GIA CHAPTER REPORT: SUMMER 2021
As the summer draws to a close, a busy autumn looks set to commence for the GIA, as we launch our annual awards and Glasgow prepares to host the COP26 climate summit.
During the summer, the GIA was proud to be a sponsor of the Ice Box Challenge which was launched by the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre in association with the Passivhaus Institute, and will see two blocks of ice housed within two containers designed by students – one to the Building Standards ‘Bronze’ standard U-values, the other to Passivhaus standard U-values – which will be located in St Enoch’s Square during July to demonstrate the added-value of increased thermal performance. I was honoured to be invited to sit as one of the judges on the panel for the competition which was won by Matt Clubb, Lina Khairy, Alina Vinogradova and Kyle Henderson.
June saw the GIA Education Committee undertake the judging of this years GIA Student Awards at the Mackintosh School of Architecture and University of Strathclyde. The judging of this year’s GIA Student Awards comes at the end of the second year (and first full year) of online and remote teaching as a result of the ongoing pandemic, and it is remarkable what the students have again achieved in spite of the obvious hurdles that have been imposed as a result of COVID-19. Once again, the quality of output by this year’s students who have been studying at the two schools of architecture within the GIA chapter has been outstanding and I would personally like to congratulate all the award winners and commendations on their achievement. All winners will also be invited to present their projects at this years Glasgow Doors Open Days festival at an event called ‘Behind the Prize: In conversation with the GIA Student Award Winners 2021’.
June also saw the launch of a new debate series organised by our Architecture, People and Place Committee which was held online, titled ‘Design Conversations’. The first event explored the topic of whether Glasgow needs ‘tall buildings’, with four debaters – Paul Stallan, Peter McLaughlin, Alan Hooper and Alastair Cook – providing provocative views on the subject and beginning a wider conversation on the issue. We look forward to the next event in the series which will explore the re-use of Glasgow’s historic buildings and would welcome all of our members to attend.
Over the summer period, our Education Committee also launched this year’s Alexander Thomson Scholarship – a triennial travelling scholarship open to all students and those recently graduated. This year’s scholarship is titled ‘Narratives of Isolation’ and asks entrants to reflect on the built environment around them and how it could be improved to serve their needs in the context of a pandemic. The submission deadline has been extended by two weeks and is now on Sunday September 5th. Further information can be found at gia.org.uk.
Following delays brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, our Conservation Committee has now agreed dates with Hamilton Low Parks Museum to host an exhibition of the entries for our Hamilton Mausoleum Competition, held last year. The exhibition will remain open throughout the autumn months and will run alongside a schools’ competition aimed at engaging kids with the history of the mausoleum as well as the potential dangers faced by it resulting from climate change and rising sea levels.
As we enter the autumn months, preparation for this years GIA Design Awards are once again in full-swing. We are hopeful that this year will see a return to building visits for the judging and an in-person awards ceremony (within the constraints allowed by the pandemic restrictions), scheduled to be held on 25th November at BAAD in Glasgow.
Finally, as the COP26 climate summit looms, the GIA’s preparations for during the summit are entering their final phase. Our committees have organised a series of events, pop-up’s and walks which will include four guided walks and runs around Glasgow, taking in exemplar projects around the city themed along sea level rises, retrofit, biophilic design and energy; a pop-up shopfront on High Street featuring a model of the city and exhibition of this years Alexander Thomson Scholarship entries; Climate Markers located around the chapter area to raise awareness of the dangers posed by sea level rises; and a series of pop-up exhibitions in shopfronts across the chapter area. We are working with all of the other chapters and the RIAS on these initiatives and are very excited to see these now come to fruition over the coming months.
Phil Zoechbauer
President GIA