Architecture at the Edge, a new festival designed to help citizens understand the many ways architecture impacts our lives, has launched its inaugural programme. The festival, which runs from September 29 to October 1 throughout County Galway and into County Mayo includes expert-led guided tours, talks, workshops and exhibitions and will offer audiences a unique opportunity to explore homes, buildings and spaces that are not usually open to the public.
The festival will open on Friday September 29 with a half day symposium entitled ‘Placemaking - visualising a future for Galway’. Speakers at this symposium include Carole Pollard, the RIAI President, Frank McDonald, Former Irish Times Environmental Editor and will be chaired by Rosie Webb, Senior Architect with Limerick City and County Council and formerly of Galway City Council.
“We are very excited about the symposium which aims to stimulate debate about urban and rural planning and how we can create the best possible spaces in which to live, work and play”, said Frank Monahan, Festival Director.
“We are particularly excited to have Philip Crowe, CEO and co-founder of Space Engagers, a social enterprise that draws on mapping to engage citizens with the spaces in which they live, to bring about positive change”.
The symposium will take place on Friday morning at the O’Donoghue Centre for Theatre, Drama and Performance, NUI, Galway and will be followed in the afternoon by four different workshops.
“Participants can choose to attend the symposium in the morning, one of the afternoon workshops or join us for a day-long event”, added Frank Monahan.
Other festival highlights include a number of architecturally guided tours. The Lough Corrib tour on Saturday 30th September, features a guided visit of Ross Errilly Friary, a private tour of Ashford Castle, a visit to the new Fishers of Men installation in Cong Woods and guided tour of the ancient church ruins on Inchagoill Island on Lough Corrib.
On Sunday 01st October, a second tour will invite audiences to explore Leagaun House in Moycullen, Kylemore Abbey, GMIT Letterfrack and the Marconi Station at Derrigimlagh. The Bungalow Bliss Tour will take place on Saturday 30th September.
Shorter tours within the city include Galway Courthouse, Riverside Walking Tour and NUI,Galway Walking Tour.
The festival will see over 25 public and private buildings open to the public with many tours of the properties led by the architects who designed the buildings. Highlights include St Clerans, Craughwell, Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh, Rosmuc and contemporary private houses such as Killeenaran House, Kilcolgan, which was designed by the award-winning architect Richard Murphy OBE.
Richard Murphy’s House at Hart Street Edinburgh won the RIBA/ Grand Designs UK House of the Year 2016 and Richard will deliver a guest lecture at the festival on Friday 29th September.
“In addition to the guided tours, the symposium, and the open buildings, we also have a number of architectural exhibitions at various locations throughout the city”, stated Festival Director, Frank Monahan.
“The Contempo Quartet will perform at the Human Biology Building in NUI,Galway on Sunday 01st October and the Edible Architecture Competition will be held in Galway City Museum on the same day. Entries for Edible Architecture are invited from all age groups with fantastic prizes for individual category winners as well as a special schools’ prize.
“We have a bumper programme and people who are interested in participating in the festival can book tickets at the festival website www.architectureattheedge.com Most events are free, but spaces are limited, so we would urge people to log on and book to ensure they are not disappointed”, he concluded.
Architecture at the Edge is kindly supported with public funding by Galway County Council, Clár Éire Ildánach / Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022, Mayo County Council, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht - Government Policy on Architecture 2009-2015, Galway City Council
