¡MANAÑA!

¡MANAÑA!, a series of dialogues between Spanish and Irish architects centring on the theme of public architecture takes place this November. Presented by the Cervantes Institute in association with the AAI, this collaboration will build on last year’s CASA CASA CASA series which focused on the house and provided an exciting and challenging evening. Taking the form of short presentations by each architect, followed by a discussion ¡MANAÑA! promises a similarly lively and informative debate.

The first in the series will be featuring esteemed architects Antonio Ortiz of famed Spanish practice Cruz y Ortiz, and John Tuomey of O’Donnell + Tuomey, one of most the prominent firms in contemporary Irish architecture. The evening will be chaired by Gerard Carty of Grafton Architects who, having worked at Studio Vazquez Consuegra in Seville for some time, will be well placed to preside over this discussion.

Belonging to a similar generation, with both acting as one half of long-standing partnerships and with a profound respect for the existing urban fabric featuring in their architecture, Ortiz and Tuomey have much in common. Yet the different context of their work, in Spain and Ireland, raises several issues; particularly pertinent in this discussion will be the effects of the limited entry for public commissions in Ireland compared to the open competition for Spanish public architecture.

This is the opportunity to witness a thought-provoking discussion which will contrast the architectural climate in Ireland with that of Spain – a nation which is producing some of the most innovative work in Europe. The first in the series will begin at 7pm on the 29th November at the Cervantes Institute, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2. The next events are planned for January and February.