AAI Awards 2008
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It’s only just occured to me that some of the references I used in earlier posts are from so long ago that a lot of people might have no idea what I was talking about.
‘Making a Modern Street’ was a manefesto project put forward by a group of architects, under the banner of Group 91, who had already been making individual statements and picking up individual awards for mostly small scale projects. As I understand it, the motivation (as well as a bit of understandable self promotion) was to counteract the emerging Zoe Development, low grade, comprehensive apartment redevelopment approach with something of much better quality and which would draw on, and connect with, the existing Georgian Dublin urban house tradition.
In the forward of the book published to accompany the exhibition, Shane O’Toole stated:
‘We must accept our city’s rules and it’s forms. We must honour it’s history. We must cherish it’s memories and nourish it’s dreams. We must accept the past before we can build the future. Hence, the imperative simultaneously to explore, research and interpret that unappreciated heritage.Group 91 share a deep conviction about urban architecture and an optimism about the future of Dublin as it faces into a new millenium. Fundamental to our work is the thesis that urban design and the interretation of the city is enriched by the interaction of varied viewpoints within an overall consensus.
Making a Modern Street seeks to reinterpret the traditional Dublin house and to bring to a range of new urban house types, which could be used to repair the fabric of the inner city, the qualities offered by the Georgian terrace.’
This isn’t the whole text, I’ve just quoted the bits that seem most relevant. I wouldn’t have necessarily used the term ‘Georgian’ to extol the virtues of all things past, but the essential points were that connecting with, and drawing on, tradition were going to be crucial to achieving real value in Dublin’s urban regeneration and, secondly, that repair of the urban fabric, rather that comprehensive replacement, by the block, would be the key to success.
That was seventeen years ago! Where has all that idealism gone?
Everywhere you look the opposite happened, The west side of Smithfield was clensed off all remnants of its original and subsequent development and blocked out in generic forms that make no attempt to connect with the heritage of the place. Arran Quay and Bachelor’s walk are carricatures of themselves. The Digital Hub, which was in public control, has been handed out for comprehensive redevelopment and the existing sprinkling of ‘Protected Structures’ treaded as inconveniences rather than models for contemporary regeneration. You could give the same assessment of the O’Connell Street proposal.
Maybe the members of Group 91 are embarrased by their work in the early 90s, the post modern influence etc. maybe they believe in different things now, but I would be of the opinion that there were some very valuable ideas there that have never been developed the way that they deserved to be.
Of all the practices in Group 91, it is O’D&T that went off in the most number of diferent directions. They have talent to burn, nobody doubts that, but sometimes you just wish they would slow down and take one theme at a time. Any good architectural movement lasts between thirty and seventy years, but they’ve tried to pack in seven or eight architectural movements into the last twenty years.
Just for the record, the O’D&T segment of the Making a Modern Street proposal (third from the left) was the least successful in my opinion. Grafton’s, (the curvy roofed one to the right) was the most elegant and Shay Cleary’s (no. 7) and McGarry NiEanaigh’s (no. 1) had the best ideas. Keogh’s was solid and O’Toole’s and McCullough-Mulvin’s weren’t bad.
Where is this show on? Is it the RIAI? I couldn’t find mention of it on the AAI website.
Also, gunter- well put. My own architectural awareness was only emerging in the early 1990s, so I probably saw that optimistic outlook as somewhat unremarkable, as opposed to the pretty radical statement of intent that it seems to have been. The Group 91 members may be embarrassed by their statement, but I’d agree- it’s not the original statement that should be embarrassing, it’s the way it has remained largely unfulfilled.
As an aside, it’s interesting to see what bits of the Modern Street ended up in other built schemes. And the picture reminds me- I must book another trip to Berlin. 😉
It’s on in the Architectural Archive on Merrion Square.
Aah, okay. Thanks.
Awards…..hmmmm
Q 1 – How many buildings built in Ireland in 2007. A 1 – Maybe over 3,000 to 4,000 projects of all shapes and sizes.
Q 2 – How many entries to the AAI awards (self censorship via membership of AAI or by aspiration). A 2 – 200 maybe…
Q 3 – Jury distinction as to validity (no rural projects this year, could equally be about any other issue, no conservation, no industrial, no pink……). A 3 – Remove 40% of entries (estimate – issue is the reduction of choices)
Q 4 – AAI maximum number of Awards A 4 – Seven
Q 5 – Salt the mine A 5 – Invite foreign or independent jury members but brief them very carefully about what is locally important (friendly) or worthy of recognition.
Q 6 – Make it anonymous A6 – Images of projects circulated prior to awards or AAI site visits…. quelle suprise?Result
A narrow field, narrowed by prejudice (all sorts), tailored by prompting and discussed with only a modicum of rigor.
Only dissection is via the presentations
Ideas only barely interrogated or alternatives rarely embracedAwards …. “same as it always is”
(From AAI website)
Aims of the AAI from 1896
“To promote and afford facilities for the study of architecture and the allied sciences and arts, and to provide a medium of friendly communication between members and others interested in the progress of architecture.â€
From reading the above I would understand that the AAI’s aims are purely academic and whilst the RIAI awards are about the assesment and comparison of built works (ie the here and now) the AAI awards are an assesment and comparison of architectural ideas/theories primarily (ie the infinite) illustrated through the medium of buildings built during that calender year. Apologies for the philisophical jargon but I’m trying to draw a clear line between the two awards.
I personally feel that the AAI awards were hugely relevant during the “quiter” years up to the 80s and early 90s but seemed to then loose their way once the building boom of the late 90s kicked in. The AAI awards were a fantastic platform for projects, during that time, that due to economic shortcomings would have remained in the lower drawer of various architectural offices around the country. With the onset of the building boom in the mid 90s the challenge of “building” took its natural place to the fore amongst Irish architects and by its nature the AAI awards were not equipped for this with its policy of no site visits (just photos etc.) For this reason the RIAI awards became the true judge of architectural “built work” and remain so.
I think there is an important place for the AAI awards as they are based on a very strong academic premise that allows for a huge variety of entrants. They should just realise that their strengths are the RIAI Awards weaknesses as I would welcome a return to ideas like “Making a Modern Street” or Tom de Paors “Garden in Cork”. It will take alot of bravery on the part of the AAI comittee to go back to the original spirit of the AAI awards but it would be very refreshing.
Architecture is ideas, but it is also built work.
The reason that projects like “making a modern street” appeared in the AAI awards was that it was the best architecture that was being produced in the country at the time. Nothing of any comparable merit was being built . Hence any architect with more aspiration than “satisfying their client’s needs” (profit) sought the refuge of theoretical projects.
The reason that there are significantly fewer unbuilt projects nowadays (i think two this year) is simply that the same category of architects (although now largely changed) are being given opportunities to build.
ElSwanko your inferrence into the role of the AAI awards is interesting and thoughtful but i would be hesitant to hand over the regins of judging the state of the Irish built environment to the RIAI awards. If you look back over their last few years of awards they hardly strike as being the most liberated or criticly concious set of decisions.
Shadows acusations of the AAI being incestuouos might more accuratley be leveled at the RIAI awards which for me anyway give off a sheen of backslapping the mediocrity of the RIAI’s most prominent members rather than looking at what the work itself is saying………. if anything.
These were not accusations merely observations as each award panel has its own vagaries. Yes you can apply the same comments to the RIAI, AIA, Sterling awards, Pritzker etc…. Awards are by definition limited, first by who shows, up, secondly by the constitution of the jury (see numerous competition juries), thirdly by the zeitgeist, fourthly by fashion (often in spite of the zeitgeist – who or what is deemed “cool”). In other words do not ascribe more importance to them than necessary. Look at how many great directors in Hollywood were never rewarded with an Oscar because of sentimentality, fashion, commercial clout etc. in a particular year.. They are a way of promoting discussion but in terms of value time will tell. Will what was interesting, quirky, exciting today be the same in 10 years time…..
I agree that that’s how they should be viewed, but sadly, owing to a poor level of design awareness in the planning profession and elsewhere, there seems to be a tendency to defer to awards ceremonies as if they represent some objective measure of quality.
I’m not sure if the architecture profession should be taking this into account, or if the planners and others should be made aware of the subjective nature of them.
I often look at the stuff that got awards 10, 20 or 30 years ago and gasp. Presumably there’s a chance I’ll feel the same about this crop of buildings in another 10, 20 etc. years.
I think Francis Rambert the chairman of the AAI jury said it best …
….il a ete ecoeure par ce qu’il a vu…
…..Notre construction boom n’a pas delivre une architecture contemporaine dont l’Irelande peut etre fiere..
course what does he know about artist architects.. he is only the director of the Institut Francais d’Architecture
What? You can take up the pointless sarcasm of his observations directly with himself …, and just to help you out …
he was sickened by what he saw in Ireland … our building boom did not deliver a contemporary architecture of which Ireland can be proud…@BTH wrote:
As for the discussion at hand, Irish practices are beginning to make headway in an international context – O’Donnell & Tuomey are building the Photographer’s gallery in London, a prestigious and significant project which will undoubtedly open doors to further commisions. Another of Irelands “artistic” practices – Grafton, are just completing a hugely impressive university building in Milan. it isn’t much but it’s a beginning.
oh yeah I forgot that qualifies as continental europe beating a path to our celebrated architects .. duh.. are you one of those people who thinks Kensington is in Ballsbridge.
@ctesiphon wrote:
owing to a poor level of design awareness in the planning profession and elsewhere,
I often look at the stuff that got awards 10, 20 or 30 years ago and gasp. Presumably there’s a chance I’ll feel the same about this crop of buildings in another 10, 20 etc. years.you forgot to include Irish architecture bodies in the institutions with a poor level of design awarenes. Oh and some of us dont need to have 10 years of hindsight to gasp, we are gasping now at whats being done..guess you can include Franics Rambert in that ..
you can continue the discusion about what is an award as oppossed to the quality (lack ?) of . Anyways its a well know statisitc upwards of 75% of all private residential dwellings which receive an award are actually designed and built by architects for other architects or for family or friends, hardly an indicator of this art form winning over Joe (im not design aware) Public.:D
if you had been to Francis Rambert’s “critic’s lecture” you would know that he has a penchant for flayboyant starchitects who ejaculate all over any high profile site they can get their hands on. his talk was the lecture equivalent of a coffee table book. and that is a personal criticism not a contradictory one of the AAI awards.
i for one dont want a reproduction of continental europe’s courtship with ghery/ nouvel/ libeskind et al. which rambert espouses.
@BostonorBerlin wrote:
oh yeah I forgot that qualifies as continental europe beating a path to our celebrated architects .. duh.. are you one of those people who thinks Kensington is in Ballsbridge.
Talking complete shi*e there as usual BoB. No I do not think that Kensington is in Ballsbridge (duh) and I believe that Milan happens to be in continental Europe (unless you know something I don’t). Anyway, whats the difference between commissions for Irish architects in continental Europe and in the UK? Surely any incursion into an international context is welcome.
Dear what? Making a Modern Street never appeared in the AAI Awards, although other ‘projects’ did at the time.
I got in today and had a look at this exhibition myself. I know the Irish Architectural Archive is a bit off the beaten track and it was a wet Tuesday, but not a single other member of the public showed up the whole hour I was there! If the annual awards are one of the ways that the profession is supposed to be communicating with the public, it’s not working!
By contrast, I stumbled on a (week long) exhibition of the entries to a modest concert hall architectural competition in Regensburg (Bavaria) last summer and you couldn’t get in the door with the crowds.
On the AAI exhibition itself, I was hoping the Hugenot Cemetry block had been submitted and passed over, but it wasn’t there in the also rans, so I guess Grafton are plotting a pincer move on the Downes Medal next year with that and the Italian job. I don’t know how the politics work in the AAI, but a devious little manoeuvre would be to entice Peter Zumptor over as the visiting assessor, but then again he’d probably love the whole homage thing.
I cannot agree with what on the O’D&T killiney house. There are a couple of stunning photographs of bits of the house against a spectacular landscape, but there are also several shots of some seriously butt ugly bits.
Of the other projects that didn’t make it out of the back room, I felt a bit sorry for the Cork Hospital. Compared with other projects, It seemed to be fiendishly complicated and not unaccomplished. The Beauty Salon on Emmet Place, also in Cork, though a fashion victim in it’s own right, did appear to have architectural as well as urban merit, conjured up out of little or nothing.
There was one interesting house extension in the back room that I felt might have merited a ‘special mention’, or whatever the terminology is. I don’t know who it’s by (probably some outfit I can’t stand) but, as box extensions go, I thought it was ahead of the one in the front room.
I hope it’s ok to take pictures of these things, there wasn’t anyone there to stop me.
What confounds me is the opening times of the exhibition. Short of taking a day off from work, there is no way to get in to see an exhibition that is only open from 10 till 5, Monday thru Friday. Would one late night, or even a Saturday be too much to ask?
@BTH wrote:
Talking complete shi*e there as usual BoB. No I do not think that Kensington is in Ballsbridge (duh) and I believe that Milan happens to be in continental Europe (unless you know something I don’t). Anyway, whats the difference between commissions for Irish architects in continental Europe and in the UK? Surely any incursion into an international context is welcome.
Yeah BTH you win that one, those two examples you give has proven to me that continental Europe is indeed beating a path to our celebrated artchitects, its a veritable stampede, the paths worn out we will have to lay some more of those crap paving stones if this keeps up … dear me what was I thinking 😉
@what? wrote:
i for one dont want a reproduction of continental europe’s courtship with ghery/ nouvel/ libeskind et al. which rambert espouses.
Congratulations you have cetainly gotten what you wanted for so. You must be delighted with what you see around you in Ireland as most of it would definitely not have been designed, approved or built on the continent of europe, Whilst Irish architects took the odd cheap Ryanair flight and came back with a few copycat ideas from their sojurns, the final product has the distinctly Irish stamp of the grubby hands, wellies, pints and ‘sure this grand, tis artists we are’ detail.
Glad to see summer has finally arrived , temperatures are up or has everyone suddenly gotten a little hot under the polo neck. Roll on the RIAI 2008 awards that should be comical.
@BostonorBerlin wrote:
the paths worn out we will have to lay some more of those crap paving stones if this keeps up …
you are just wearing me out with your abject negativity BoB. I’m no happy clappy sure aren’t we all great “believer” in the cause of irish architecture, I’m as cynical and I complain and moan as much as the next person who has any concern about what passes for development and urban design in this country. Im sure you have plenty of valid points to make but why must you dress them up in such patronizing, sarcastic and insulting tones? For entertainment value? Im afraid you are only entertaining yourself… and there’s another word for people who indulge in such behavior…;)
Wanker, I think.
Lads, you’re not going to ‘win’ this one. Best policy is to ignore his posts, at least until he starts making sense.
@massamann wrote:
What confounds me is the opening times of the exhibition. Short of taking a day off from work, there is no way to get in to see an exhibition that is only open from 10 till 5, Monday thru Friday. Would one late night, or even a Saturday be too much to ask?
Agreed. I managed to get in yesterday at lunchtime, but I’m fortunate in being city centre based. And again, it was virtually deserted- just my date, me and one other bloke. If resources are the issue, I’d staff the damn thing myself some Sunday afternoon. I’d even waive my fee!
I didn’t get to see all the entries due to limited time, but a few things spring to mind, more to do with the exhibition itself than with the submissions. That’s part of the problem, in fact- I found it quite hard to get a feel for most of the buildings from the boards on display. Lots of close-ups of dinky details (and that lack of evidence of human habitation so beloved of architectural photographers), but little opportunity to see the buildings in context. If the point is to make funky posters, then fine, but if the point is to illustrate buildings for the audience, then it was lacking.
Also, I didn’t see any text other than that submitted by each firm (presumably). A little bit of insight into the judging process would have been worthwhile, rather than the usual promo fluff.
Re the buildings (in light of my comments above): I’d agree with gunter on the two extensions, i.e. the better one was the one on the back room, though neither really excited me (the kitchen of the Boyd Cody one looked more like a trendy web design office than a home, though the roof access looked to be a bit of fun); I thought the house in Portobello was an interesting approach to such a site; the warehouse in Galway is… a warehouse in Galway, with bits; the Mary I building in Limerick seemed pretty well thought out for a biggish college building, if a little bunkerish; and… what else was there? Aah yes, the housing backing onto Pearse Square (a father and son affair, judging by the names of the practices involved)- I thought this was one of the better schemes in the show, a considered approach to sensitive densification.
But as I say, these comments are based on the presentations only, i.e. are limited.
One thing I’d like to see is an exhibition of award winning buildings, say, five years after the award, to see how the ‘purity of the vision’ meets the realities of daily life. :rolleyes:
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