RIAS Edinburgh Convention, Speakers, News, Honour, Talks, Landscape, Image

RIAS Conference Edinburgh : Scottish Architecture

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Convention

15 May 2008

Edinburgh Conference

’Influence at the Intersection; art, architecture, light, landscape’

The RIAS honours Professors MacMillan and Metzstein at annual Convention:

Andy + Isi

RIAS Edinburgh Convention

Over 600 delegates attended the events at the 2008 RIAS Convention which was held in and around Edinburgh. The annual event kicked off with an important seminar on the crucial balance between conservation and sustainability, exploring the potential conflicts between the necessity to contain the best of Scotland’s built heritage while ensuring the viability and efficiency of our townscapes into the future.

Charles Jencks ; Peter Eisenman ; Alain de Botton:

The main plenary day at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena featured contributions from architects, artists, landscape designers and lighting experts.

Among the highlights were the 86-year old surrealist artist George Wyllie’s denunciation of the money system, Charles Jencks’ superbly executed and highly complex cosmological gardens, Alain de Botton’s careful exposition on aesthetics and Peter Eisenman’s masterly setting down of his personal principles towards achieving appropriate urban forms and relationships.

Charles Jencks ; Peter Eisenman ; Piers Gough:

The presentation of Honorary Fellowships to Charles Jencks and George Wyllie and the recognition of Professors Andy MacMillan and Isi Metzstein with the first RIAS Lifetime Achievement Awards added to the rich mix within the context of David Taylor’s extraordinary homage to the rock climbers’ craft.

Venue ; Piers Gough + Eelco Hooftman ; George Wyllie:

Arnie Dunn, President RIAS, commented: “It would be difficult to think of two more deserving recipients of a lifetime achievement award for Scottish architects than Andy MacMillan and Isi Metzstein. It is also appropriate that they are receiving the first ever RIAS Lifetime Achievement Awards.

There are many prizes for architecture which recognise the qualities of an individual building. There are very few which consider the lifelong commitment to excellence in design which is acknowledged in this new award. Recognition from your peers is perhaps the greatest accolade anyone can receive.

Andy + Isi

Andy MacMillan and Isi Metzstein have contributed immensely to Scotland’s built heritage and to the education of generations of architects. Their legacy is of world importance; that all this talent is allied in both Andy and Isi with self-deprecating humour and humility makes this award all the more special.”

Edinburgh Convention – information / photos from RIAS May 2008

Venue: Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, nr Ratho

Speakers:

Peter Eisenman
Charles Jencks
Alain de Botton
Piers Gough
Jonathan Speirs
Adrian Wiszniewski
George Wyllie
Eelco Hooftman
Professor Kathryn Moore

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) was founded in 1916 and is the professional body for over 3,500 chartered architects in Scotland. The RIAS works in partnership with the RIBA (the Royal Institute of British Architects) to promote excellent design in Scotland.

Left to right: Professor Kathryn Moore, Arnie Dunn, Piers Gough