The Irish Times
March 2004

ARCHITECTS ASK THE PEOPLE - WHAT IS A HOME?

The Architectural Association of Ireland is inviting the public to submit ideas - and illustrations -of what home means. Emma Cullinan reports

It may seem an odd question - to have an architect ask you what you think a home is - but that's what the AAI (Architectural Association of Ireland) is enquiring of the general public.

Naturally, architects have their own strong views on what a house should be and how to best design them, but they want to open up discussions with the public - i.e. potential clients.

Architecture in Ireland has evolved beautifully in the past few years but there is still a gap between ticky-tacky houses that are mass-produced by certain developers, and something that has been carefully designed with the user, climate and landscape in mind.

This is a delicate subject: if people want pitched-roof, pink bungalows, set back from the natural street line and guarded by large gates, then why can't they have them and who are these haughty, city dwelling architects to tell them how to live?

Well, that's a notion which Gary Mongey, president of the AAI, is on a mission to dispel. "The perception is that modern architecture is aloof and something that few people can afford," he says. "We want people to look at it in a different light."

He acknowledges that certain architects have done nothing to help the cause, orating in "archispeak" to show just how special they are. "There's a lot of snobbery in architecture, which annoys me," says Gary Mongey. "And there are certain architects who do talk a load of shite."

He's also aware that people perceive the AAI as a clique of architects who give themselves prizes every year in the AAI Awards. "As president, I've sat in on the judging and it is extremely fair," he says, although detractors argue that only members can enter the awards.

"There's no point in bitching about an organisation in the back room - that's not going to change anything. People need to take action. The AAI is well aware that it needs to continually develop - anything that doesn't evolve becomes extinct."

In his term of office he wants to bring architects and the public closer together, and open up the design possibilities - all with the backing of AAI members. People are adventurous when choosing cars yet err on the side of caution when it comes to homes, he says.

While we may be quite happy to opt for a snazzy car - often icons of current technology and design that are made acceptable through advertising - we're more wary when it comes to architecture. Gary quotes an overheard comment: "Architecture's fine as long as it's not built."

When designing homes for people, at his firm Box Architecture, Gary finds that people sometimes have very strong ideas about what they want but, if you explain how certain things will improve the space, then they will often come around. "People tend to say that they want, for instance, three windows on one wall and another on a corner but when it's so prescriptive it makes it difficult to be creative. I would ask someone how they will live in a space rather than to list the things that they want. The idea is to design the space rather than the building.

"It's fine if people don't want what's on offer, as long as they've been made aware. We just want people to take a new interest in architecture."

This reaching out to the public was attempted in the recent exhibition run by the Royal Hibernian Gallery in which five trendy, young architectural firms created exhibits to walk through in order to experience space. Even kids found this fun, running through mini mazes and sticking their heads up through holes in ceilings. Having an accessible space where the public can come and experience architecture is what the AAI wants.

It is currently looking for an exhibition space which will display works submitted by the public and architects, which can take the form of drawings, photographs, models, objects, whatever. The AAI has a string of visiting lecturers each year and these, too, will be asked to bring images of what they think is the perfect home, to be put on view.

With a space accessible to the public it's hoped that people will feel free to visit and comment, and be prompted to question what they want from their houses.

"A developer will only change if the public demands it," says Gary. "It's very difficult for an architect to persuade developers on their own."

Architects do need the public on side: especially clients, because these are the people who enable the right architect to create something great. Most architects realise that they aren't able to build something special without a client on side. As architect Edwin Lutyens said: "There will never be great architects or great architecture without great patrons."

So who really cares about design? This is what the AAI will soon find out, and they are hoping for submissions from all sectors of society, including children. The resulting exhibition will stay open for a year and may even be sent around the country with the AAI Awards exhibition (launching in April in the Guinness Storehouse, a venue designed to encourage the involvement of the public, both Irish and visitors).

This is step one in an uphill struggle. The intentions are sound and could underpin the continuing improvement of architecture in Ireland. It's time to make friends with an architect.

Architects and non-architects should submit their idea of what a Home is by March 29th - as a model, drawing and so on - with text to explain their idea. Send to the AAI, 8 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. Log onto www.irish-architecture.com for more details.

www.box.ie