THE ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA
FEBRUARY 2017
On the 9th February Niall will be attending the 3 day Architecture Foundation Ozetecture Diversity and Community Conference in Melbourne to deliver a key note speech. Drawing speakers from Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America and Australia, the theme Diversity + Community is a unique opportunity for architects to explore some of the less-charted terrains of architectural practice and to consider the role of architecture as a positive force in uncertain times.
A+U FEATURE ON SOMERVILLE COLLEGE ACCOMMODATION
MAY 2014
The Japanese journal a+u has published an account of the practice’s student accommodation for Somerville College, Oxford. The theme of this month’s publication is ‘New Landscapes of Wooden Architecture’ and features an international selection of projects that explore new aspects of wood technology and its potential within cities. The article gives a description on the themes and processes behind the project, placing it within the context of the historic university city and the surrounding Radcliffe Infirmary Quarter.
It is illustrated with working details of the bespoke timber glazing for the stair tower lanterns, as well as the prefabricated timber projecting bay window units for the student bedrooms, with their integral desk and bench seat overlooking the street.
‘We chose to make the glazed elements in the stair towers and student rooms in wood because we wanted them to be like warm lanterns, internally lit in the evening, bringing light to the narrow street…Wood allowed us to make more three-dimensional details…we owe a debt to Louis Kahn’s work at Philip Exeter Academy Library.’ NM