Waterford Festival of Architecture Preview

Travelling back to Waterford for holidays over the last two decades, I was struck by the quality of design in some new buildings in the city and the care with which  features in period buildings have been restored.  Nowhere is this more evident than in the confluence of elegance around the Mall/. The brand new Medieval Museum with it's velevety soft-scoop icecream front nestles cosily with John Roberts Georgian Cathedral and Bishop's Palace and the Victorian gem that is the Theatre Royal. I feel very proud that a local firm of architects produced the award winning design for the new Museum. It is fitting that Waterford City is the location for  an annual festival of architecture. The 2015 Waterford Festival of Architecture takes place next week. There are all sorts of walks, talks, exhibitions and related events. Local treasure-historian Julian Walton gives several talks in a variety of locations. There is an opportunity to peer beyond the hall door of buildings not usually open to the public. The lovely new gardens created in a Japanese spirit dedicated to Lafacadio Hearn are included in the itinerary.

Visit on October 15th and you can hear an excellent evening of string quartets from the visiting Quatuor Zaide  in The Large Room, a  gracious assembly hall at  City Hall, a venue as fine as any temple of chamber music in Europe.

Photo John Power 

More on the Waterford Festival of Architecture on their website- an extract here.

'The festival is over 14 years old and is still going strong, thanks to the endeavours of a very hardworking committee and support from our many sponsors and friends including ID2015 Waterford City & County Council, Fumbally Exchange, Waterford Institute of Technology, and WLR FM.

This year the festival will celebrate the life of Waterford through the built environment and encourage everyone to engage with the city including the metropolitan areas of Dunmore East and Tramore, on a more intimate level, with lectures, events, tours and walks.

The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Origins’ and we will be digging deep into our local archaeology and historic buildings as well as showcasing new and developing projects to help create appreciation and understanding for both how we started and where we are going.

Speakers on Friday afternoon and evening will include The Waterford Metropolitan Mayor Eamon Quinlan, who will open the festival, including Waterford born, internationally renowned architect Professor Michelle Howard, James Howley , conservation architect, and celebrated travel writer and Waterford native, Dervla Murphy. For Additional information on festival events www.wfa.ie'