Peace walls Belfast

Launching next Thursday: The Urban Environment: Mirror and Mediator of Radicalisation?
Launching Thursday 5th November, Late Night Art, 6-9pm @ PLACE
Continues Friday 6th - Saturday 28th November 2009

An exhibition presenting new research on architecture and sectarianism launches next Thursday night at PLACE. The Urban Environment: Mirror and Mediator of Radicalisation? looked at Belfast, Berlin, Beirut and Amsterdam, and asked how polarisation in these cities affects, and is affected by, the built environment.

Dr Ralf Brand, who leads the research project at the University of Manchester, said: "There's no doubt that great strides have been made in Northern Ireland, politically, but in terms of the urban fabric, considerable problems remain. Our study shows that in areas of conflict, there are very few neutral features in a city. In other words, we have seen many examples of how architecture can inadvertently make things worse. But the good news is that architecture can also make an important contribution to the resolution of conflict. This doesn't mean there's a quick fix to the problem, but professionals from planners to engineers need to be more aware of the importance of architecture to urban conflict."

Everyone is welcome to the launch which takes place next Thursday evening from 6-9pm, as part of Late Night Art for November. Refreshments will be served.

More info on the PLACE Website: click here.

Architek10 launch their eStudio
Architek10, a student architecture society, have launched their eStudio, a new online resource featuring articles, interviews and discourse on architecture.

The society introduce their work on the PLACE Blog: click here.

The eStudio is well worth checking out - the first edition of the newsletter features an interview with architect Ciaran Mackel on launching his new firm during a recession, Paul Clarke on sketchbooks, articles on the "ideal home" and wabi-sabi, and more.