The CHYBÍK + KRIŠTOF Aedes exhibition, titled Building the Existing City, has opened at Aedes Architecture Forum in Berlin and turns the gallery into a working architecture studio. It runs from October 23 to December 3, 2026, and centres on four architectural and urban design proposals for Berlin sites or urban situations, chosen through an open call. Over six weeks, visitors can follow the practice’s research, discussions and design work as the proposals take shape.
Mendel Square / CHYBÍK + KRIŠTOF. Image © Alex Shoots Buildings
The four projects came out of 4 Transformations for Berlin, an open call that ran from September 11 to October 11, 2026. It invited individuals, community initiatives, public institutions, property owners and other organisations to nominate buildings, sites or urban situations in need of transformation. The selected proposals will be developed pro bono by CHYBÍK + KRIŠTOF, working with the communities and organisations tied to each site.
Aedes Building the Existing City. Image © Lukas Kijonka
During the exhibition, the team will prepare initial architectural and urban design studies for each of the four nominations. Visitors therefore see how an architectural intervention is conceived in response to local conditions, rather than only seeing finished results. The six-week process ends with a closing event on December 3, where the proposals will be presented.
Alongside the live studio, the exhibition introduces the practice itself. Ondřej Chybík and Michal Krištof founded CHYBÍK + KRIŠTOF in 2010, and the firm works across architecture, urban design, research and education, with offices in Prague, Brno, Bratislava and London. Its projects span cultural, residential, educational and civic buildings, as well as masterplans and public spaces.
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Jihlava Municipal Arena / CHYBÍK + KRIŠTOF. Image © Laurian Ghinitoiu
At Aedes, that portfolio is organised into four themes: PLAY, LIVE, ACTIVATE and ADAPT. Each theme is built around a single completed project and accompanied by drawings, models, videos, material studies and research drawn from a selection of 20 projects. The completed work includes the Jihlava Municipal Arena, the Nusle Brewery neighbourhood and Lahofer Winery.
Nusle Brewery / CHYBÍK + KRIŠTOF. Image © Alex Shoots Buildings
A public programme extends the discussion beyond the gallery walls, with lectures, film screenings and workshops for school groups. Lectures and critique sessions for university students also link the exhibition to architectural education, bringing students and practitioners into conversation about the design challenges explored in the studio. The format builds on the practice’s earlier work with temporary and experimental formats, including pavilions, installations and urban activations.
Other exhibitions this year also look at how architecture engages with existing cities. The Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal shows The fortune of the city is that it has never been perfect through January 10, 2027, examining Álvaro Siza’s approach to city-making. In Shanghai, The Poetics of Survival at the Power Station of Art, on view through October 25, explores the work of Lina Bo Bardi in a display designed by OPEN Architecture and curated by Renato Anelli, while the Museum of Modern Art in New York presents Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa through January 2, 2027.
For more background, see our guide to architecture models.
Jane Doe is an American architectural editor with a deep-rooted passion for design and the built environment. She holds a degree in Architecture from Columbia University, where she developed a strong foundation in both architectural theory and urban studies. With over a decade of editorial experience, Jane specializes in shaping content that bridges architecture, urbanism, and cultural discourse. Her work spans leading design publications, exhibition texts, and digital platforms, where she is known for her clear, engaging narratives and her ability to translate complex spatial ideas for a broad audience. Jane is particularly interested in issues of equity, sustainability, and the evolving role of cities in a changing world.