Welcome to the inaugural American Friends of the British Architectural Library Newsletter!
News:
Stirling Prize Shortlist
The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize 2014 includes The Shard by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the London Aquatics Centre by Zaha Hadid, Everyman Theatre in Liverpool by Haworth Tompkins, Manchester School of Art by Feilden Clegg Bradley, LSE’s Saw Swee Hock Student Centre by O’Donnell + Tuomey Architects and the Library of Birmingham by Mecanoo. The winner will be announced on 16th October 2014.
Upcoming Events:
‘Ordinary Beauty: The Photography of Edwin Smith’ – 10th September until 6th December 2014
RIBA 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD
The first retrospective of Edwin Smith, one of Britain’s foremost 20th-century photographers. Smith was lauded by contemporaries Cecil Beaton and Sir John Betjeman and his photographs bring to life British social history through urban scenes, evocative landscape images and atmospheric interiors.
Ordinary Beauty: The Photography of Edwin Smith will display over 100 extraordinary photographs from a collection of over 60,000 negatives and 20,000 prints in the RIBA Collections. Alongside his images of Britain the exhibition will show photographs taken on his travels to Europe as well as his published books and photographic equipment. Specially filmed contributions including those from Alan Bennett and broadcaster Gillian Darley offer personal perspectives of Smith’s work.
Roofscape, Whitby, North Yorkshire. (c) Edwin Smith, RIBA Library
Mackintosh Architecture – Monday 6th October 2014 from 6.30pm. RSVP essential.
RIBA 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD
We invite you to join Pamela Robertson, Professor of Mackintosh Studies as the University Glasgow, and RIBA curators to discuss Charles Rennie Mackintosh the Architect. Mackintosh-related items from the Library collections will be on view.
RIBA Stirling Prize 2014 Ceremony – Thursday 16th October 2014 from 6.30pm RSVP essential.
RIBA 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD
Returning to the home of British architecture, this year’s event will be held at the RIBA, Portland Place. Join us for the live announcement of the RIBA Stirling Prize winner in the Jarvis Auditorium followed by a celebratory stand up reception in the architecturally impressive surroundings of the Florence Hall. The ceremony will be hosted by journalist, news broadcaster and RIBA Honorary Fellow, Kirsty Wark
AFBAL Autumn Drinks Party and Collections Reveal Preview – Monday 3rd November 2014 from 6.30pm. RSVP essential.
7WTC, New York 10007
The American Friends of the British Architectural Library with Daniel and Nina Libeskind invite you to join them for a drinks reception and special presentation of ‘star objects’ from the British Architectural Library at 7 World Trade Center. A special viewing of the following original objects, selected by Daniel Libeskind, will be on display, some of which have never been seen before in the USA. Existing American Friends are invited to a preview drinks from 6pm. Invitation to follow.
Details of Serlio’s ‘Tutte l’opere d’architettura, et prospettiva, di Sebastiano Serlio Bolognese’ c.1619
Object in focus:
Andrea Palladio and Vincenzo Scamozzi ‘s Teatro Olimipco in Vicenza Italy.
Andrea Palladio was born in the Veneto, a region in the North East of Italy whose major city, Venice, is universally renowned for the richness of its cultural heritage and its unique geographical configuration. The region also counts other remarkable historical and artistic centres, such as Vicenza, Verona and Padua. This photograph of the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza was taken by Edwin Smith in 1963.
Photograph by Edwin Smith / RIBA Library Photographs Collection. Image date 1963.
In the News:
30 St Mary Axe “Gherkin” up for sale
One of London’s most recognisable landmarks, the Gherkin, which was designed by Lord Foster and opened in 2004, has been put up for sale. It is expected to be snapped up by an overseas buyer and with Savills and Deloitte Real Estate indicating they would be looking to close the deal by the end of September or the beginning of October.
Story Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28539286
WTC Logo
Landor has created the new identity for the World Trade Center development in New York – a complex of buildings on the site of the original Twin Towers which were destroyed in the attacks on 11 September 2001.
