The Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) is delighted to announce the publication of Touchstone 2024, our annual journal and directory.
Every chartered member in Wales will receive a copy of the journal, as well as key stakeholders and decision makers, including all members of the Senedd and heads of all local authority planning departments.
To supplement the hard copy, we are making a digital version of Touchstone 2024 available for download to all (PDF*, 11MB). Hard copies are available to purchase from RSAW at £10 (plus P&P) per copy.
Please contact RSAW to place an order or if you have any queries.
What to expect in this issue
Editorial : “The blackness or the sunlight”? Ambition driven by grievance may not be the most effective way forward.
Respect for the departed: An exemplary extension to addition to an iconic Welsh modernist crematorium.
Cultured cousins: Wayne Forster suggests that Wales has much to learn from Ireland’s architectural culture.
Raising the bar: How effective has the Design Commission for Wales been in raising the status of architecture in Wales?
Making Hay: the sun shines: Paul Harries appraises the award-winning design of MICA’s Hay Castle visitor centre.
Scaling the ramparts: On Cadw’s 40th anniversary, Adam Voelcker reflects on the narrative of Castell Caernarfon’s new interventions.
From resurgence to regeneration: Gareth Jones explores the radical shifting environmental agendas of global activist Herbert Girardet.
Testing nature in urbe: Gareth Jones reports on a developer’s scheme in Swansea, influenced by urban ecologist Herbert Girardet.
Crafting care: A review of the RIBA McEwan Prize winning scheme by Pentan Architects. A rare glimpse of contemporary public-service architecture at its very best.
The house that Bond built: A case made for the full reinstatement of the 1970s’ Wates House at CAT as an international exemplar.
A need to share: John Carter suggests two RIBA publications around climate issues need focused regional membership debate to be effective.
Turning up the heat: Twenty years of fighting fuel poverty in Wales.
How lively is my valley: Pontypridd and RCT show ambition for a better future.
Welsh architecture awards 2024: RSAW regional, National Eisteddfod and the Dewi-Prys Thomas Award recorded.
A country in the house: A fine new dwelling shows Hall+ Bednarczyk Architects at full throttle.
Tributes: Touchstone records the passing of significant contributors to architecture in Wales.
A case for the book: Ed Green argues for the revaluing of our public libraries.
Book reviews: ‘Percy Thomas: Modern Architecture as a National Service’, and ‘Brutal Wales’.
Touchstones: A multitude of architectural actions across Wales.
On the Horizon: Up and coming new architecture for Wales
Backfire: Thirty years of TS and still counting on you.
The cost of the production and distribution of Touchstone 2024 has been partially off-set by very welcome financial donations from the following:
Warm Wales • Gaunt Francis Architects • Jonathan Adams • Michael Davies • Professor Wayne Forster • Howard Harris • Martin Hall • Knight Architects • Teleri Lea • Trystan Lea • Fiona Lea • Chris Loyn • Alison McKenzie • Jonathan Vining • Ian Ritchie • Loyn & Co Architects • Pentan Partnership • Sunand Prasad OBE • Andrew Saint • John Sergeant • Pierre d’Avoine • Professor Peter Carolin CBE • Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council • John Carter • Geraint Talfan Davies OBE • R Davies • David Haswell • D M Jones • Meirion Jones • Norman Robson-Smith • Paul Vining • Richard Woods • Nick Alexander • Louis Hellman MBE.
Thank you to all these Touchstone supporters.
About us/Amdano ni
The Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) represents and supports around 600 Chartered Members of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in Wales. Through our members’ expertise and our advocacy work in government, public, and private sectors, we champion well-designed buildings and places across Wales.
Mae Cymdeithas Frenhiniol Penseiri yng Nghymru yn cynrychioli ac yn cefnogi tua 600 o Aelodau Siartredig o Sefydliad Brenhinol Penseiri Prydain yng Nghymru. Trwy arbenigedd ein haelodau a’n gwaith eiriol ni gyda’r llywodraeth ac yn sectorau cyhoeddus a phreifat, rydym yn hyrwyddo adeiladau a lleoedd sydd wedi’u dylunio’n dda ledled Cymru.
*We are aware of the issue of PDFs not being accessible on our website. If you would this document in a different format, please contact content@riba.org and we will aim to provide this for you.
