AIA RIBA Keynote Lecture 2017

The 2017 Keynote lecture featuring Steven Holl was held on Tuesday, 12th December to a standing room only audience of nearly 500 people. The lecture was a joint-venture between the RIBA and the AIA, and was held at the RIBA’s headquarters on Portland Place.

Holl discussed a number of his recent projects, in particular, his just-completed Maggie’s Centre at St. Bartholomew Hospital in London. Holl referred to the building's mediaeval heritage and employed ‘neumes’ which he explained were the mediaeval method of writing music. He further noted that the outer layer glass is organised in horizontal bands like a musical staff while the concrete structure branches like the hand.

Welcoming addresses were given by Ben Derbyshire, RIBA President, and Fatos Peja, AIA UK President. Charles Jencks, noted architectural writer and the person responsible for establishing the Maggie’s Centres, introduced Steven Holl.

The evening concluded with a drinks and canape reception in the Florence Hall that featured an exhibition of Steven Holl’s concept drawings for the Maggie’s Centre.