As part of a major new free exhibition Mies van der Rohe & James Stirling: Circling the Square (8 March 2017 – 25 June 2017), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is organising a series of public events, including talks, curator tours, film screenings, courses, workshops and a ‘Late’ evening event.
Learning activities include a free family fun event and a range of hands-on workshops for children and young people in the school holidays, all led by teaching artists and RIBA architects.
Exhibition
8 March – 25 June
Mies van der Rohe + James Stirling: Circling the Square
The exhibition offers a renewed examination of two iconic architectural schemes proposed for the same site in the City of London; Mies van der Rohe's unrealised Mansion House Square project, and its built successor James Stirling Michael Wilford & Associates' No. 1 Poultry. Presented together for the first time, it offers a unique opportunity to draw comparisons between the design methods of two of the most highly recognised architects of the 20th century, and to trace the continuity in purpose and approach that unites two seemingly dissimilar architectural creations.
Public Events
14 March, 7pm
The Inquiry: Mansion House Square and Number One Poultry
The unrealised Mansion House Square by Mies van der Rohe and its built successor No. 1 Poultry by James Stirling Michael Wilford & Associates led to decades of heated debate amongst the architectural elite and conservation movement. Hear a younger generation of curators, critics and architects debate the appropriateness of the two schemes, making the case for their favourite style: the high-modernist tower versus the postmodern colourful choice, in this participatory event where you, the audience, will act as jury and make the final verdict. Speakers include: Jack Self, Real Review; Vicky Wilson, RIBA; Oliver Wainwright, The Guardian; James Taylor-Foster, Arch Daily.
More speakers to be announced.
£9.50 Standard. £6.50 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
21 March, 7pm
Mies and Stirling: Contemporary Reflections
This panel discussion will give key figures involved in two of the most significant architectural schemes of the 20th century in London the opportunity to recount the history of Mansion House Square and recently listed No. 1 Poultry. Hear from Lord Peter Palumbo, architectural patron and commissioner of the Mansion House Square and No. 1 Poultry; Laurence Bain, project architect of No.1 Poultry; Adrian Gale, liaison architect for Mansion House Square scheme; Gavin Stamp, architectural historian; and MJ Long, employee of James Stirling. The panel discussion will be chaired by writer and academic Shumi Bose.
£9.50 Standard. £6.50 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
25 March, 11am to 4pm
Explore & Draw: Stirling Cityscapes
This practical drawing workshop invites participants to consider the significance of one individual building within a rapidly changing city. We will examine James Stirling’s own sketches and drawings for No.1 Poultry before traveling to Mansion House to draw the surrounding cityscape from the building itself.
£40/£25 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
28 March, 6pm to 10pm
Late Tuesday: Less is more. Less is a bore
To celebrate the RIBA exhibition, Mies van der Rohe & James Stirling: Circling the Square, RIBA invites you to an evening of talks, events, performance, film and music. Mies van der Rohe and James Stirling, giants of 20th century architecture, are often considered figureheads of two movements in architectural history: high modernism and postmodernism. This evening of talks, events, performance, film and music, will celebrate the similarities and differences of these styles and associated design movements such as International Style, Bauhaus and Memphis Group. Some activities as part of the Late will be guest curated by online magazine Socks Studio.
Free of charge and on a first-come, first-served basis unless stated otherwise
4 April, 6.30pm
Curator tour
Join us for an in-depth look into the exhibition. Hear the curator discuss the objects and processes in displaying rarely-seen working drawings and newly-restored presentation models for Mies’ Mansion House Square and Stirling, Willford & Associates’ No. 1 Poultry.
£5 Standard. £3 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
22 and 23 April, 11am to 4pm
Urban Tapestry with Laura Lees
Artist and designer Laura Lees leads this full-day freehand machine embroidery workshop exploring the urban fabric, asking: How do we make a city? Lees will stitch together the individual and diverse pieces created by workshop participants into a new work to be exhibited at the RIBA as part of the London Festival of Architecture. Suitable for all levels; all materials will be provided.
£90/£85 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
25 April, 6:30pm
RIBA Friends Curator tour
Discover more about the Mies van der Rohe & James Stirling: Circling the Square exhibition.
Special event for RIBA Friends: join us for an in-depth look into the exhibition. Hear the curator discuss the objects and processes in displaying rarely-seen working drawings and newly-restored presentation models for Mies’ Mansion House Square and Stirling, Willford & Associates’ No. 1 Poultry.
£5 Standard. £3 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
2 May, 6.30pm
Curator tour
Join us for an in-depth look into the exhibition. Hear the curator discuss the objects and processes in displaying rarely-seen working drawings and newly-restored presentation models for Mies’ Mansion House Square and Stirling, Willford & Associates’ No. 1 Poultry.
£5 Standard. £3 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
9 May, 7pm
London’s high-rise future: exhilarating or alarming?
Lord Palumbo faced fierce opposition to build a 19-story ‘skyscraper’ designed by Mies van der Rohe. Taking its cue from the argument to not build tall in 1960s, this panel will discuss whether the debate has had an effect on the current London skyline and should this rigour in assessing tall-buildings be reinstated? With more than 230 high-rise buildings (of over 20 storeys) planned for London, would better quality towers have been built in the City if the Mies scheme was built? What is the future of London’s skyline and its impact on the ground level?
£9.50 Standard. £6.50 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
19 to 21 May, Friday 6pm to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm
City Stories: A Photography & Creative Writing Course
Participants will learn new photographic techniques, build their understanding of how to construct narratives (both visual and textual) and produce a new body of work about the city using words and photographs. Suitable for all levels. Participants must bring their own equipment: a digital SLR camera is recommended.
With Diego Ferrari and Jean McNeil
£150/£125 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
23 May, 7pm
Post-Modernism with Twentieth Century Society
Some critics argued that No.1 Poultry was outdated before the building was complete in 1997. At only 20 years old, No.1 Poultry has now been listed in the wake of a renewed interest in postmodern buildings. This discussion will address postmodern architecture in relation to the wider postmodern movement in art, music and culture which seems to have had a longer life and reach.
£9.50 Standard. £6.50 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
30 May, 7pm
Multiple Modernities
Mies van der Rohe is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modernist architecture, however, his work can only be found in the ‘West’; North America and Western Europe.
This lecture will explore multiple readings of modernism through a non-Western lens and re-examine the conventional narrative of Modernism. Explore places that rarely feature in Modernist histories of architecture including: Eritrea, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Zambia, China, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Turkey and Brazil.
£9.50 Standard. £6.50 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
18-19 June, 10.30am to 5pm
Architectural Photography Masterclass
Take inspiration from over a century of architectural photography and develop your own creative practice. We'll explore RIBA's extensive collections and the ways in which photographers have approached architecture as a subject – then focus on the British Library’s iconic building with our own cameras, putting theory into practice. Suitable for photographers at all levels, including beginners. Participants must bring their own equipment; a digital SLR camera is recommended, but not essential.
With Valeria Carullo, Curator RIBA Photographs Collection, and Marianne Holm Hansen
£165/£149 60+/£140 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
20 June, 6:30pm
Curator tour
Join us for an in-depth look into the exhibition. Hear the curator discuss the objects and processes in displaying rarely-seen working drawings and newly-restored presentation models for Mies’ Mansion House Square and Stirling, Willford & Associates’ No. 1 Poultry.
£5 Standard. £3 RIBA Member, Student, Friend
Saturdays: 2.30pm to 3.30pm, 11 March to 24 June 2017
Secrets of 66 Building Tour
Take a guided tour of RIBA’s Grade II* listed headquarters at 66 Portland Place. Tour concludes with a special introduction to the Circling the Square exhibition.
£5, booking essential
Booking information
Email: meneesha.kellay@riba.org
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7307 3717
Website: www.architecture.com/MiesStirling
For Children, Young People & Families
3 April, 11 am to 4pm
Design Quest: Transform the City
What should London be? You decide. Draw, print, animate and build the city of your dreams.
For ages 5-7. With Rosie Fuller
£40/£25 (eligible for free school meals)
3 April, 11am to 4pm
Design Quest: PoMo Park
Play around with different shapes, styles and colours to create a park for the people – in the sky!
For ages 8-11. With Zoe Allen
£40/£25 (eligible for free school meals)
4 April, 11am to 4pm
Design Day: Less is a Bore?!
Dare to be different in this workshop all about breaking the rules.
For ages 11-15. With Carla Ferrari
£40/£25 (eligible for free school meals)
5 April, 11am to 4pm
Skill Up: Skyline Atelier
Explore, debate and deconstruct London’s skyline to create bold new building concepts.
For ages 15-18. With Katie Kennedy
£40/£25 (eligible for free school meals)
10 to 13 April, 11am to 4pm
Design Day Studio: Place-making for the Next Generation
Tate Harmer leads this four-day workshop looking at how new technologies and social media influence our built environment and how we design urban places for the future. Learn about place-making and the role of the architect in shaping urban spaces before making your own 1.50 scale city.
For ages 11-15. With Tate Harmer.
£200/£175 (eligible for free school meals)
10 to 13 April, 11am to 4pm
Skill Up Studio: Skyline Style Wars
Mobile Studio leads this fun and engaging four-day workshop designed to ‘skill up’ teenagers thinking about careers in architecture or design. Through a series of hands-on activities of various different scales and mediums, explore and debate the issues surrounding contemporary architecture set against historic London. Learn and practice new skills as we debate ideas of place, taste, style, planning and our sense of space. With Mobile Studio Architects www.themobilestudio.co.uk
£200/£175 (eligible for free school meals)
8 April, 10am to 5pm
Family Fun Day: Circles and Squares
Circles and squares – they’re EVERYWHERE! Join us for this fun-filled day of workshops and events all about shaping up the city.
Suitable for all ages. Free (registration required).
Booking information
Email: library.education@riba.org
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7307 3703 (phone line open Monday-Thursday)
Website: www.architecture.com/MiesStirling
