Viewpoint – Tom Woolley – UK.
Keynote speaker.
Teaching Architecture AND Building.
“The best architecture comes from elegant building and yet there has always been an uncomfortable relationship between Design and Construction in many UK architecture schools. From Alvar Aalto to David Lea, materials and buildability have led to the most beautiful of buildings and yet we have failed to teach this adequately over the past 50 years. The environmental imperative is in danger of falling into the same cinderella relationship with design as building technology. Construction , Technology and Sustainability are of course inextricably linked. It is possible to produce exciting architecture that uses minimal resources and energy but for many students “green” simply remains something to be bolted on once the design is completed. The 1958 conference led many to see architecture incorrectly as purely academic and they eschewed students getting their hands dirty. “Design” became an end in itself, following a self-indulgent path of fashion and revivalism with the problem of specification and construction left to someone else. Interestingly many architects who love to “make” their buildings with sustainable methods also fall into the humanist tradition where people and clients are to be nurtured as well. If future architectural education is also to safeguard the planet then we need to revive a humanistic, socially responsible, ethical approach and challenge architecture based on egotistical arrogance and self indulgence. Architects can also be community builders, working with materials, working with people.”
Tom Woolley - UK
Professor of Architecture Centre for Alternative Technology Wales
Professor at Queens University Belfast 1991-2007
Architect with Rachel Bevan Architects
Elected member of the Architects Registration Board 2006-2009
