A GROUP of architects who have found themselves out of work as a result of the economic downturn are to visit primary schools with a view to “increasing children’s awareness of their built environment”.
The initiative, being run through a programme developed by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), is being discussed at the Waterford Festival of Architecture taking place this weekend.
“The schools programme will start with developing the children’s awareness of their own homes, gardens and streets with a view to encouraging a greater awareness of architecture in the wider community,” said festival chairwoman Anne Harpur.
The Waterford Festival of Architecture, now in its 10th year, will run under the title Architecture in the Community, with the focus on discussing work carried out with the public through community-designed workshops.
“These community-designed working groups will concentrate on looking at the potential of public spaces and at proposals for revitalising village and town centres by accessing the considerable power of community,” Ms Harpur said.
“We will be working with a number of active community groups who are currently looking at revitalising what they already have in their towns and local areas.
“We are also developing a link with Fás with a view to harnessing the local employment base of building skills within communities.”
The festival also includes public panel discussion between the designers and end users of arts spaces, where issues surrounding designing, building, renovating, managing and programming arts buildings will be discussed.
The festival takes place at various locations in Waterford city and county, with further details available at www.wfa.ie