Earlier this month, around 70 members and guests gathered at Portmeirion for the 2019 ‘Summer School’, co-hosted by Ibstock and Forticrete. The theme, At home in Europe – an international perspective on the Welsh placemaking agenda, explored two fundamental areas of architectural and social engagement: housing and placemaking. In Wales, the Welsh government’s Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, described by the United Nations as “world leading”, positions placemaking at its heart, so to achieve these ambitious goals, the Royal Society of Architects in Wales looked to friends and neighbours beyond Wales to share experiences and learn from their research and practice. With this in mind, the programme featured speakers from London, Paris and Vienna and was chaired by the Secretary General of the Architects Council of Europe, Ian Pritchard.
Atelier du Pont showed examples of their social housing projects in Paris and Rennes, while James Turner of recently Stirling-shortlisted Mikhail Riches gave an overview of the UK’s largest Passivhaus development at Goldsmith Street, Norwich. The traditional ‘Inspiration Hour’ was a stimulating and rewarding end to an intensive day, presented by Haysom Ward Miller, winners of the 2018 RIBA House of the Year award for Lochside House.
In feedback, delegates described the event as “intense intellectual stimulation, in a spatially stimulating context”, with many appreciating “this extraordinary juxtaposition of cultures and different horizons” and “the chance for follow-up conversations with world class speakers”.
An auction of architect-designed postcards of Portmeirion raised over £1,000 for three charities: Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales, the Architects Benevolent Society and Maggie’s South East Wales.
