The RIAI and Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects have teamed up for a series of webinars on the theme ‘A Sense of Place’
  • 11 Sep 2020

The RIAI and Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects have teamed up for a series of webinars on the theme ‘A Sense of Place’

Our new way of working during this pandemic has brought many challenges but also exciting opportunities to connect globally with architects and communities around the world. 

Creating a sense of place through a more contextual approach to architecture – including geography, history, culture, nature and materials – is a common concern in the architecture of both countries. 

Due to the time difference between Ireland and New Zealand, the webinars will take place as a breakfast webinar in Ireland (9-10.30am) and an evening webinar in New Zealand (8-9.30pm).

The next webinar in the series will take place on Wednesday 23 September, 9am Ireland / 8pm New Zealand with Lance Herbst of Herbst Architects, Grace Keeley of GKMP Architects, Sally Ogle of Patchwork Architecture, and Robert Bourke of Robert Bourke Architects. The theme is: A Sense of Place - Housing in the Landscape.

Click here to find out more about this talk and book your place

Each session runs for 1.5 hours with four practices (two from Ireland and two from NZ) speaking for 15 minutes each, followed by a Q&A.

The first webinar took place Thursday 17 September at 9am with John Tuomey and Sheila O’Donnell of O’Donnell + Tuomey (IRL), Nick Stevens of Stevens Lawson Architects (NZ), Peter Carroll of A2 Architects (IRL) and Simon Novak of Novak + Middleton (NZ). The speakers discussed public housing projects that have created a sense of place for their communities.

 

About the Architects

John Tuomey FRIAI and Sheila O’Donnell FRIAI, O’Donnell + Tuomey

O’Donnell + Tuomey is a studio-based practice, with offices in Dublin, Cork and London. Committed to the craft and culture of architecture, they have been involved with urban design, cultural, social and educational projects at home and abroad. The practice has an international reputation for its engagement with complex urban situations and sensitive landscapes. They have completed schools and university buildings, theatres and cinemas, community centres and social housing, art galleries and libraries in Ireland, the UK and on the European mainland. Winners of more than 120 awards, recent buildings include The Glucksman Gallery Cork, Timberyard Housing Dublin, Irish Language Centre Derry, Sean O’Casey Community Centre Dublin, Lyric Theatre Belfast, The Photographers’ Gallery London, LSE Student Centre and Central European University Budapest.

Nicholas Stevens, FNZIA, Stevens Lawson Architects

Nicholas Stevens is a founding partner, with Gary Lawson, of Auckland-based practice Stevens Lawson Architects. The practice has built a reputation as a designer of expressive and sculptural upmarket houses, but has striven to work across the architectural spectrum. Among Stevens Lawson’s many award-winning projects are the Blyth Performing Arts Centre and the Information Resource Centre at Iona College in Hawkes Bay and, in Auckand, the rehabilitation of Ellen Melville Hall, the Kāinga Tuatahi community housing project, and St Peter’s Chapel. Currently under construction is the practive’s most ambitious commission: Mission HomeGround, a 9-storey central city project comprising 40 studio apartments to house the homeless, together with a 30-bed detox unit and accompanying medical and social services.

Peter Carroll MRIAI, A2 Architect

Peter Carroll (b. Limerick City 1971) graduated from UCD in 1995. Upon graduating Peter worked with O’Donnell + Tuomey in Dublin for seven years and with Rafael Moneo in Madrid for three years before establishing A2 Architects in 2005 where he is a Director. A2 Architects represented Ireland at the Lisbon Architecture Triennale 2007, Chicago Architecture Biennial 2015 and exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2018. A2 have won multiple RIAI and AAI awards and were nominated for the EU Mies Award in 2015 (Pulp Press, Kistefos, Norway) and again in 2017 (Folding House Cork City). Peter is also Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture University of Limerick and Co-Director of SAUL Intelligence Unit since 2007.

Simon Novak, FNZIA, Novak + Middleton

Simon Novak is co-director, with Richard Middleton, of the Wellington practice Novak + Middleton. The firm undertakes a wide range of commissions, from commercial buildings to coastal holiday homes, but over the past decade has built up considerable experience in public housing as it worked closely with Wellington City Council to uprade and augment the city’s social housing stock. Among Novak + Middleton’s award-winning projects are Central Park, the rehabilitation of a 1960s complex of more than 200 council-owned apartments, and Te Mara Apartments, a new development of 100 socal housing units.

Lance Herbst, FNZIA, Herbst Architects

Lance Herbst is the founder, with Nicola Herbst, of Auckland-based practice Herbst Architects. Herbst Architects’ portfolio includes school and office buildings and a restaurant, but the practice is best known for its extraordinary series of award-winning houses designed for sensitive coastal and rural sites over the past two decades. Hallmarks of the practice’s work are a delight in the careful selection and adept assembly of materials, a determination to strike a balance between maximising the potential of a site and minimising the impact upon it, and a belief that architecture is best understood as a sensory experience.

Grace Keeley MRIAI, GKMP Architects

Grace Keeley is a Director of GKMP Architects. The work of the practice is principally concerned with the design of domestic space, both individual houses and housing projects, and with the design of the public realm. GKMP Architects have designed a series of one-off houses and reconfigurations and have also completed public space projects in historic locations including the Parade, Kilkenny and the Waterford Viking Triangle. The practice is currently working on the transformation of the nineteenth century St. Senan’s Hospital in Enniscorthy into housing and other facilities. GKMP Architects participated in the Venice Biennale 2018 and also exhibited at the Chicago Architecture Biennial in 2015. Vaulted House won the Overall Award at the Irish Concrete Society Awards 2018, the Best House Award in the Irish Architecture Awards 2018 and was nominated for the EU Mies Prize 2019.

Sally Ogle, Patchwork Architecture

Sally Ogle is, with Ben Mitchell-Anyon, founding partner of the young Wellington practice Patchwork Architecture. In the space of half a decade Patchwork has already won a reputation for its bold and innovative architecture, and willingness to work with marginal sites. Patchwork projects are characterised by a refreshing combination of economy, ingenuity and wit, together with the confidence and technical ability necessary to take on the challenges of Wellingon’s vertignous topography.

Robert Bourke MRIAI, RBA

RBA was established by Robert Bourke in 2010. Their projects are developed through an open, collaborative and exploratory design process resulting in spaces of character, integrity and material richness. They seek to create an architecture that is socially conscious, environmentally responsible and timeless in its aesthetic. They have won numerous national awards for their work including ‘RIAI Best Emerging Practice’ in 2014. Robert has been teaching Masters’ students at the School of Architecture, University College Dublin since 2013. He is also on the committee of the Irish Architects Declare movement, which promotes effective action within the profession in addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis.