BIO

An architect and tenured professor at ETH Zurich, where he leads the Chair of Architecture and Urban Design at the Department of Architecture, D-Arch. As founding partner and Design Principal of Urbanthinktank_next, he pioneered the ‘Social Turn’ in architecture. This movement had its breakthrough in 2010 with the New York MoMA exhibition titled ‘Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement.’

Klumpner studied at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna and earned a Master’s in urban design from Columbia University in NY. He is internationally renowned for his urban projects and research, which focus on the intersection of informality and the design of architectural prototypes, innovative building typologies, and civic spaces that promote spatial justice.

Klumpner has received prestigious awards and prizes, including the 2012 Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, the 2010 Gold Holcim Award for Latin America, and the 2017 Curry Stone Design Prize. He received nominations for projects developed with ETHZ and Urbanthinktank, such as “Empower-Shack” in South Africa / RIBA Best Building of the Year or “Fabrica de Cultura” Colombia for the MCHAP of IIT Chicago. Currently, he leads Urban Transformation Projects at ETH Zurich with SECO, designing prototypical public buildings like the “Mega-School” for thousands of children in Colombia, and is working on the General Urban Plan for the City of Sarajevo.

Switzerland, according to rankings the most innovative country in the world, will be the first partner country in Impact’s history. It is a reliable partner when it comes to discussing sustainability, artificial intelligence, science and innovative start-ups.