Exhibition celebrating best of Liverpool architecture opens

Apr 4 2008

AN EXHIBITION showing the illustrious history of architecture at Liverpool University opens today.

Photographs and models of some of the world’s most iconic buildings, designed by former students, are on show including the India Building and Gates- head’s Blinking Eye Bridge.

The university has produced an unprecedented six Gold Medal winners in the field and has students responsible for the Echo Arena and conference centre. In 2005, another grad- uate Patrick Lynch was named Young Architect of the Year.

As the UK’s longest-running architecture course, established in 1894, the university can also claim credit for how architec- ture is taught across the world.

Jack Dunne, director of studies and master of architec- ture at the university, who has 20 years’ experience as an architect, said the exhibition was a celebration of 2008 the Capital of Culture.

Mr Dunne said: “I have spent 18 months gathering everything together for this exhibition which recognises are famous graduates. Our students past and present are responsible for architecture in every part of the world and not just buildings.

“They have designed parks, civic centres, furniture and one is even responsible for design- ing the world’s first thermostat- ically controlled iron.”

He added: “Liverpool as a city, definitely informs design and the styles of architecture have been influenced by it being a port and facing America across the sea.”

The month-long exhibition at Liverpool’s RENEW rooms, Wood Street, is a collection of images, models and video inter- views with some of the late award-winners including, Charles Riley, Lord Halford, Maxwell Fry, Lord Abercromb- ie, Colin Rowe and James Stirling. He is considered one of the most important architects of the second half of the 20th century, and studied at Liver- pool between 1945-1950.

His final university thesis, a design for a community centre, has been carefully brought to life through a scale model which will be revealed at the exhibition.

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Ex-student, Ian Jackson, 30, guest curator, said: “Liverpool’s architecture is exciting and dramatic and it’s unprecedented that so many successful architects have studied in the city.

“I like Jim Eyre of Practice Wilkinson Eyre, who helped design the new Echo Arena and convention centre and another ex-student is currently designing the World’s tallest building in China.”

The exhibition will remain in Liverpool until April 30 before being showcased in Dublin, London, Edinburgh and New York.

A book celebrating the exhibition is also available for sale.