Portmeirion
The Royal Society of Architects Wales kindly invited hyde + hyde to present a design workshop at the society’s annual spring school conference, this year held at Portmeirion.
For those that know little of this small ‘surrealist’ picturesque village, visited by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956 and designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, can find out more by visiting wikipedia.
Workshop
After an inspirational journey through the heart of Wales, passing endless mountains, forests and the occasional waterfall; on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, in a breathtaking wilderness we arrived to present our ideas.
Titled, Metaphor + Meaning; Architecture in Context. The workshop outlined our studio’s unique approach to design and context within a welsh landscape.
topics discussed included:
- Critical Regionalism
- Topos – Metaphor + Meaning
- Details / Tectonics
- Material Character
- Examples of built work
Summary
Research and ideas were presented discussing critical regionalism. Specifically how local vernacular forms and traditions had informed our design process, creating an appropriate architectural response to site. By designing deeply passionate buildings; relevant in time and place that attempt to shun fashion and trends.
Examples and photographs of built work were shown to support these ideas. It was asked whether it is still relevant in an age of globalisation to attempt to identify a national character? How closley intertwined are ideas of regionalism and sustainablity, are they the same thing?