Wrapping up this year’s HRAIA Architecture Week is the third-annual PKN night.

This quick-paced and content-rich event will consist of 13 presenters each showing and talking about 20 slides for 20 seconds per slide. “PKN” is derived from the global phenomenon called “Pecha Kucha Night” (for a good intro, check out the video below) which began in Tokyo in 2003 as a way for typically long-winded architects (guilty) to hang out in public and show their work without boring people to death. “Pecha kucha” comes from the japanese phrase for chit chat, the sound of conversation.

Presenters are urged to show images that convey ideas and personal thoughts or observations, instead of just using the 20 slides for a portfolio-based advertisement of their professional work. Anticipated subject matter for this year includes architectural works, design objects, images exploring the culture of China, and the joint entry by Hampton University and ODU for the next Solar Decathlon to be held in 2011 on the National Mall in DC (this is HUGE for Hampton Roads as there are only twenty teams from around the globe selected!).

The location for this year’s PKN is upstairs at the Belmont House of Smoke (formerly the New Belmont… note that the “Smoke” refers to smoked BBQ, not tobacco smoke…). Admission is free and refreshments will be provided.

So come out to this event – you don’t need to be an architect or designer to enjoy it. With the short duration of presentations (6.67 minutes total per each 20 slides) and the fact that the show rolls whether each presenter is ready or not, there are sure to be surprises, awkward moments, and fun.

PKN 2010 at Belmont House of Smoke, Friday April 16th. 6 – 9:30, presentation starts at 7:15.