BIENNALE ARCHITETTURA 2016
FEBRUARY 2016

Preparations for Biennale Architettura 2016 have begun in earnest: concepts advanced; collaborators recruited; designs developed. Niall and Yeoryia (Manolopoulou, of AY Architects) have met with a number of experts on the subject of dementia and design, including scientists at UCL; the Centre Manager at the Alzheimer’s Centre in Dublin; the Vice-Chair of the European Working Group of People with Dementia and experts from the Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling. We are excited by the emerging details of the various elements of this year’s exhibition, and look forward to unveiling our contribution in May.
RIBA EDUCATION REVIEW PRESENTATION
MARCH 2015
Niall gave a presentation to the RIBA Education Review at a specially convened Forum and Council, which debated significant changes to the structure of architectural education. Niall spoke about the relationship between education and practice, arguing for a lifelong cycle of practice and education.
“Education should not end with RIBA Part III, or even limp along through minimum prescribed CPD events. It should no longer be possible for an architect to finish their education. I propose a more comprehensive model of life-long learning. If practitioners come back to the schools throughout their lives, they will be constantly invigorated and, by extension, they will constantly invigorate the schools to which they return. This would constitute a discourse – in the sense of a ferrying back and forth – in which practice and education are both part of a seamless continuity. The purpose of education is not so much the acquisition of set skills but – to borrow a phrase from John Hattie – learning how to learn. Once you have done this, you have built an engine for a lifetime of renewal.”