Open House Cork returns to celebrate city’s architecture and design
Following the success of the inaugural weekend last year, the second Open House Cork, showcasing the very best of private and public architecture in the city, is returning this month.
Taking place from Friday, September 30th to Sunday, October 2nd, the citywide architectural festival will allow the public free access to over 20 buildings — including a chance to peek inside some of the most unique homes. Over 30 events will be held across the weekend, including free on-site tours, workshops, talks, and family-friendly activities.
Several new buildings have been added to this year’s programme, and among the highlights is the multi-million euro St Angela’s School on Patrick’s Hill, designed by RIBA Royal Gold Medal award-winning Irish architects O'Donnell + Tuomey. Another of the firm’s designs, the Lewis Glucksman Gallery will also be open on the weekend, and architect Willie Carey of O’Donnell + Tuomey will give a tour of the building, discussing the different roles it manages to undertake.
Some intriguing private homes involved include social houses in Mayfield, Ballyphehane and Greenmount, along with the ever popular Narrow House on Red Abbey Street.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming weekend, Chairperson of Open House Cork, Danny Holland said: “After such a success last year, it’s great to hold Open House again in Cork. This event highlights the beautiful and diverse architecture we have in abundance across the city, and the people who help design and build it. It also generates important discussion on the role of a high quality built environment in our day-to-day lives.”
Danny added: “Last year, our private dwellings were incredibly popular, so we have listened to our audience and have added more homes to the 2016 programme.”
The opening night launch will take place on Friday, September 30th at The Atrium, Cork City Hall, with speakers to include architects John McLaughlin and James O’Donovan, who collaborated on the design of the Irish Pavilion for the Venice Biennale 2014. They will discuss their experience of fusing the worlds of installation art, furniture design, street design and architecture in a collaborative context.
A series of walking tours will run across the weekend, including an architectural trail of city-centre pubs, a look at Cork’s 20th century architecture, and a docklands walking tour.
For budding architects, family-friendly events include a sketching tour of MacCurtain Street, a workshop for children at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery and a reading of architecturally themed stories in the children’s section of the City Library on Grand Parade. There will also be an exhibition by students of the Cork Centre for Architectural Education and CIT’s Architecture Department, entitled Space and Place: Interpreting the City and its Buildings.
Open House Cork is supported by the Arts Council and Cork City Council, with media partners the Irish Examiner. Red FM are media supporters for this year’s event. For more information on the buildings and events featured in Open House Cork, see www.openhousecork.ie, Open House Cork’s Twitter page @OpenHouseCork or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/openhousecork
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