Welcome to The Architecture Centre newsletter 15 April 2008

This fortnight:

1. Is The Green Belt Sacred?
2. An Eco-Village On Our Doorstep - Building the Future at Hanham Hall
3. Stirling and Beyond
4. Brighton Permaculture Trust events

1. Is The Green Belt Sacred?
Talk/debate: Thursday 24 April - 18.30 - £3 (£2 concessions)

With rising housing demand and the call to build three million new homes by 2020, is it time to re-think our protected green field areas? Could Green Belt building provide a sustainable way forward, or are there other solutions? This event provides an opportunity to join the debate following presentations by campaigners from opposing camps: James Heartfield, author of Let?s Build! and director of Audacity, and Paul Miner of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England.
Booking is essential. To book, please send an email marked 'Tickets - Green Belt' to
info@architecturecentre.co.uk or call 0117 922 1540.

2. An Eco-Village On Our Doorstep - Building the Future at Hanham Hall

The inaugural talk in The Architecture Centre's Spring Green season took place on Thursday 3 April to a sell-out audience. Rory Bergin from HTA Architects and Ben Cook from Barratt Developments gave an interesting overview of the progress so far on this 180-home site near Bristol, which forms part of the government's Carbon Challenge initiative.

If you were not able to come to the talk and would like more details about the project, or the Carbon Challenge initiative in general, full details are available on the English Partnerships website http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/carbonchallenge
You can also visit the project's dedicated website http://www.hanhamhall.co.uk for images and updates. We hope to be arranging a visit to Hanham when work starts on site, so watch out for updates in future newsletters.

3. Stirling and Beyond

Bristol Society of Architects, The Architecture Centre and the RIBA have organised two lectures by practices shortlisted for the 2007 Stirling Prize, both of which take place in May at the Arup Lecture Theatre.

Museum of Modern Literature & America's Cup Building - David Chipperfield Architects
Talk: Thursday 8 May, 17.30, £5 (£3), Arup Lecture Theatre

Jochen Glemser of David Chipperfield Architects will be talking about the Stirling Prize winning Museum for Modern Literature, Marbach am Neckar, Germany, and the shortlisted America?s cup building in Valencia, Spain.

The Savill Building, Windsor Great Park - Glenn Howells Architects
Talk: Thursday 22 May, 17.30, £5 (£3), Arup Lecture Theatre

Matthew McGrory of Glenn Howells Architects will be presenting this landmark visitor centre for Savill Garden at Windsor Great Park for the Crown Estate and talking about how its design was intended to reflect the quality of its surroundings through its form and structure.

Tickets for both lectures can be bought from RIBA Wessex by telephoning 08448 002767 or email riba.wessex@inst.riba.org. The Arup Lecture Theatre is at 63 St Thomas Street, Bristol BS1 6JZ.

4. Brighton Permaculture Trust events

Brighton and Hove Eco Open Houses
28-29 June and 5-6 July 2008
Do you or anyone you know have a house with any eco features in Brighton and Hove? Would you be willing to open it as part of the event? If so visit: http://www.ecoopenhouses.org
Full details of the event will be announced in May.

Brighton Permaculture Trust will also be running a Green Roof Diy Workshop on 17 May 2008. Learn about green roofs and how to build one for your garden shed. Full details and bookings at: http://www.brightonpermaculture.co.uk