LiD Architecure present; 

ADAPTIVE URBANISM BERLIN 1994-2019

Berlin’s extraordinary history has resulted in unique spatial, financial, and social circumstances conducive to the appropriation and adaption of the urban landscape, spanning from the 1970s to the contemporary self-initiated housing phenomena and public space innovations. This talk presents examples of this urban appropriation in the financial and power vacuum of post-wall East Berlin and traces this through to the eventual recognition and facilitation by the city authorities of this informal urbanism as a legitimate form of re-appropriation of the city. The processes and properties at play in these spaces are considered and the potential of this performative “as found” approach to the city is explored.

LiD Architecture is an Award-winning practice, established in 2003 by Dougal Sheridan and Deirdre McMenamin.

‘We need contemporary culture and art, places of critical sociability and we need spaces adapted for their development. We do not wait for ideal conditions, we realize them. We begin to use abandoned spaces, we adapt them and use them at the same time, the content is developed together with the architecture serving it. Architecture ceases to be just a framework for the social events and becomes one of the protagonists’.

Platforma 9,81 are a collective of architects and designers from Croatia engaged collaboratively and independently in the critical rethinking and debate of urban planning and public space. Platforma 9,81 advocates for spatial justice and informed, educated and active citizenship included in the spatial development of the community. Founder Miranda Veljačić together with Dinko Peračić and others represented Croatia at the 15th Venice Biennale of Architecture with a project entitled “we need it - we do it” which will be presented here. The project was awarded with Grand prix at the 53rd Zagreb Salon of Architecture Award 2018.

Modern architecture responded to the social needs of democracies in the twentieth century but was often beset by poor environmental performance. This talk will explore the value of these buildings and the reasons why we might conserve them. It will illustrate two case studies from Ireland which we are repurposing for the environmental challenges of the twenty first century.

John McLaughlin leads a design studio whose work has received many awards and has been noted for its elegance, understatement and playfulness. He represented Ireland at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2012 and 2014, and was an invited exhibitor in 2016. In 2015 his practice was named Best Emerging Practice by the RIAI.

Paul Fahy, artistic director Galway International Arts Festival, will talk about finding and transforming buildings into cultural spaces - the poor infrastructural facilities in a city with such a strong sense and celebration of culture and the need for a permanent creative production hub and gallery space. 

Paul will be joined in conversation with artist Deirdre O’Mahony who re-opened the former post office building at Killnaboy, County Clare as X-PO.