Poïesis in Architecture
This exhibition captures the essence from 20 international projects of Ian Ritchie Architects through poetry, drawing, photography, models, components, materials and books. The exhibition is at the University of Liverpool, Department of Architecture, Leverhulme Building, Abercromby Square from 3rd October 2008 to 16th January 2009. Opening night party is 2nd October.

Purfleet, Cory’s Wharf, a 700 metre long Thames-side mixed use development, was granted Reserved Matters Approval by the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation. The approved scheme, which we have designed for Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd., and consists of extensive public landscape and play areas, and a riverside walk surrounding buildings from 3 storeys to 18 storeys tall which contain 502 residential units and 1398 square meters A1 / A3 use.

A related full planning application proposing a further 157 residential units at the eastern end of the site is expected to be decided by the Development Corporation in the very near future.

Site works have commenced on this project which is scheduled to be largely completed by September 2010 for a construction cost of £17million. The project involves the renovation of Leonard Mannasseh’s original Grade II* School in Penfold Street, and adding new nursery, primary and secondary teaching spaces and dance/performance facilities.

The station, on the Hammersmith & City Line opposite the BBC’s main entrance, is now in its final weeks of construction and is schedule to open to the public this autumn. It makes extensive use of stainless steel for the walls and gold anodised aluminium for platform and ticket hall ceilings. The design team has been led by Gordon Talbot, with Mark Baggueley and Stefan Lengen with Waterman Burrow Crocker. The contractor is Costains.

Ian Ritchie Architects helped launch this initiative in 2006 alongside The Ove Arup Foundation, The Happold Trust, Hoare Lea, DSSR, and The Royal Academy of Engineering.

It is a programme that is proving itself very successful at the first three universities to receive this sponsorship - Cambridge, Bristol and Sheffield. The programme will expand to further universities this year and over the next few years.

This industry led initiative seeks to direct bright engineers to consider building services as a career option. It achieves this through interaction with senior industrial practitioners who are appointed as Visiting Professors at universities. Each uses their knowledge, skills and experience to inspire, develop and deliver course material, mentor project work, provide careers advice and involve themselves in other related activities at their host university. The initiative has a particular emphasis on achieving sustainability in the built environment, and seeks through a holistic approach to foster a clear understanding of energy efficiency and the key interdisciplinary relationships between engineering systems, envelope and structure, that are at the heart of sustainable building performance and architecture.

Further information on this initiative can be obtained from ian.bowbrick@raeng.org.uk

Ian Ritchie will be exhibiting four etchings at the RA Summer Exhibition 2008: Wood Lane Station, London Underground’s new station on the Hammersmith & City Line; The Pearl of The Gulf Monument; A New Anfield Stadium; Oranmore Lands.

Karl Singporewala has had his work ‘portentous Progressions’ selected for the exhibition. This is the second year running that his work has been accepted.

Ian Ritchie Architects have won a UK AIA Award for the RSC Courtyard Theatre. The awards were announced 8th May at the Wintergarden, Canary Wharf, London.

Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd have issued the following Press Statement:

"From the outset of the project, Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd has always worked closely and constructively with Berkeley Homes. The scheme offers housing, both private and affordable, eleven thousand square metres of public space of which eight thousand square metres is for cultural use such as museums or galleries while ensuring that the entire ground level forms a permeable and public extension to Potter’s Fields Park through to the riverside walk…