Venue: St Michael & All Angels Church, 1 Pond Road, Blackheath, London SE3 9J
‘Never demolish, never remove or replace, always add, transform, and reuse!... Demolishing is a decision of easiness and short term… It is a waste of many things – a waste of energy, a waste of material, and a waste of history. Moreover, it has a very negative social impact. For us, it is an act of violence.’
Lacaton and Vassal when receiving the Pritzker Prize, 2021
The 2023-24 Architecture Group programme of visits this year has been focused on the theme of Re-use and so is our annual lecture. We are absolutely delighted to have Professor Graeme Booker speaking to us on the subject.
Graeme is the head of Interior Design at the Royal College of Art’s School of Architecture. In 2021 published 50|50 WORDS FOR REUSE – A minifesto, by Canalside Press. This was the fifteenth book Graeme has published on the histories and theories of inside spaces, many of which focus on the reuse of existing artefacts, buildings and cities.
‘50|50 WORDS is a collection of language to describe reuse. Each word is an instrument; a contrivance chosen deliberately in order to activate another 50 associations. Words are like buildings. They reflect cultures and embody continuous change.’
Graeme has written extensively on the interior and in particular the philosophical and theoretical implications of reworking existing spaces and buildings. This includes the subjects of waste and redundancy. Other work includes the exploration of the numerous narratives that underpin the history of the interior and the ambiguity of the subject field and the impact of this condition on the discipline through its research, education, practice and the agents undertaking it.[Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]Graeme has taught in various institutions in America, Europe and Asia, and has been a visiting professor in Antwerp and Milan, and has been an external examiner in over 25 institutions including in Hong Kong, Moscow and Chicago.
Graeme is a provocative and inspiring educator and public speaker. You do not want to miss this lecture!
At 7pm Drinks will be served and copies of the book will be available.
Lecture begins at 7.30 pm.
Student discount ticket available at the door, £10.
Parking available, obtain permit from Church on arrival.
