FAST TALKS CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 2024

Niall will be keynote speaking at the TALKS conference series at FAST 2024 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

FAST Festival for Architecture Schools of Tomorrow is being held between 30th October and November 3rd. The TALKS conference series aims to explore the intersections between professional practice and academic inquiry under the theme “Diversecity.” FAST 2024 is organised by the Romanian Order of Architects (OAR) and features speakers from around the world.

Niall wil be speaking at 18:00 on 01.11.2024 at the Cluj-Napoca National Opera.

Further information about the event is available here.

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.”