originators have turned the premise into a franchise, inviting cities to apply for free and start a Turncoats debate series. The aim is to start confrontational and challenging architectural debate, and make it free for anyone who wants to listen. The premise of a Turncoats debate is the presentation of two opposing 'theatrically provocative opening gambits', then, in the spirit of its name the opposing parties switch sides.

I attended 'Rip it Up and Start Again', held in Glasgow, Scotland last week. In the Turncoats tradition, mobile phones are placed in envelopes to prohibit recording and a 'shot in the dark' of tequila and a Turncoats badge is offered on arrival. The debate was held in an old glue factory, and the panel consisted of industry professionals arguing for and against the architec...

Archinect - News

London's architectural debate society, Turncoats, is coming to D.C.

Provocative architecture debating series Turncoats goes international