Ostrava 2026 — PULSE Platform

International Festival
of Architecture & Design

CRITICAL COOPERATION

May 14-15, 2026
OSTRAVA DOV, Gong

EVENT
program
EVENT
PARTNERS

Value no longer comes from a single discipline, but from how they connect. Architecture, design, and business are no longer separate worlds. Today, the difference lies in who can collaborate better and turn complexity into results. PULSE Ostrava 2026 explored how to make that work.

We discovered practical strategies, proven business models, and best-practice sharing that drive growth and impact in a changing world where cooperation among great minds is critical.

Conference Program

Main Stage

Moderator: Daniel Stach
May 14, 2026 From Product Design to Interior Design
08:30
Registration
09:45
Welcome Speech

Marcin Szczelina / PL Writer, Curator Pulse 2025

Lucie Baránková Vilamová / CZ Deputy Mayor City of Ostrava
10:00

KEYNOTE

Michael Anastassiades / CY Product Designer, Founder of Michael Anastassiades Studio
11:00
COOPERATION ACROSS DIFFERENT CULTURES

Karolína Kučerová  / USA Artist

Krystian Kowalski / PL Product Designer

Barbara Gollackner / AT Product and Interior Designer, Founder of Barbara Gollacker studio

Eva Eisler / CZ Product Designer

Dan Vakhrameyev / UA Product Designer, Co-founder of +kouple

Kateryna Vakhrameyeva / UA CEO, Co-founder of +kouple
 
12:00

KEYNOTE

Piero Gandini  / IT Executive Chairman of Flos B&B Italia Group
12:20
DISCUSSION

Adam Štěch / CZ Theorist, Journalist and Curator, Co-founder of OKOLO

Piero Gandini  / IT Executive Chairman of Flos B&B Italia Group

Michael Anastassiades / CY Product Designer, Founder of Michael Anastassiades Studio
 
12:50
Produce locally and operate globally?

Marcin Barański  / PL CEO of Ceramika Paradyż

Lucie Karlová / CZ CEO of Preciosa

Dušan Tešlár   / SK Felmera Business Lead

Tamás Babits / HU CEO of Plydesign
 
13:40
The Myth of the Mastermind

Jakub Pollág / SK Product Designer, Founder of zeitgeist.limited
 
14:00

KEYNOTE

Massimo Adario / IT Architect, Interior Designer
 
15:00
CLIENT & architect DIALOGUE

Eva Mair / AT Architect

Aleksander Czerwonka-Jabłoński / PL Architect, Co-founder of CUDO Studio

Bartosz Żegański / PL Art Director & Founder of HART Studio

David Neuhäusl / CZ Architect, Co-Fouder of NEUHÄUSL HUNAL

Gaspar Bonta / HU Architect, Co-Founder of Gravity Boulder

Studio Kilo-Honč / SK Architects
16:00

Keynote

Rik Oostenbroek / NL Artist, Graphic Designer
 
16:40
END OF THE PROGRAME
 
19:00
VIP Meet and Greet, VITRA VIP Lounge - invitation only
20:00
PULSE Gala, GONG main hall - all attendees Dress code : Semi Formal
 
PULSE Awards Finalists Announcement
 
World Premiere: Symfonietta – Homage to Leoš Janáček composed and performed by Jiří Trtík and STRO.MY Ensemble
21:00
GONG Party + DJ + STRO.MY Ensemble
May 15, 2026 From Architecture to Urban Planning
08:30
Registration
09:45
Welcome Speech

Marcin Szczelina / PL Writer, Curator Pulse 2025
10:00

KEYNOTE ONLINE

Stefano Boeri / IT Architect, Urban Planner, Founder of Stefano Boeri Architetti
10:45

KEYNOTE

Mo Ching Ying Lai / TW Senior Architect at Snøhetta
 
11:15
user experience based architecture

Ali Seghatoleslami / AT Architect, Co-founder of PSLA Architekten

Irakli Eristavi / SK Architect, Fonder of zerozero

Csaba Nagy / HU Architect, Co-Founder of Archikon

Evžen Dub / CZ Architect, Project Manager at CMC Architects

Karol Wawrzyniak / PL Architect, Co-Fouder of TOPROJEKT
 
12:05
Co-authored cities: collaborative approach in creative placemaking

Sandra Kumorowski / USA/CZ International Brand Strategist, Researcher, and Educator

Alicja Waszkiewicz-Raviv / PL PR Specialist and Psychologist

Petra Javůrková / CZ Executive Leader and Board Chair, VOX & Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava
 
12:35
FUTURES OF OSTRAVA

Eva Jiřičná / CZ/UK Architect, Founder of AI Design

Alejandro Lorca  / ES Architect, Partner at L35 Architects

Barbora Markechová / SK Architect, Director of the Prague studio of Bogle Architects

Wilfried Kuehn  / DE Architect, Co-founder of Kuehn Malvezzi

Gergely Kenéz / HU Architect, Építész Stúdió
 
13:25

Architecture Migration of the 20th Century

Adam Štěch / CZ Theorist, Journalist and Curator, Co-founder of OKOLO
 
14:00

KEYNOTE

Eduard Callís / ES Architect, Founder of Un Parell d'Arquitectes
 
14:30
Building in Asia: Key Takeaways

Alan Cheung / HK Architect, Co-founder of One Bite Design Studio

Eva Le Peutrec / CZ Architect, Principal Architect at CASUA
 
15:00
FROM PULSE TO COOPERATION

Alfred Willinger / AT Architect, Co-founder of Architekten Tillner & Willinger

Ondřej Švancara / CZ Architect, Business Development Director at Chybik + Kristof

Máté Antal / HU Architect, Co-founder of NAUTES Architects
 
15:15
If You Don’t Count People, You’re Designing Blind

Maria Gal Tkacova / SK Architect, Urban Designer at Gehl People
 
15:30
Can We Still Agree on the City?Presentations & Discussion

Lene Benz / AT Urban Designer, Curator Public Program at Architekturzentrum Wien

Daniel Tomko / SK Urbanist, City Maker at Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava

Ondřej Vysloužil / CZ Urban Planner, director of MAPPA

Wojciech Kacperski / PL Urban Sociologist, Warsaw City Historian
 
Panel Discussion by Jiří Jaroš

Jiří Jaroš / CZ Moderator at CAMP
 
16:15
Setting a direction. Building a narrative.

Kuba Snopek / PL Urbanist, Managing Partner at Direction
 
16:45
END OF THE PROGRAME
18:00
Dolce Vita Party, GONG ground floor - all attendeesDress code : Smart Casual


Stage

May 14, 2026 Architecture and Urban Planning
13:00

Opening words

Anna Nosková / CZ Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Life Czechia
13:05
Inside Gehry’s Studio: What Global Icons Teach Emerging ArchitectsDiscussion

Michal Sedláček / CZ Architect, Urban Planner
 
13:20
Designing Across Continents: Navigating Cultural Expectations in Asia and EuropeDiscussion

Eva Le Peutrec / CZ Architect, Principal Architect at CASUA

Alan Cheung / HK Architect, Co-founder of One Bite Design Studio
 
13:30
How Major Developments Are Made: Inside the Investor–Architect CollaborationDiscussion

Diana James / UK Business Development Manager at Daramis

Vítězslav Danda / CZ Architect, Partner at EDIT!
 
13:45
The Client–Architect Dialogue: Expectations, Conflicts, and Better OutcomesDiscussion

Jan Holna / CZ Architect, Co-owner of DAM Architekti

Jakub Kolarovič / SK Architect, Founder of JKA
 
13:55
Designing With Memory: Why Historical Context Still MattersDiscussion

Emese Meiszter / HU Architect, Grafit Műterem

Martin Šenberger / CZ Architect, Co-founder of mar.s architects
 
14:05
The Supplier–Architect Dialogue: Expectations, Conflicts, and Better OutcomesDiscussion

Maksymilian Sawicki / PL Architect, Founder of OFFICE INAINN

Karel Goláň / CZ Architect, Founder of crea—tura studio
 
14:30
Czech Design and Innovation: What We Offer and Export

Karel Havlíček / CZ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade

Rudolf Klepáček / CZ CEO CzechTrade
 
14:45
Cooperation Across Central Europe: Shared Challenges, Shared OpportunitiesDiscussion

Yvette Vašourková / CZ Architect, Co-founder of CCEA MOBA
 
14:55
Are smaller cities leaders of the region?Discussion

Petr Štěpánek / CZ Director General of the Centre for Regional Development

Ondrej Horváth / SK Head of the Department of Spatial Development and Concepts at the City of Trnava
 
15:10
Lessons Learned: The Ground Floor Makes the CityDiscussion

Zoltán Erő / HU Chief Architect of Budapest

Pavel Fanta / CZ Architect, Partner at QARTA
 
15:20
Is designing for children designing for everyone? Discussion

Lene Benz / AT Urban Designer, Curator Public Program at Architekturzentrum Wien

Károly Pólus / HU Architect, Co-founder of Archikon
 
15:30
3D‑Printed Architecture: New Forms of Collaboration Discussion

Shota Tsikoliya  / CZ Architect, Co-founder of COLLARCH

Michal Mačuda / CZ Architect, 3DCP expert, Coral Construction Technologies
 
15:40
What is the Future of Visual Architectural Presentation? Discussion

Alicja Waszkiewicz-Raviv / PL PR Specialist and Psychologist

Dan Merta / CZ CEO and Co-founder of Rendero and MA Studio
 
15:55
break
 
16:25
- Czech language block -
16:25
Dolní Vítkovice centrem města?Discussion

Jan Světlík / CZ Entrepreneur, Owner of Vítkovice Holding
 
16:40
VOX: Jak našla Ostrava svůj nový hlas?Prezentace & Diskuze

Lucie Baránková Vilamová / CZ Deputy Mayor City of Ostrava

Petra Javůrková / CZ Executive Leader and Board Chair, VOX & Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava

Markéta Steinert / CZ Brand Director & Co-founder of Gradual

Martin Egrt / CZ Motion Director & Co-founder of Gradual
Moderace

Sandra Kumorowski / USA/CZ International Brand Strategist, Researcher, and Educator
 
17:15
Kdo formuje veřejný prostor? Umění, architektura a identita města z pohledu kulturně-kreativních odvětvíPrezentace & Diskuze

Lucie Baránková Vilamová / CZ Deputy Mayor City of Ostrava

Jan Kunze / CZ Curator, Director of EPO1 Centre for Contemporary Art in Trutnov

Jan Hasík / CZ Visionary, Leader, and Advocate for Civil Society

Jindřich Vaněk / CZ Founder of Ladná Čeladná
Moderace

Karolína Skórková / CZ Founder of Meet Design Ostrava
 
18:00
END OF THE PROGRAME
 
May 15, 2026 Design and Interior Design
13:00

Opening words

Anna Nosková / CZ Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Life Czechia
13:05
How Art Shapes DesignDiscussion

Karolína Kučerová  / USA Artist

Rik Oostenbroek / NL Artist, Graphic Designer
 
13:15
from design ideas to business gamechangersDiscussion

Anna Marešová / CZ Product Designer

Marcin Barański  / PL CEO of Ceramika Paradyż
 
13:25
From University Research to Product: New Voices in Contemporary Design Presentation & Discussion

Sára Kordová / CZ Ceramic Researcher & Founder of PoraStudio

Adam Elmer Železný / CZ Designer, Researcher, Founder of Reporcelain
 
13:40
The Designer–Producer Dialogue: Expectations, Conflicts, and Better OutcomesDiscussion

Jakub Pollág / SK Product Designer, Founder of zeitgeist.limited

Krystian Kowalski / PL Product Designer
 
13:50
Creating a Sacral Living: Why Light Needs Great ArchitectureDiscussion

Leon Jakimič / CZ Founder of LASVIT

Jan Žaloudek / CZ Architect
 
14:05
Architecture as a Selling Point: How Real Estate Uses DesignDiscussion

Eva Jiřičná / CZ/UK Architect, Founder of AI Design

Prokop Svoboda / CZ Owner and Managing Director Svoboda & Williams
 
14:20
Interior Design as Strategy: How Companies Shape Their SpacesDiscussion

Tomáš Míček / CZ CEO of CAPEXUS

Mateusz Kuo Stolarski / PL Architect, Interior Designer, Co-founder of KUOO TAMIZO
 
14:35
Designing Workplaces at Scale: Developer–Architect CollaborationDiscussion

Petra Pivovarová / CZ Head of Community Management at CTP

Václav Hlaváček / CZ Architect, Co-founder of Studio ACHT
 
14:50
Working With Global Brands: Lessons From International Product Design

Lucie Amossé / CZ Architect, Production Designer
 
15:00
Ukrainian Interior Design TodayDiscussion

Kateryna Vakhrameyeva / UA CEO, Co-founder of +kouple

Dan Vakhrameyev / UA Product Designer, Co-founder of +kouple
 
15:10
From Architecture to Product Design: Translating Space Into ObjectsDiscussion

Petr Hák / CZ Architect, Co-founder of Cirque.Menu

Jakub Kolarovič / SK Architect, Founder of JKA
 
15:20
What matters when designing architecture? Transforming space into shapesDiscussion

Wilfried Kuehn  / DE Architect, Co-founder of Kuehn Malvezzi

David Neuhäusl / CZ Architect, Co-Fouder of NEUHÄUSL HUNAL
 
15:30
END OF THE PROGRAME
 

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Why participate

Why PULSE Ostrava Was Truly Extraordinary.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of giving lectures and speeches across the globe, but something about PULSE Ostrava made it unforgettable. What they’ve achieved goes far beyond organizing a conference—they’ve created a true community, a space where people come together, interact, and inspire one another.

Arik Levy
Product Designer

Architectural conferences are often dull. Figures dressed in black watch presentations by people in turtlenecks, and during breaks, they talk about who’s building what. Sometimes, it can even resemble a funeral. But Pulse is different. The connection between creative professions, well-chosen topics, and excellent organization make this festival a fantastic event. I thoroughly enjoyed the diverse group of speakers and the rich program.

Jan Vondrák
Architect and co-founder of Mjölk studio

I am glad that there is a platform where designers and creators from different countries can come together and reflect on the situation in design or architecture. Perspectives may differ, which can enrich all of us but, most importantly, help us move forward.

Anna Marešová
Product Designer

Contemporary architecture and design have gone a long way in eastern Europe due to the steady economic growth over the last quarter of a century. It is of the highest quality with a unique impressive edge. PULSE is a long awaited initiative supporting exchange, with a potential of inspiring the rest of the world.

Tomek Rygalik
Product Designer

In a period of just two years, PULSE has become one of the most important platforms for Central European design and architecture.

Judit Horváth PhD
Curator and Art Historian

PULSE provides an opportunity to meet, compare and discuss current and future challenges related to design, market, research and sustainability. Sharing experiences and learning from others, who have achieved success in their areas, allows for collaboration in scale which could be defined as ‘between local and global'.

Monika Arczyńska
Architect, Urbanist

design & code: 2bcreative.cz

PULSE Platform
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