Architexture 13
Welcome to issue 13 of Architexture, the monthly newsletter from the Architecture Centre Network (ACN) - the independent body representing architecture and built environment centres in the UK.
ACN News
Living Together
The ACN has now formally appointed Design Heroine [link] as Project Manager for the first phase of Living Together, the Network's collaborative and wide-ranging exploration of
housing design, neighbourhoods and the socio-economic factors that influence our collective notion of the built environment.
A Digital Network
An additional benefit of ACN membership is the inclusion of formal listings for members in our online portal at www.architecturecentre.net. Over the past year to April site traffic has trebled - now delivering around 60k page impressions per month and growing.
The importance of our digital resources to the Network has been supported by a recent and significant investment by CABE for the ACN in a powerful online digital asset management application [link] that will radically improve both the quality and range of our online services to members. Furthermore we intend to develop the range of our publicly available resources with a suite of new online applications including an imagebank and press centre. More details soon.
Education
April has seen the second CPD event for Network members at the Institute of Education, University of London. Over 18 Education Officers from centres across the UK met for a two-day session
featuring talks, participatory workshops and presentations of case studies/approaches by classroom teaching practitioners of ‘successful’ practice. Centres were asked to identify criteria for good practice and consider the implications for their own practice.
Growth Areas
The ACN has been working with a number of partner organisations in housing 'growth areas' around the UK. In Thames Gateway, the ACN has been involved in recent meetings of a
feasibility study into a proposed ABEC in South Essex. In Milton Keynes, the ACN has been supporting partners in the establishment of the executive team and the appropriate corporate governance for a pilot independent architecture centre.
Member News
Open House
Although perhaps better known for their co-ordination of the remarkable Open House London annual event each September [link] Open House, also has an extensive outreach programme in the built environment throughout the year.
Open House Contemporary is one such example, a year-long range of activities which in 2006 examines the relationship between design professionals, clients and crucially - the end users. Across three cities this summer, architects will talk about their work in this context starting with Charles Holland of FAT at CUBE tonight, the 9th May [more].
Public Arts
picture credit: Public Arts
The proposed Creative Centre for the Built Environment at the Grade II* listed Orangery in Wakefield, designed by Will Alsop and commissioned by the agency Public Arts, has been given approval by the Planning Committee of Wakefield Council [more].
Shape
In March 2006 Shape carried out a period of public consultation with young people on behalf of South Cambridgeshire District Council for the proposed new town development of Northstowe. Shape worked with over one hundred 14 to 18 year old’s both in formal education and those who are not in employment, education or training [more].
Architecture Foundation
On the 13th April has launched its Changing London Schools competition on to select educational projects in the inner London Boroughs to be showcased in an exhibition during the London Architecture Biennale [more].
Architecture Foundation's Spring 2006 Real Architecture series, a programme of four evening talks, also concludes tonight the 9th May with Sean Griffiths of FAT on The Saint Lucas Art Academy, Boxtel; chaired by Piers Gough [more].
Architecture Centre, Bristol
Bristol is one of the pathfinder authorities for the flagship national Building Schools for the Future programme in the UK. April has seen an exhibition revealing a selection of plans for four proposed new schools in the city [more].
Northern Architecture
Northern Architecture and the Regional Development Agency One NorthEast recently hosted a two-day visit to Newcastle and Gateshead by staff, board members and advisers to Architecture and Design Scotland [more].
RIBA Trust
An exhibition exploring the spatial potential of brick construction and the possibilities for the materiality of buildings to have a direct emotional effect opened at the RIBA in London last week [more].
The Lighthouse
The Community Green project at the Lighthouse in Glasgow presents an exhibition that includes experimental street furniture and 3D electronic information-sharing points. The prototypes are derived from an ideas competition to explore what a 21st century village green could be, using the inner-city suburb of Pollockshields, Glasgow, as an inspiration and test bed. Until 18th May [more].
Other News
The RIBA President's Medals
picture credit: Ross McEwan, AiA
The RIBA President's Medals launched its first touring exhibition on Friday 21st April in Liverpool, at the RIBA North West region's exhibition space, the RENEW Rooms. RIBA President Jack Pringle opened the exhibition [link].
Creative Clusters 2006
Creative Clusters is an independent policy forum, fostering debate about creativity and the creative economy, about culture and commerce. The organisation is currently inviting submissions to present on the 'Mainstreaming Creativity' theme at Creative Clusters 2006 their annual conference in Newcastle, 6th-8th November [more].
Health Week 2006
In a week-long investigation, from 15-19 May 2006, CABE is to take a detailed look at the relationship between health and the built environment. Speakers from clinical practice, architecture, planning, research, housing and public health will discuss the issues and share ideas [more].
RIAS
The 2006 Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Convention Culture Works – arts and leisure buildings in the new urban economy took place on Friday 5th May at the new Concert Hall in Perth, designed by Building Design Partnership [more].
Spaces by Design
The Glass-House is a national design service offering advice and subsidised design training. This course from the 17-19 May is a hands-on, practical course for who want to get involved in planning, designing and creating an open space for communal use in their neighbourhood, for example a park or play area [more].
Soundings
 Fundamental Architectural Inclusion has this month published Soundings, the first in an occasional series that will report the findings of participant-led research carried out by people living in the Thames Gateway area [more].
Architecture Centres International
ICAM
'World Forum Geneva: Cities and Quality of Life' opens on the 18th May, exploring global challenges and local solutions to our burgeoning urban landscape; an initiative of ICAM and the Netherlands Architecture Institute [link].
Architekturgalerie am Weißenhof
With the Modernism exhibition receiving widespread interest at the V&A [link], the Stuttgart architecture centre also happens to be showing the related work of Hans Poelzig (1869-1936) [link].
Archeire
The independent virtual centre for Irish architecture features comprehensive news of both contemporary and historic architecture including news of Martha Schwartz's proposed major public space in Dublin's docklands [link].
Dansk Arkitektur Center
DAC, the architecture center in Copenhagen, opened a major exhibition last month exploring the work of acclaimed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. World Architecture continues until 10th September [link].
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