Architexture 18
Welcome to issue 18 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
New Director
The ACN is delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Craven as our first full-time Director of the Network. Michael joins ACN from Arts Council England where he is currently Director, Organisation Development at their National Office.
Michael Craven, the new ACN Director
"I'm absolutely delighted to be joining the Architecture Centre Network as their first full time Director” says Michael Craven.
“Architecture has long been one of my real interests. It's an important time for ACN and I'm looking forward to developing and delivering the strategic focus for the organisation in collaboration with the Architecture Centres current, and new, international, national and regional partners and our funders."
Nicole Crockett, Chair of ACN and Director of The Building Exploratory announced the appointment: "We are extremely pleased that Michael Craven has accepted the challenge to lead the Architecture Centre Network through its next stage of development.
"His impressive skills set and huge enthusiasm for the work of the 22 centres across the UK will ensure that we maintain our place at the forefront of public engagement with the built environment. ACN is indebted to the small team, led by part-time National Co-ordinator Peter Luxton, which has developed the organisation into the second largest architecture centre network in the world in only five years.
"The Network is now in a strong position to advance the work of architecture centres in devising ever more creative approaches to involving local people in the creation of vibrant and effective neighbourhoods."
In his current post, Michael Craven leads on a range of initiatives including the development of knowledge sharing and collaborative working.
He is also co-facilitating a research project at Henley Management College working with both private and public sector organisations exploring innovation and knowledge development.
Prior to his current role Michael was Director, Visual Arts in the Arts Council England South East region and for many years he worked in the higher education design sector as a Head of Department and Principal Lecturer.
Michael will formally take up his post from the 11th December 2006.
A+DEN Conference 2006
Over the 27-28th October ACN Education Officer Catherine Williamson will be speaking in Chicago at the inaugural conference of A+DEN the foremost design education network in the United States - bringing together leaders and practitioners in the fields of architecture, design and education [link].
Snapshot II
The ACN’s new publication Snapshot profiles recent innovative and creative practice from UK architecture centres.
This second edition of Snapshot, edited by Annie Atkins and with a forward by Claire Pollock, documents examples of creative and cultural work from centres that encourages people to demand more from their built environment.
You may download a pdf copy from the ACN website using this link [note 2.9Mb file]; alternatively please email the ACN should you wish to obtain a hard copy.
Member News
Solent Centre for Architecture and Design
As part of their Partner Programme, SCA+D has unveiled a new online Resource Library of images, documents, presentations and videos available for free, to download and use as teaching resources [link].
Northern Architecture
For the past two years students from Newcastle University have engaged young people living in Newcastle and Gateshead in a series of activities investigating places through Northern Architecture’s The Way We Live project.
A publication aimed at those wishing to to engage young people in the process of shaping places will be available from Oct 16th. To reserve your copy, at a maximum of one per organisation, please email info@northernarchitecture.com
Architecture Centre, Bristol
Daniel Wright, project architect of Richard Rogers Partnership, will lead a tour of the Welsh National Assembly in a field trip organised by The Architecture Centre on the 24th November 2006. There will also be a backstage tour of the Welsh Millennium Centre, the £106 million performing arts complex located on the Cardiff Bay waterfront [more].
New London Architecture
The Legible London project explores the Mayor's ambition for London to be a world-class walking friendly city by 2015. From street signs and maps through to journey planning technology, the exhibition and accompanying website at www.legiblelondon.info will enable residents and visitors to have their say [more].
MADE
The architecture centre for Birmingham and the West Midlands is currently recruiting for a Manager, Co-ordinator and Panel Members for its regional Design Review service [more]; closing date for all applications 20th Oct 2006.
The Lighthouse
The Young Designers Gallery at Lighthouse is currently showing Architrailer - On the Road, an exhibition of filmmaker Rob Kennedy's work with communities in Bo’ness, Clydebank and Rothsay [more].
RIBA Trust
A forthcoming exhibition at the V&A and RIBA Architecture Gallery, curated by Rob Wilson at RIBA Trust aims to show, in a time of high demand for new housing, how good design of housing on the outside – which makes up 80% of the built environment – can foster a sense of community by helping create good neighbourhoods [more].
Architecture Foundation
Perspectives of London is a series of short films from Naomi Cleaver, Nigel Coates, Tom Dixon and Jefferson Hacktaken using a Nokia 93 handset, capturing new glimpses of London - and the artists - in the process. At the Yard gallery from 6-21st October [more].
Other News
Walk to School
The first International Walk to School Month, a joint initiative between Living Streets and the National Travelwise Association takes place this October, celebrated by over 1.8m schoolchildren in the UK, and across 40 countries worldwide [link].
RIBA
The 2007 Royal Gold Medal has been awarded to Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron [link].
Arts Council England
The new structure for Arts Council England's national office has been announced following a major review of the main strategic national functions of the organisation.
The restructuring includes the creation of four new strategic teams, with a reduction of 33 permanent posts, resulting in annual savings of around £1.8m, helping the Arts Council to meet planned cost saving targets [link].
2nd Annual Public Art Conference
The City in Transition Conference examines the role of art in the public realm to create a vibrant civic culture and how art, media and culture act as catalysts for change in shaping regional identity within the contemporary urban renaissance; Liverpool 17-18th November 2006 [more].
The Green Wing
Picture credit: RIXphotos.com
Cherie Blair QC viewed Manchester school students’ proposals for an environmentally friendly replacement to No.10 Downing Street in an exhibition of The Green Wing project hosted in Architruck – the RIBA’s exhibition lorry, outside Manchester Town Hall during the recent Labour Party Conference 2006 [more].
Paying for Parks
The latest report from CABE Space Paying for Parks has warned that new ways to pay for the long term management and maintenance of parks are needed to give parks longer term security, and to sustain the improvement seen in UK parks over recent years [link].
Architecture Centres International
ARCAM
The Amsterdam Centre for Architecture celebrates its 20th anniversary with a retrospective which brings to life Amsterdam in 1986 using newspaper articles, music, films, photographs and models [link].
Pavillon de l'Arsenal
On the first Thursday of each month, the Pavillon de l'Arsenal and the Forum des images are screening short documentaries relating to the city and region of Paris accompanied with multi-disciplinary commentary by filmmakers, design professionals and social historians [link].
CCA
Now showing at the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal until the 19th November, Inside the Sponge explores Simmons Hall, Steven Holl Architects' striking university dormitory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - presented from the perspective of its residents [link].
MFA
City and Space at the Museum of Finnish Architecture [link] explores the major changes proposed for Helsinki as a consequence of the relocation of its commercial harbour to Vuosaari [link].
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