City-Living Renaissance

 

The multi-award winning and top Scottish architect Malcolm Fraser will be giving the second

Architects on Architecture lecture, hosted by the Royal Institute of British Architects (North East), on Tuesday 11^th November.

Malcolm has genuine connections with the city of Newcastle having designed the award winning Dance City building near Grainger Town, as well as being instrumental in the ongoing developments in the Stephenson Quarter.

In expectation of Malcolm's lecture, Jon Jo Macnamara, Regional Head of RIBA said:

'We are delighted to be able to welcome Malcolm to the North East for this lecture. He is a towering figure in Scottish architecture and is currently involved in the very exciting project in the south of the city of Newcastle. I am sure there will be many people eager to hear his views on how our city life is affected by architecture.'

Malcolm Fraser was born, raised and schooled in Edinburgh.   Following graduation he worked as community architect. In the mid-1980s he went into conventional practice.   At that time there were few options for those not wanting to follow the well-trod path to London.   Fraser, in common with a significant majority of those now regarded as key members of the Scottish architectural rebirth, went to work for Conservation architects, understanding that within this sector lay a passion for the integrity of built environments that was missing in conventional practice. 

Fraser set up his own practice, in Edinburgh, in 1993. With no particular ambitions towards fame or turnover he eschewed competitions, concentrating instead on understanding the needs and potential of small and friendly arts, restaurant and domestic clients, and the nature of the historic City of Edinburgh, where most of his early projects were located.  

Small projects – well run, and artistic and commercial successes – led to larger ones, particularly fuelled by the growth of the café/hotel/nightclub culture and the introduction of Lottery-funding for arts projects. Significant arts buildings at that time included the Scottish Poetry Library and DanceBase, completed in 1999 and 2001 respectively and both vigorous additions to the intricate mediaeval weave of Edinburgh's Old Town. The Scottish Poetry Library has been named as one of the ten most important post-1945 buildings in Scotland; while DanceBase, providing studios for professionals and community classes, won the inaugural Scottish Building of the Year Award and was a Stirling Prize finalist.  

His current project in Newcastle is the Stephenson Quarter which is a new mixed use development including housing, retail and commercial office space located on the south side of Newcastle, surrounded with historic structures and routes which lead down to a high escarpment with views south across the Tyne Valley. The proposal seeks to strengthen and develop this urban grain and uses the form of these structures to create a series of new complimentary linear buildings, routes and gathering places that connect it to the city and landscape beyond. It also exploits the views out from the site, capitalising on the southerly aspect to maximise sunlight coming into the site. 

A simple, robust form is proposed, with 'cut outs' at key locations exploiting views and orientation. Good quality purple / red brick is proposed for the main body of the buildings with simple, generous openings for windows and balconies. A base course of concrete panels and timber cladding emphasises entrance thresholds, public and private spaces.

PROFESSOR DOUGLASS WISE OBE B.Arch. DipTP. FRIBA died at York last Saturday 18th October.

 

We were very saddened at the Royal Institute of British Architects to learn of Douglass death. Douglas was a highly respected architect as well as great educator.  An obituary will be received at full RIBA Council in December.

HIS FUNERAL IS TO BE HELD AT SALTWELL CREMATORIUM, SALTWELL RD. SOUTH, GATESHEAD  NE9 6DT.  AT 1.30pm ON TUESDAY 28th OCTOBER. 
People are asked not to send flowers.

Wendy's Building Odyssey

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in the North East is tomorrow launching a new

series of its successful Architects on Architecture series and has invited three eminent practioners to come to the region over the course of the next two months.   

The first event at Northumbria University is on Tuesday 21^st October and the guest speaker will be Sri Lankan-born Wendy de Silva. 

Reflecting on her architectural influences Wendy said:

'I am interested in and influenced by everything around me, and am lucky enough to have a thorough understanding of two diverse cultures. This has given me the confidence to be open to the richness of the world's culture, architecture and materials ... and a brilliant excuse to follow my nose!'

Wendy immigrated to England in the 70's and studied at the Bartlett School of Architecture, (University College) London.   She started her career as a trainee on a building site with John Laing Construction. Shortly after qualifying, she went back to Sri Lanka and worked with RIBA Royal Gold Medalist Geoffrey Bawa on the 'Ruhunu University' Project.

Most of her professional life has been spent in London where she has worked on a large variety of buildings including schools, retail, and housing and listed buildings.  Wendy's most recent completed project is the award winning 'Cargo Fleet' which she worked on with her partner Stephen Chance.  Wendy is also a director of Dransfield Owens de Silva, a Bermondsey based practice which is involved in a number of community health buildings, housing and mixed use regeneration projects in London as well as the Heartlands Big Lottery Regeneration Project in Cornwall.

Jon Jo Macnamara, Head of RIBA North East said:

'We are delighted to be launching this year's 'Architects on Architecture' lecture series and have a very impressive list of speakers. Once again this collaboration between RIBA and Newcastle and Northumbria Universities is proving very fruitful for our members and students.'

For further information on Wendy de Silva and to book please view the link Wendy de Silva 21 Oct 08|

Baltic Celebrations show bright future for North East architecture

 

The North East has been celebrating its past successes in developing innovative buildings  and heralding a bright future. Following the recent announcement of the regional winners for the 2008 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards a glittering reception and presentation of awards was held in the Roof Top Restaurant at BALTIC, Gateshead earlier in the month. The Lifestyle Academy at Newcastle College, The Alnwick Garden Pavilion and Visitor Centre and The Bamburgh Clinic at St. Nicholas Hospital were all winners from within the North East region and representatives from the design and commissioning teams were present to receive their awards, including the Duchess of Northumberland representing the Alnwick Estate.

The annual RIBA awards have been running since 1966 and are given in recognition of buildings that have high architectural standards and make a substantial contribution to the local environment. This initial short listing followed visits by a judging panel to each project entered and regional winners will be announced in May. Previous award winners from the North East include Dance City in Newcastle, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art and the River Green Centre in Durham.

Following the presentation of awards Regional RIBA chairman, Dolan Conway, said:

'Once again the North East has demonstrated a cutting edge in innovation and design. The three winning buildings have been singled out by the Royal institute of British Architects as worthy of recognition and I am absolutely delighted for all concerned. It has been a fantastic evening of celebration of our success in the region – not just for the award winners; it has also been an opportunity to highlight the excellent work of local students through the Hadrian Award Scheme.'

The Hadrian Medal is awarded to a student at either Northumbria or Newcastle University in recognition of excellence in the pursuit of architectural education. This year the winner of the Hadrian Medal is Holly Galbraith from Northumbria University.

Regional Head of the RIBA, Jon Jo Macnamara said:

'Holly is an outstanding student who has consistently developed throughout her course. Her winning project shows a mature confidence in handling subtle and complex issues such as weather, materiality and ancient and recent heritage. She is a worthy winner of this award.'

Special commendations were also awarded to Peter Virtue from Northumbria University and Emma Flynn from Newcastle University.