ARCHIVE:

Edward Norman

September means my birthday, my kids going back to school and a host of design events marking the return to work after summer holidays. Here are some of my highlights.

On Tuesday 5^th September, I will be attending the London Review Bookshop on Bury Place to see Charles Holland and others discuss Ian Nairn’s Modern Buildings in London, first published in 1964. The book now re-appears 40 years after his death, in a new edition from Notting Hill.

Must see/do: From 6^th to 17^th September, the Open House Festival is an annual two-week celebration of London featuring amazing events, tours and open days of special buildings across all 33 London boroughs. One featured area is The Royal Arsenal where Corstorphine & Wright recently delivered ‘Building 10’, a 112-bed, residential block within the footprint of a Grade II listed former warehouse building.

Also, from 6^th September the RIBA will be running their future leaders programme which offers early career professionals with a comprehensive introduction to leadership through industry training delivered via experienced Architects.

I mentioned my birthday and I nearly qualify as at the more mature end of the RIBA offerings, is the opportunity to join them at 66 Portland place for an Exploring Architecture Drawing Tour. Note, this is for over 55’s only (taking place 7^th September).

Yet again I will be entering the Architecture Drawing Prize and the deadline is 8^th September. The overall winner is announced at the Sir John Soane’s Museum in early 2024.  The Architecture Drawing Prize launched in 2017, was established to celebrate and showcase the art and skill of architectural drawing.

From the 16^th to the 24^th September, London Design Festival returns to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The 2023 edition features a programme of more than 300 events across 12 design districts, including exhibitions, talks, workshops and open studios.

The Underway Studio in Brixton is offering the opportunity to learn mono screenprinting ‘the architecture edition’, with next available date being the 21^st September. Free beer, brilliant people and thoroughly enjoyable.

The September highlight for me is somewhat eclectic, and sees performance artist Marina Abramović at the RA from the 23^rd September. The performance art pioneer has captivated audiences by pushing the limits of her body and mind, for the past 50 years, testing the limits of her own physical and mental endurance in her work, subjecting herself to exhaustion, pain and even the possibility of death!

Towards the end of the month, on the 26^th September, the Czech Embassy continues its Women in Focus series after the summer break with a talk by the world-renowned, Czech-born architect Eva Jiřičná. Just £5 to see the world-renowned Architect.

Finally, Corstorphine & Wright now have new London premises located at 21-27 Lambs Conduit Street, London WC1N 3NL and recently hosted ‘The Art of Architecture’ event as part of the London Festival of Architecture in June. My artwork is up in the studio so please feel free to come and see us!

 

 

September’s Recommended Reads:

1. Serious Fun: The Arty-tecture of Will Alsop. If you are looking for some joy, cheer and delight as the nights draw in, get a copy of the AD paperback focussing on my old boss Will Alsop. Serious Fun: The Arty-tecture of Will Alsop (Architectural Design)