GIA CHAPTER REPORT: Autumn 2020

John Kennedy - The Invisible Landscape

As 2020 draws to a close, we mark the end of what has been a difficult year for many in the architectural profession. As the industry continues to deal with the uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Glasgow Institute of Architects has also had to adapt its working practices which have ushered us into a new digital era for the institute, whilst finding ways to support architects within the chapter area. The pandemic has not dampened the enthusiasm of our Council members, who continue to work tirelessly to organise events and initiatives for the chapter area.

In spite of the ongoing restrictions placed upon us by COVID-19, I believe it is important that we continue to celebrate the quality of architecture and design being produced by those practising and building within our chapter area. I am delighted that our Annual Design Awards are progressing, with the judging process in full-swing at the time of writing. It was encouraging to receive 46 entries from 25 architectural practices for this year’s awards despite the lockdown which closed many building sites for around three months. This year’s entries are diverse in typology, style and location, with projects spread across the chapter area as well as further afield, with projects as far as Dublin and London, and again demonstrate the skill and resourcefulness of the architects practising within the GIA chapter. I look forward to the deliberations with our judging panels and this year’s guest judges, John McElgunn of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Thom Brisco of Alder Brisco, and updating the membership further following our digital awards ceremony on the 27th November, which is being coordinated by Vice-President Shona MacVicar and her industrious Communications team.

We were delighted that this year’s GIA Student Award winners were again able to join us for our annual ‘Behind the Prize’ event, organised by Massimo Sannino in our Education Committee in conjunction with Glasgow Doors Open Days, which provided a digital platform for the award winners to showcase their projects to a wider audience.

The autumn months also saw the announcement of the winners of our Hamilton Mausoleum and Keeper’s Lodge Ideas Competition, with John Kennedy’s beautifully hand-drawn entry ‘the Invisible Landscape’ taking the top-spot, with Graeme Nicholls Architects and Ryan Wilson taking a close second and Ciaran Magee in third. An honourable mention must be given to Harriet Ridout, whose playful and provocative entry ‘Living Waters’ delighted the judges. We were delighted to have Judi Keith-Brown of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, Professor John Hume OBE and South Lanarkshire Provost Ian McAllan as part of the judging panel, and we were collectively impressed by the originality of ideas and quality of submissions, which were diverse in their approaches to re-imagining what Hamilton Mausoleum and its Keeper's Lodge could be. All entries will form part of an exhibition at the Hamilton low Parks Museum in February next year.

Our Council continue to arrange new digital CPD events for the chapter area: our Practice/CPD Committee have now held five events, with the popularity of these continuing to increase, whilst our Sustainability Committee continue their ‘Countdown to COP26’ – the rescheduling of the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow having effectively added twelve events to the series!

Our Architecture, People and Places Committee, led by Vice-President Andrew Hadden, continues to help facilitate the Glasgow Urban Design Panel, for which the GIA are both vice-chair and secretariat, with a number of interesting projects being brought before the digital panel in recent months.

We are under no illusion that the months ahead will remain difficult for many in the profession. The announcement of the extension of the furlough scheme was no doubt welcomed, and we would also remind the membership of the avenues for support being offered through the GIA’s WB Whitie Benevolent Fund, as well as the Architects Benevolent Society, which seek to support those in the profession struggling with financial hardship.

As we head into the coming winter months, I wish all our members and their families the very best. I’m sure it goes without saying to continue to look out for your peers and co-workers as we approach what may yet be an unusual festive period, but urge you to remain confident and optimistic as we head into the new year.

Phil Zoechbauer

GIA President