Welcome to the October 2005 news from Richard Murphy Architects.
Housing In Westport, County Mayo, Completed
The annual Westport Arts Festival featured Richard Murphy as their guest lecturer and this coincided with the completion of the project town houses and apartments constructed on the edge of the town. The Client, who was also the builder, Tom Joyce, and our local architectural collaborators, Taylor McCarney Architects, share the credit of what is considered locally an extremely successful if unusual project. Two crescents of housing, with their convex sides facing each other form “a gun sight view” of the distinctive peak of Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay. The project is also a polemic against the rapid suburbanisation of the Irish countryside, achieving a high density and urban presence. More photographs can be seen on the website.
Second Project at the Former Royal Infirmary Site, Edinburgh
In addition to our work at the Surgical Hospital, Quartermile, the developers of the now empty Royal Infirmary site at Lauriston Place, have commissioned us to design approximately 160 flats being the affordable housing provision for the entire site. The site is as per the original masterplan on Chalmers Street and the housing association will be Hillcrest. We anticipate a planning application being made next month.
Two Overseas Projects are Revived
We are delighted that our proposed new British High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka, has finally been granted the necessary funding by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to commence construction early in 2006. The project has been awaiting funding for over two years and we expect it to be completed by the middle of 2007. We are also pleased to report that our School in Malta is now progressing, having been delayed since the competition win in June 2004. The design is undergoing revisions, mostly because of the unexpected arrival of another school next door, but we hope to be able to start on site in the middle of 2006 at the latest.
The Sean Connery Filmhouse
The model for this project was part of the Royal Scottish Academy “Festival Connections” Exhibition during August and September of this year and attracted a great deal of attention and many favourable remarks. Another chance to see the model will be when it is displayed in the foyer of the existing Filmhouse on Lothian Road between 18 October and 1 November. In a recent article in the Evening News, Brian Monteith writes “It is a highly imaginative piece of work which will not only complete Festival Square and turn it into the cultural corner of Edinburgh ……… but will also give the Edinburgh Film Festival the revival which it desperately needs …….. A new Sean Connery Filmhouse - preferably built and opened whilst he is alive - just a stone’s throw from his childhood haunts, would become an international destination.” In another article, five days later, entitled “Filmhouse Scene Woos City Chiefs” , Councillor Donald Anderson, Leader of Edinburgh City Council, said he was “greatly torn” and “ I have to say I was very impressed by the latest proposals and I am definitely a lot more convinced about the idea than I thought I was going to be”.
Another Award for Housing at Old Fishmarket Close
Our project for BUREDI Limited has won two further Awards - both at the Roses Awards Ceremony held in Manchester this month - the Gold Award in the “Rewarding Regeneration” category and also the overall “Chairman’s Award”. Andy Burrell and Richard Murphy collected the Awards together.
Liberton Bank House and Medical Centre Given the Go Ahead
We are pleased that the National Health Service Committee has voted the funds for the construction of new premises for the Medical Group Practice currently based in Mayfield Road. Adjacent to the Cameron Toll Shopping Centre carpark, the masterplan for this development also envisages the renovation of the currently derelict Liberton Bank House as a Special School, this latter project being designed by Nicholas Groves Raines Architects. We anticipate a start on site in Easter 2006.
Doors Open Day 2005
Seven of the Practice’s buildings, including the office, were open to the public and all attracted large crowds, with the most popular venues being the three Mews Houses on display. Apologies to all those who were obliged to queue for up to an hour to enter Royal Terrace Mews and Regent Terrace Mews , but we were delighted by the many positive remarks made by all our visitors. We have had enquiries about the film on display in the office and DVDs of this can be purchased at a cost of £10 including postage and packaging.
New Graphic Design and Website
The office has a new graphic identity which has been designed in-house and implemented by Johnnie Walker. Those of you receiving letters, compliments slips, business cards etc will see a detail from one of fifteen completed projects from the office. No prizes for anyone who collects a complete set, but we hope you enjoy the design! In parallel the website has also been redesigned along the same lines although the organisation remains approximately the same as before.
Practice Trip to Eichstatt and Munich
A reminder to say that the vast majority of the office will be away on a study trip to Eichstatt and Munich between lunchtime Thursday 27 October and the evening of Monday 31 October. However, the office will be open and manned during this period. There will be an illustrated report in the next newsletter!
And finally...
Many thanks to all who joined us for our Practice Fourteenth Birthday Party held on 30 September. As ever, it was a memorable event!
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