.jpg)
On June 3, 2026, Nathalie de Vries, Founding Partner of MVRDV, and Sanne van den Burgh, Head of MVRDV NEXT, will deliver a BEAToronto Talk at the Paul Cadario Conference Centre in Toronto.
.jpg)
In their talk, Nathalie and Sanne will reflect on the projects and experiences that have shaped their careers. Beginning with Nathalie’s account of becoming the first of MVRDV’s founding partners to leave her previous position and lead the construction supervision of the studio’s first built project, Villa VPRO, the conversation will explore navigating and succeeding within traditionally male-dominated fields. Sanne will connect these experiences to her own work in sustainability and technology-driven design environments, reflecting on questions of authorship, visibility, and agency in architectural practice today.
The discussion will also address the complexities of the “woman in architecture” label, considering how it can both highlight achievements and risk overshadowing individual contributions to the profession. Nathalie will reflect on how her perspective on the label evolved over time, and how she came to embrace it as a way to provide visibility and representation for younger architects.
The event is part of the BEAToronto Talks series, organised by the volunteer-run network of architects, designers, and entrepreneurs focused on community-building, advocacy, networking, and mentorship across Toronto’s design community.