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RIBA-USA News & Events
JULY 2003
1. NEWS 2. NEW YORK EVENTS 3. LOS ANGELES EVENTS 4. NEW ENGLAND EVENTS 5. PHILADELPHIA EVENTS NEWS Rotterdam RIBA - RIBA Journal Regeneration Conference 11 and 12 July 2003 was held this year in Rotterdam.  George Ferguson (red trousers) Chairs the conference "roundup" discussion with from left Philip Tidd of DEGW, Mariet Schoenmakers Rotterdam City Planner, Alan Cherry Courtyside Properties, Baronj Isherwood NW Development Agency and Richard Lavington Maccreanor Lavington Architects. The Rotterdam Conference marked George Ferguson's inaugoration as RIBA President 2003-2005. It was a fitting agenda and he demonstrated a lively and relentless style of leadership that promises to bring the profession to the fore in addressing the complex design and development issues of the contenporary scene both in the UK and abroad. He called for delegates to embrace the cause of large city improvement and to go beyond sustainable design into what he called "Vital Architecture".. a combination of the RIBA's declared mission of 'lifting the spirit" and Richard Rogers' challenge for us to achieve more social inclusion and less traffic intrusion in our solutions,by means of (to quote developer Alan Cherry) a rapid response capability as diverse opportunities more and more fleetingly present themselves. George Ferguson encouraged delegates to accept these challenges and to think hard about the impact that their schemes have at ground level on the ability of ordinary people to enjoy everyday places. We clearly have much to look forward to when George visits the US  Incoming RIBA President George Ferguson discusses ideas for working with the US region with RIBA-USA President Tim Clark..... The RIBA Conference was dedicated this year to the special issues facing large cities, with reference to the redevelopments planned for the Thames Gateway as a pivotal component in London's bid to host the Olympic Games, Liverpool as European City of Culture in 2008 and the host city, Rotterdam, the world's largest port, mostly destroyed by bombing in 1940, now one of Europe's main showcases for with experiments (not always successful) modern architecture. Will Alsop gave a memorable presentation on his vision for an east west chain of market towns between Liverpool and Wakefield, where every strata of the community could make a contribution. His DVD of Barnsley in 20 years time, embedded with jewel-like clusters of visually delightful houses shopping and leisure centers, left a memorable impression on everyone. Minister of Local Government, Nick Raynsford called in his address for the breaking down of barriers between interdependent professions and the communities they serve while Alan Cherry, Chairman of Countryside Properties challenged architects to move faster in rising to opportunities that are too often missed often through lack of focus and a complete absence of the needed diversity of solutions from which a good one can emerge. The conference also saw the launch of RIBA-USA's powerpoint presentation of members' work, "Mobilizing Excellence" which played continuously in the main concourse where delegates gathered and had lunch  Will Alsop presents his vision for the Liverpool Strand area. New RIBA President (article from RIBA World Issue 270) George Ferguson starts his two-year Presidency of the RIBA on July 01, 2003 with a pledge to make service to overseas members a priority Initiatives will include:
'The RIBA is bound to look at the affordability of subscriptions, set against our costs of delivery', he said. 'We are trying our best to overcome the traditional problem of geographical remoteness from headquarters - which is even an issue for those in the remoter parts of the UK - by developing and strengthening our electronic services. Email communications, a rapidly expanding website, including the new Members Only section and a universally accessible Library Catalogue online, the Ribanet Conference forum which has members from South Africa to California exchanging information...these are all vital components in making the Institute as inclusive as possible. It is a good base on which to build. 'But I cannot ignore the fact that some of our members live and work in areas where the GDP is a fraction of the UK's, and where the current subscription rate is a very significant proportion of income. I am keen to look at this, and to make affordability a key feature of the system'. The two-day Rotterdam Conference, to be held on 11th-13th July, will mark Ferguson's first major appearance as President. He will use a keynote speech to promote the RIBA 'not as a British organisation with outposts abroad, but as a truly international representative of everything that's good about our profession. We're living through a period of tremendous architectural creativity. Design is a transportable skill - with people working not just in their home country but in cities all over the world. 'At its best, architecture has the power to transcend politics. It speaks one language, but with many regional accents. I would like to think that the RIBA is respected around the world because it represents the very best our profession has to offer. This should be celebrated at the conference. 'Globalisation of the profession can mean a banal internationalism in which architecture converges into a bland one-size-fits-all approach, or it can be the sort of approach we're showcasing in Rotterdam, where great architecture is created by responding to place and circumstance. 'My ambition would be to engage the overseas membership to the point where we achieve a 50% turnout in RIBA elections - that is an ambitious target. I shall lead from the front, but I don't want to tell members what they want. I want to ask them. I welcome comments from all overseas members on how we can live closer to their expectations, within affordable cost'. NEW YORK (Back to top) Wednesday 23rd July 2003 6.00pm St George Society of New York at their Annual Garden Reception in Chelsea Square  
Members are urged to support the St George Society of New York at their Annual Garden Reception in Chelsea Square. 175 Ninth Avenue New York. The St George Society is the oldest charity in the United States and has strong ties to the UK community in New York. The garden setting in the heart of the city is superb. Tickets are $30 Contact: St. George's Society of New York 175 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10011-4977 USA Telephone +212-924-1434 Facsimile +212-727-1566 The AIA NY Chapter is hosting a meeting in NYC for the formation of a new focus group entitled THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE. This will be held in early July 2003 and all RIBA-USA members are urged to attend. The stated AIA intent is to: Provide a forum for members engaged in or seeking to do work internationally and will cover Legal and contractual issues, Cultural and social issues to be aware of & Finding work. It will also provide architects from outside the USA and practicing in NYC an opportunity to be part of the AIA community. Please contact Jonathan Wimpenny AIA RIBA at 
for further details LOS ANGELES (Back to top) NEW ENGLAND (Back to top) PHILADELPHIA (Back to top) |
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