International Architecture Centres

Public interest in architecture increased significantly towards the close of the twentieth century. This, combined with the increase in democratic practice, citizenship and public participation has stimulated the development of architecture centres around the world. Architecture centres can engage with government agendas of learning and social inclusion, regeneration, housing, sustainability, culture and heritage. Sharing the aim of making architecture and the built environment accessible to the public through exhibitions, workshops, seminars and site specific initiatives and projects, each centre has developed its own identity in response to the area it serves.

International Architecture Centres is the definitive guide to the network of architecture centres established in the UK Europe and North America. It features papers presented at the conference ′The Value of Architecture Centres′ at the British Museum, London on 18 19 June 2002. The aim of the conference was to raise awareness of the important role of architecture centres in promoting architecture and design, and as public forums for debating the past, present and future of cities. International Architecture Centres functions as a guide, presenting information about the network of centres; it also serves to define the role of architecture centres in contributing to ongoing debate on urban renaissance. The directory is accompanied by case studies of three of the centres and a series of specially commissioned essays by key cultural commentators.

Compiled by the Architecture Foundation on behalf of the UK Architecture Centre Network, International Architecture Centres has been made possible with the support of the following partners: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; London Borough of Camden; Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment; Department of Trade and Industry; the RICS Foundation; Mayor of London; English Heritage; Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Preface by Baroness Blackstone, Minister for the Arts, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, England.

Foreword by Peter Luxton, National Coordinator, Architecture Centre Network, UK.

Introduction Belonging – the Value of Architecture by Tom Dyckhoff, Architecture and Design Journalist/Writer, The Guardian, London.

Introduction to the Themes.

Creative Cities.

The Creative City: Aspiration and Reality by Charles Landry.

Projects in Public Architecture by Raymond W. Gastil.

Architectural Policy in the Netherlands by Joost Schrijnen.

From IFA to the Cité de l′Architecture in Paris by Jean–Louis Cohen.

Citizenship.

Democracy Building by Ben Rogers.

Public Participation and Access to City Planning by Kate Davidson.

The Redevelopment of King s Cross: An Approach to Community and Other Stakeholders Engagement by Peter Bishop.

Citizen Participation and Building Culture in Germany by Florian Mausbach.

Promoting Excellence.

Promoting Excellence by Janice Kirkpatrick.

Promoting Excellence in the Built Environment by Francine Fort.

The Building Exploratory: A Model for Good Design by Nicole Crockett.

Renaissance Towns Initiative and Yorkshire s Emerging Regional Alliance by Alan Simpson.

Culture, Commerce or Policy?

Architecture as Part of a Nation s Culture by Baart Lootsma.

Detroit: City of Non–Culture by Joe Kerr.

Architectural Museums and the Impact of National Culture by Michael Snodin.

Future Vision.

What is the Value of Architecture Centres? by Bridget Sawyers.

CUBE: Culture, Community and Construction by Graeme Russell.

Delivering Value–led Conservation by Jeff West.

Funding an Architecture Centre by Tom Russell.

Case Studies.

The Lighthouse: Scotland′s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City and Scotland′s Policy on Architecture by Dr Stuart MacDonald.

The Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAi) by Aaron Betsky.

Queens Plaza Ideas Competition Run by Van Alen Institute by Ray W. Gastil.

Introduction to the Directory.

International Architecture Centres: A Directory.

Austria.

Belgium.

Canada.

Croatia.

Czech Republic.

Denmark.

Eire.

England.

Estonia.

Finland.

France.

Germany.

Greece.

Hungary.

Italy.

Latvia.

Lithuania.

The Netherlands.

Norway.

Scotland.

Spain.

Sweden.

Switzerland.

Turkey.

United States of America.

Wales.

Yugoslavia.

International Organisations.

Index to International Architecture Centres.

Acknowledgements and Illustration Credits. 

provides a clarion call for us to catch up with the crusade (Perspective, Nov 03)