Date: 18 June 04
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GLAS is a not-for-profit workers co-operative of architects, designers, teachers and activists based in Scotland, England and Eire. Its objectives are to construct a theoretical and practical critique of the capitalist production and use of the built environment and through design activity, graphic works, and writings to question and suggest alternatives to the dominant manner in which our built environments are put together.
In short, building and urban design is already a political event, the point is to change its politics. To date the group has led a number of workshops and produced seven editions of the Glaspaper - each dedicated to a specific aspect of the built environment. Two further editions of the paper are due for publication in the coming months, one focusing on the new EU accession nations and the other on design issues.
Announcing the Award, Dr Stuart MacDonald, director of The Lighthouse said:
"GLAS fulfil a much needed gap in the architecture scene in Scotland. As an Agitprop group they awaken us to sometimes uncomfortable issues. And, they demonstrate in a way that avoids being patronising or "dumbed down", how you can work creatively with excluded or minority communities. Usually, when architecture is discussed it is outwith the economic mainstream. GLAS remind us architecture is about more than iconic signature buildings. They are networked in a very real sense."
The Award Panel, which represents a wide body of experience in the built environment, tabled over 20 names with GLAS emerging as their unanimous choice for this first Achievement Award.
Panel member Neil Gillespie, of Architects Reiach and Hall said:
"GLAS have a vision; a vision which is not clouded by an individual ego or distracted by formal posturing. They act directly and clearly, placing people at the centre of their research. As such their work is refreshing and meaningful."
Fellow panel member Andrew Burrell of The Burrell Company added:
"It's good to see a group in this post-Thatcher day and age which is proud to say that the building process and urban design are political events. Making the process more accessible and more attainable should reward the participants and benefit architecture and design generally."
GLAS will use the £5,000 cash prize and a range of in-kind support offered by The Lighthouse to begin their first and last built project.
Speaking on behalf of GLAS Allan Atlee said:
"GLAS has always been about creating alternative spaces for its members and collaborators. Spaces to think freely, to re-imagine our cities and landscapes, to challenge preconceived notions and to enjoy the benefits of collective effort. Winning this Achievement Award, though a little surprising, gives us the opportunity to continue shouting about the need for architecture and urbanism to be understood as socially useful activities. We look forward to using the resources and funding to develop new mechanisms for opening access, highlighting injustice and re-imagining how we might use our cities for the collective good."
The Achievement Award
The Achievement Award is open to Scots working both nationally and internationally and to international professionals based in Scotland. Names are tabled by members of the Award Panel who together represent a wide body of experience in the built environment.
The Achievement Award complements the annual 'SIX' Student Awards also created as part of the National Programme for Architecture. It acknowledges the work already being undertaken by the many professionals who make an important contribution to architecture and the built environment.
The Achievement Award Panel
Morag Bain - National Programme Development Officer, The Lighthouse
Andy Burrell - The Burrell Company
Neil Gillespie - Architect, Reiach and Hall
Muriel Gray - writer and broadcaster
Stuart MacDonald - Director, The Lighthouse.
The membership of GLAS consists of:
Rosalie Adams who has recently established Urban Zebra and practices in Glasgow.
Writer and teacher Allan Atlee works in Glasgow based practice NORD. He has been involved in coordinating exhibitions and lectures in the UK and abroad.
Judith Barber of Chris Stewart Architects has practiced in France and Scotland. She has written and produced works within GLAS on gender issues and advertising, exhibiting these in the UK and Russia.
Jason Bell of Reid Architects, who worked in Belfast on the Waterfront Hall, the most prominent public building project in recent years and has recently been engaged in a variety of building and graphic projects in Scotland.
Gary Boyd writes and teaches at University College Dublin. He has worked and studied in a variety of European countries including Germany, Italy and Switzerland. His writings on homelessness and prostitution have been published and broadcast on Irish radio.
Jonathan Charley teaches and writes in Glasgow. Having worked in a building co-operative in London during the 1980s on a variety of social projects, he has since lived and taught in Russia, Brazil and the UK. His writing has been published extensively in both specialist and mainstream publications. He is currently running the Masters programme at the University of Strathclyde.
Alisdair Clements practices with Zoo Architects in Glasgow, and has worked on award-winning schemes such as Tramway. Previously, he has lived and worked in Eastern Europe, and worked on architectural propositions for Glasgow's street based sex workers.
Tony Dunworth lived in Spain and South America before returning to Glasgow to establish the design consultancy in Glasgow, Skratch Design. He organised and managed the European Architecture Assembly in 1993 and has co-ordinated exhibitions and exhibits in a variety of galleries and public spaces. His award winning work on the ideology of architectural representations has gained wide accreditation.
Freelance writer Florian Kossak is currently researching for a Phd at Edinburgh College of Art. He has worked around Europe for Alsop+Stormer Architects and Otto Steidle Architects. In recent years he has edited and published retrospectives in Germany and curated exhibitions in Paris, Venice, Berlin and Dresden. He previously ran the Masters programme in architecture at the Art Academy in Munich.
Architect Carole Latham currently practices in Sheffield. She has researched alternative housing solutions and worked with local community groups developing workshops to investigate urban commune prototypes. She currently works on a variety of social housing and community based projects.
Award-winning architect, Alan Pert, is a founding member of NORD (Northern Office of Research and Design) which was formed as an architectural studio specialising in cross media research, art practice and architectural theory. Amongst its current portfolio of projects, NORD is currently acting as consultants for Homes for the Future 2 in Glasgow and the proposed Scottish Film Studios on the Clyde.
Tatjana Schnieder is a researcher at the Architecture School at the University of Sheffield. Her doctoral thesis examines the "theming" of the built environment, focusing her work on theme parks and gated communities. She has recently helped organise an exhibit at the Venice Biennale and produced a number of award winning competition entries in Germany.
Adrian Stewart is a partner at Chris Stewart Architects in Glasgow. He has experience in a wide range of projects including the Illumination of Cranhill Water Tower and the design of a chain of record shops throughout Britain. The majority of his work is community based with emphasis on social inclusion in the design process. His work has won a number of design awards.
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