Learning, Research, Talk
Tom Keeley: Re-reading the Irish Border
16.06.16
On June 16 at the Light House in Smithfield, the IAF lined up 7 speakers for an exciting conference, each presenting on the hour every hour, to create a stimulating marathon of ideas, fuelled by food from Luncheonette, all topped off by a networking after party to encourage people to connect and conspire.
The choice of speakers were selected for their reinvention and propensity in questioning the norm. Provocateurs on the day included Alastair Parvin (UK), the brain behind WikiHouse, an open-sourced platform that promises to rethink architecture and the role of the designer. Irena Bauman (UK) who is on a mission to make cities more lovable and to make architects happy and Adam Saltzman, from Mass Design Group (US).
Dominic Stevens and Claire McManus (Irl) revealed new strategies for housing in Ireland. Relational Urbanism, a London based architecture studio, who are embarking on a new community led design initiative in Ballyfermot. Grainne Hassett (Irl), returning from her exhibition in the Barbican, talked about her responsive and impactful architecture with migrant settlers on the front line in the Calais Jungle.
Collectively the audience was introduced to incredible stories that present a diverse range of themes from open source design, ethnicity, technology, to harnessing local skills and covered projects from housing, health, education and public space.
The day was mc’d by Diarmaid Lawlor, an Irishman who is Head of Urbanism at Architecture and Design Scotland.
Tickets were priced at €25/20 and included admission, lunch and after party.
Beyond Participation’s offshoot FREE programme of events comprises of Film Screenings and scheduled Conversations hosted throughout June by the IAF in our new HQ.
For more information click here.
Beyond Participation is curated by Nathalie Weadick and Rebecca Blake from the IAF and Tara Kennedy. (Tara is supported by the Arts Council Artist in the Community Scheme Bursary Award 2015: Collaborative Arts and Architecture managed by Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts in Ireland).