Culture

RIBA North reveals winter programme of exhibitions and events

RIBA North, the new national architecture centre in Liverpool has announced its winter programme of exhibitions and events.

The new season opens with Cerámica (28 October – 10 February 2018), an exhibition which shows how traditional ceramic techniques and digital engineering processes can be used together to produce more meaningful and sustainable architectural elements.

From Friday 10 November, RIBA North will showcase exquisite models of the six finalists of the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize, with the winning building having been announced on 31 October at the Roundhouse in London. The models illustrate the best architecture in the UK, and showcase some of the most careful three-dimensional scale model making.

From 6 December, RIBA North will host the 2017 RIBA President’s Medals exhibition, the Institute’s annual showcase of the most radical and innovative ideas in architectural education. Awarded since 1836, these medals celebrate the diverse and talented work produced by students in schools of architecture across the worlds, that are nominated for the RIBA Bronze, Silver, and Dissertation Medals.

Suzy Jones Director of RIBA North said “RIBA North has been open for just four months and is already firmly established as a destination which promotes the benefits of architecture and good design on the world around us. Our winter season is packed with activities to appeal to all our visitors: from families to design professionals and architects.”

On Saturday 28 October RIBA North opens its latest exhibition, Cerámica in partnership with ECAlab. In this exhibition, we explore how ceramics are being positioned to provide a low impact solution to global sustainability in the built environment. This synergy between traditional ceramic techniques, digital design and engineering processes can be used to produce more meaningful and sustainable architectural elements.

The full-scale ceramic prototypes on display offer a viable alternative to global manufacturing and distribution. The combination of the material sustainability of ceramics, digitally optimized design of components, and the appropriation of vernacular language and embodied cultural identity, transforms the preliminary engineered product into a more socially, ethically and environmentally sustainable building component. Alongside the exhibition there will be a series of events for everyone to get involved with from curator’s tours, artist’s talks and Clay Play, an opportunity for families to come and experiment with clay, create unique decorative tiles and get hands-on.

ECAlab investigates the possibilities of ceramics for sustainable technologies, while examining the role of emerging digital technologies alongside traditional ceramic craftsmanship skills.

From Friday 10 November RIBA North will host models of the six buildings in the running for the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize. This is the first time the models of the shortlisted buildings will have been exhibited outside London. For those who can’t travel to London to see the models, or travel around the country to see the buildings themselves, this is an ideal opportunity to learn more about the six schemes. The models will remain on display at RIBA North throughout the Winter.

The 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize shortlisted projects are:

  • Barrett’s Grove, Stoke Newington, east London by Groupwork + Amin Taha
  • British Museum World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre, Bloomsbury, London by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
  • Command of the Oceans by Baynes and Mitchell Architects for Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent
  • City of Glasgow College – City Campus, Scotland by Reiach & Hall Architects and Michael Laird Architects
  • Hastings Pier, East Sussex by dRMM Architects
  • Photography Studio for Juergen Teller, west London by 6a architects

RIBA North is a place for everyone to discover more about architecture through a bold programme of events including exhibitions, talks, tours, conferences and debates about the built environment to engage in the wider debate about what makes award-winning design. www.architecture.com/RIBANorth