The Architecture of Recovery

"Pecha Kucha" during the RIAI Conference together with the shortlisted of 3twenty10 competition  : The Architecture of Recovery - A 2020 Vision for Ireland, in Westport, Co. Mayo, from 3-5 October 2010.

Venice "Converging Territories" exhibition

Here is our presentation as shown at the Morrion Cultural Center during the first days of Venice Biennale together with Elastik & Mat (NL), feld 72 (AT) (also Converging Territories teams) and gau:di competion's winners.

Once upon a time... Pelletstown

We were cycling from Summerhill along the Royal Canal when we finally arrived in Pellstown. In fact one hardly feels entering a town, but rather riding along the back of a new unfinished urbanised area. It is just when you get to Rathbome Bridge that buildings constructs quality public space in relation with the towpath.

Today, on both sides of this area, it is the lack of articulation between buildings and nature that is striking.

The actual situation looks like a "collage city" puzzle - the rambla, the park, the city center, the modern villas - with missing pieces...

Obviously, as urbanization is frozen, the situation is not good for walkers, having to cross long inhospitable places. Thus car happens to be king.

Wasteland - Pelletstown

Architectural Quality

 Focusing on the most spectacular and regrattable effects of the economic crisis, we forget to state the basic assertions . As far as we can judge the architectural production during the 'boom', Irish architects and planners increased the quality of their standards those 15 last years. Aside from the emblematic public projects made by international architecture offices, we can appreciate the amenity of new public spaces and the sureness of architectural design. Cruising in Dublin, we discover a city in metamorphose unfortunately stopped by the euphoria of the property market.

Alarm!

As we were visiting Clongriffin, a high tuned alarm whistled continuously . We could hear it kilometers around all the afternoon. It was the alarm of an apartment (empty or not, we don't know...) but it didn't seem to interest anybody, even the security guardians. That makes me think security devices are often aesthetic or cosmetic tricks.

Street - Clongriffin

To let

At the first sight Dublin looks like a rich, healthy and dynamic city. Brand new modern buildings surround you everywhere you go. Moreover, you can appreciate the real quality of the urban design and architectural projects. The problem is emptiness. Most of the latest built buildings are unoccupied and you can see on many facades the words 'To Let'. They were the first visible signs of the crisis effects.

Ersatz facade

I never saw such an effort to simulate a finished building. I must assume that this trick works in the distance but starts to vanish at the approach of the building until the effect disappears when you just face the problem : the building is only made of concrete slabs with a printed mesh as an ersatz of balconies, walls, windows and people.

Erzatz facade - Sandyford