NEWS
NOVEMBER 2012
Wexford County Council Headquarters nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture Mies van der Rohe Award 2013.
www.miesbcn.com
NOVEMBER 2012
Wexford County Council Headquarters is awarded Project of the Year - Public Sector at the Fit Out Awards 2012.
NOVEMBER 2012
Defining Place
Lecture by Robin Lee, part of Architecture Matters Lecture Series at University of Nottingham DABE.
NOVEMBER 2012
Wexford County Council Headquarters
Lecture by Robin Lee, part of RIAI 2012 Award Winners Lecture Series at Royal Institute of Architects, Dublin, Ireland.
www.designweek.ie
OCTOBER 2012
Agnes B installation launches at Agnes B flagship store in Xintiandi, Shanghai, China as part of Play Your Style, Shanghai Windows.
RIBA London partnered with the British Council and Shui On Development Limited to deliver a series of architectural installations by London-based architecture practices
in Shanghai as part of the UK Now festival, which celebrates British creative talent in China.
www.xintiandi.com/2012shanghaiwindows
SEPTEMBER 2012
Continuity + Culture
Lecture by Robin Lee, at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Robin Lee Architecture commissioned by LB Barnet to lead a comprehensive programme of public realm improvements for Cricklewood, London.
In January 2012, Barnet Council was awarded a grant of £1,676,625 from the Mayor’s Outer London Fund (OLF), an initiative aimed at increasing vibrancy and growth along London’s high streets, to support Cricklewood in becoming a more cohesive, accessible and thriving local town centre.
The primary challenge facing Cricklewood derives from its unique position, sitting at the intersection of three local authorities: LB Barnet, LB Brent and LB Camden. Cricklewood suffers from a history of policy and physical interventions that lack coordination and a sense of priority. Furthermore, Cricklewood is located at the southern edge of a vast development project, the Brent Cross Cricklewood Development that, if realised, will have a lasting impact, the nature and legacy of which, is in our hands to shape with this investment.
There are a series of projects, which will be delivered through this grant allocation and associated match funding. Taken together, the aim of these projects is to bring a more cohesive look and feel to the high street; to support, develop and sustain local businesses and community activity; and to improve the long-term governance of the trisected town centre.
Robin Lee Architecture and East will collaborate as Public Realm Designer and will lead on the production of a public realm design charter and strategic design guide and deliver comprehensive public realm improvements within Cricklewood town centre.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Mobiliario Urbano by Robin Lee Architecture in collaboration with Porto-based granite company Pardais, launches at Marmomacc International Trade Fair in Verona.
More details to follow.
JULY 2012
Refurbishment of National Sculpture Factory, Cork, Ireland completes.
More details to follow.
JUNE 2012
ASD Summer Exhibition
Work from Unit 13, run by Robin Lee in conjunction with Lara Gibson and Mark Brearley Head of Design for London, examining the London high street, on display at London Metropolitan University, Spring House, Holloway Road, London.
JUNE 2012
Wexford County Council Headquarters features in Architects Journal selection of RIBA Award winners.
'Wexford County Council Headquarters by Robin Lee Architecture. Because it's the first major work by the brightest star in the emerging new guard of British architecture. Because the detail and execution here rivals that of Chipperfield's best. Because all civic offices should be this good. Because although it seems as though Wexford has come from nowhere, the brains behind it – Robin Lee – was the joint founder of NORD and had been working towards this classic all his professional life.'
Rory Olcayto - Architects Journal
JUNE 2012
Wexford County Council Headquarters features in Architects Journal selection of RIBA Award best sustainable projects.
'A shimmering double-skin insulating facade wraps the civic government building's six individual office blocks that house different government departments, along with four landscaped courtyards and a central atrium. An exquisite handling of light - from the atrium and courtyards, to rooflights and perimeter windows - creates a subtle variety of internal spaces despite the deep plan. The exposed concrete soffits, which help even out summer temperatures, are a study in elegance and should convince any sceptical client of the virtues of this approach.'
Hattie Harman _ Architects Journal
JUNE 2012
Wexford County Council Headquarters wins RIBA European Union Award
‘This is the last and most successful of the local government buildings built in Ireland over the last decade. An internal plaza that delights in shade and light unites the six departmental buildings separated by sheltered, lushly planted outdoor courtyards. A glazed skin wraps the whole building, providing shelter from the wind so that windows opening into it admit tempered air. Together, these strategies help to drive a natural ventilation scheme that is very carefully considered in what is ultimately a relatively deep plan building.’
RIBA Awards
JUNE 2012
Wexford County Council Headquarters wins RIAI Award for Best Public Building
‘The building has achieved and surpassed all the design objectives set out by the Council in it's brief, a fact reflected by the very positive reaction to the innovative and high quality design by the main users of the building; the public, the elected members and the staff.'
RIAI Awards _ Client Comments
MAY 2012
Dignity + Silence
Lecture by Robin Lee, at Ravensbourne College, London.
APRIL 2012
Peckham Charrete: Six Teams. One Day. Zero Computers exhibition at Architecture Foundation, London.
An exhibition celebrating a unique design challenge focused on making Peckham even better. What happens when you pair six young architects with six young lighting designers, ban the use of computers and ask for fresh ideas for real development sites on Peckham’s Rye Lane – all in one day?
With Architects Journal, Philips and London Borough of Southwark.
APRIL 2012
New Arcadians
In New Arcadians, Lucy Bullivant profiles Robin Lee Architecture as one of 18 cutting-edge UK-based practices, presenting recent key projects as well as an interview with Robin Lee.
New Arcadians is an exciting overview of the work and attitudes of a rising generation of UK architects who are reinvigorating the profession.
www.merrellpublishers.com
MARCH 2012
The Place Of Art In Sustainable Architecture
Robin Lee participates in a panel discussion at Ecobuild 2012, hosted by writer and commentator Owen Hatherley.
In an urban world subject to an increasing tendency towards blatant 'bling' in terms of the design of buildings and places, have we lost sight of the fact that truly sustainable architecture is an art and that, at all costs, we have to keep creativity in the built environment? The language of low carbon building is that of the engineers, but if we want a sustainable legacy, then buildings and places should endure because they are also meaningful and beautiful. How can we return to the ‘simple art’ of building and place making?
MARCH 2012
Wexford County Council Headquarters wins Civic Trust International Award
‘Located on a steeply sloping site on the outskirts of the town with magnificent views overlooking the River Slaney, this exceptional new building contains Wexford’s main local authority activities and council chamber. The high quality architecture is well considered with very clear design principles. Materials and colours used have been kept to a minimum and add to the clarity of purpose. Externally the building is double skinned with the outer skin in glass on steel frames and a mixture of solid and glass on the inside. The glass skin represents the transparency of functions and activity of Local Government and presents a spectacular vision of minimalism and simplicity. Landscaping design is minimalist and very much in keeping with the building and provides clear unobstructed views of the river. The ability to integrate sustainable elements and maintain such clarity of purpose elevates the design to the highest level.’
FEBRUARY 2012
Peckham Charrette
Robin Lee Architecture participated in a one day design charrette organised by Architects Journal and sponsored by Philips to develop proposals for a series of development sites around Rye Lane, Peckham. Robin Lee Architecture worked on design proposals with award winning lighting designer Michael Grubb form Sutton Vane Associates.
DECEMBER 2011
Weight + Measure
Lecture by Robin Lee, at Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow.
