A Sense of Place

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ABOUT ROBIN WALKER

Robin Walker [1924-1991] was one of the most intriguing Irish architects of the 20th century. Having worked with le Corbusier in the 1940's and studied with Mies van der Rohe in the 1950's, he went on to produce a remarkably original series of buildings from 1960 to 1977. First as an associate of Michael Scott, later as a partner in the firm Scott Tallon Walker, his architecture resists classification based on international or high-modernist styles, preferring instead radical encounters with both unspoilt landscape and historic urban settings. Each building is therefore unique and unrepeatable - a fact acknowledged by the award of two RIAI Triennial Gold Medals over the course of his relatively short career.

ABOUT THE SHOW

For the first time, due to the increasing public demand to revisit the work of this brilliant architect, an exhibition of detailed scale models of his buildings will be launched at the Irish Architectural Archive on March 18th 2015. The models will be accompanied by the original black-and-white photographs taken by the world-renowned architectural photographer, John Donat, as well as a publication containing a selection of his essays and written research, illustrated by Walker's drawings and three unbuilt projects for the artists Louis le Brocquy and Theo Bull.

The launch of the exhibition will coincide with the première of a feature-length documentary by Sé Merry Doyle titled "Talking to My Father", based on an imaginary dialogue between Walker and his son Simon, also an architect, who traces his father's journey from the high-point of his career to his eventual retreat from practice, following the demise of modernism in Ireland in the late 1970's.

OUR MISSION

The models are made by a team of recent graduates from the School of Architecture at UCD, with the collaboration of Simon Walker, constructed using "studio" materials - card and paper - intended not as a monolithic representation of the buildings, but rather to echo the fragile permanence of architectural ideas. The exhibition design is specifically created for the main first-floor room at the IAA, 45 Merrion Square.

The publication focuses instead on Walker's thought, his philosophy of architecture, his beautiful, contemplative drawings and paintings, and his speculative projects.
In total, "A Sense of Place - Robin Walker" will make a major contribution to the discussion and dissemination of Irish modern architecture in the coming years, acting as a valuable resource for students, critics and aficionados of the modern period.

The creative team behind this ambitious project are asking for support to help to realise what is a labour of love, as well as to ensure the quality of the exhibition mounting and the print quality of the publication.

Please pledge to see this beautiful, unexpected exhibition!

See you at the show in March - Simon, Mark, Simona, Rachel, Melanie