Architecture Night 2018

Purpose

Architecture Night is a celebration all about connecting people who want to make Northern Ireland a more attractive place through great architecture.

Architecture Night aims to:

• Raise the profile of architecture in Northern Ireland and open it up to a wider audience.

• Enhance the connections between architects and the many other organisations and people who influence our built environment.

• Bring together architects working in private practice, public service, other organisations and those no longer working.

• Get people thinking about the full potential of what architecture could do for Northern Ireland – for citizens, tourists and investors.

• Highlight and celebrate the contribution to architecture made by people who are not architects.

• Showcase the best student projects from Belfast’s two architecture schools.

• Strengthen the connection between those studying architecture and architectural practices.

• Showcase the creativity and talent of early-career architects.

Event 2018

Architecture Night 2018 took place on the evening of Friday 19^th October 2018. The event, hosted by the BBC’s Mark Simpson, was structured in three main parts as follows…

Part 1:              An exhibition of the best student projects and revealing the winners of the RSUA Bronze and Silver medal winners.

Part 2:              An exhibition of the ideas submitted to the RSUA/JP Corry #MyBelfastIdea Design Competition which challenges Early Career Architects to react to the fall-out from the devastating fire at Bank Buildings/Primark in Belfast city centre by generating ideas for a temporary intervention or interventions to the built environment which will help attract people to the surrounding area.

Part 3:              Recognition of the contribution to architecture in Northern Ireland by two non-architects and the granting to them of RSUA Honorary Membership.

Food was served at each of the three stages of the event and there were no set tables. A complimentary bar was available throughout the evening. There was a range of live music. Dress was freestyle.

Venue

Carlisle Memorial Church in inner north Belfast hosted Architecture Night 2018. Designed by WH Lynn and opened in 1875 this building was included on the World Monument Fund Watch in 2010 – a biennial list of the most endangered cultural and heritage sites in the world. At a time when the value of our built heritage is high on the agenda, Carlisle Memorial was a very fitting location to celebrate local architecture.