‘Boom time’ for architecture and the construction industry

  • According to the president of the Association of Jersey Architects the Island has a very promising architectural future
  • Islanders encouraged to visit CCA Galleries to see the entrants for this year’s Design Awards
  • Watch an interview with the association president below
  • Do you prefer more traditional or modern architecture? Have your say in our poll

JERSEY is experiencing a design boom, according to the president of the Association of Jersey Architects.

Architect Derek Mason said the Island had emerged leaner and fitter from the recession and that there was an atmosphere of cautious optimism in the design and construction economy.

His comments came as the Island hosted the Jersey Architecture Biennale 2015 – a biannual celebration of architecture in Jersey.

He said: ‘There’s a bit of a mini boom going on at the moment. There’s a lot of town housing schemes going up and there’s talk of tall buildings being created as well, which is good.

‘We’ve come out of the recession leaner, fitter and better, and I think we are in for an exciting period over the next five or ten years.

‘I detect a mark of cautious optimism. And JAB2015 is a part of that. It’s about showing people what architecture is all about and getting kids involved as well.’

Mr Mason praised the work put in by pupils during the schools architecture competition that last week saw rival teams compete to build the best cantilever structure from old copies of the JEP.

He also urged Islanders to visit CCA Galleries between 10 am and 5 pm this week to see the entrants for this year’s Design Awards and to sign up for a free talk on Friday that will see top architects present their schemes, which have been shortlisted for the UK’s biggest architecture prize, the Stirling Prize.

The event, led by the Royal Institute of British Architects president Stephen Hodder, is due to take place on Friday at the Radisson Blu Hotel and free tickets can be booked by visiting jab15.eventbrite.com.

Mr Mason added: ‘If people come to this talk they will hear about a fantastic collection of buildings. The Stirling Prize features a school, a university, social housing, expensive housing, a palliative care centre and an art gallery.

‘And these are the top architects from the projects coming over to present their designs.’

Other events this week include a talk about the Brazilian capital, Rio de Janeiro, by former AJA president Mike Waddington from 1 pm at CCA Galleries tomorrow , a vin d’honneur at the Town Hall between 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm on Thursday evening. Later on the same night short presentations will be given by Jersey architects on different Island projects between 7 pm and 9 pm at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Following Friday’s day-long RIBA Stirling Prize presentations – from 10 am to 5 pm at the Radisson Blu Hotel – there will be a gala dinner starting at 7 pm at the same location. Places can be booked at each event at jab15.eventbrite.com.

La Fregate CaféApartments overlooking Albert HarbourThe Jersey Archive HQThe abatoir-conversion Liberty Wharf

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