ABSTRACT
This chapter compares the Internationale Bauausstellung (IBA) Emscher Park in Germany with the current cross-border IBA Parkstad, in the Netherlands. The IBA takes place for the first time at the early 20th century in Germany, with the original title of International Exhibition of Built Architectures. Acting in a specific place and for a defined time, it can be seen as an engine for future-proof transformations, grounding on an exceptional collision between theory and practice of urban and architectural design. Emscher Park and Parkstad constitute decisive references of an experimental stage for IBA format, sharing relevant similarities that fostered its potential beyond a traditional approach mainly oriented on urban and architectural scales. The phenomenon of urban antagonism is associated with that of the weakening of national borders, where settlement realities increasingly live a daily life of cross-border exchanges that are not supported by adequate political and urban guidelines.
