1 - Introduction: AIA International London 2022: Transformations
Fiona Mckay
Etain Fitzpatrick, addressing the LONDON 2022 Conference. Photo credit: R Doytcheva (AIA CE)
Experience AIA International LONDON 2022 – day by day – through a special series of Conference articles following this Introduction. Articles are based on general content observations plus photographs contributed by Conference attendees from around the world.
Opening Day – The Design Museum and Japan House
Day 1 – King’s Cross and Camden
The International Design Awards
Day 2 – Aldwych Quarter and the LSE
Saturday Night on the Dixie Queen
Day 3 – Colour, the City & Beyond
Extension Day – 9 Elms to Battersea
An International Conference in London was planned for 2021 under the AIA International Vice Presidency of Lester Korzilius, but it was postponed due to the covid pandemic and other scheduling conflicts. Planning for AIA London 2022 re-started in early 2021 with the initiation of the volunteer AIA United Kingdom (AIA UK) Planning Committee.
London 2022 was to be a joint INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, co-sponsored by AIA UK and AIA Continental Europe (AIA CE), with contributions from AIA International (AIA I). AIA UK would be the lead planner.
The Planning Committee’s immediate decision was to follow the successful London 2014 Conference organisational model, which had focused each day on a different area of London. Projects and speakers could then be matched to that area to give attendees a comprehensive, first hand perspective.
Then - faced with the almost insurmountable task of deciding how to show off the best London areas – another decision was made to start from successful projects the Committee knew personally.
Etain Fitzpatrick’s firm, JRA, had renovated Bush House, and she had actively followed the high-profile design competitions undertaken by LSE - hence, Saturday quickly became ‘Aldwych Quarter and the LSE’.
Wade Scaramucci’s firm, AHMM, had recently completed the Hawley Wharf Masterplan in Camden, and Committee members were already familiar with ongoing developments at King’s Cross through familiarity with the previous International London 2014 Conference – hence, Friday became ‘King’s Cross and Camden’.
Bari Wetmore Salathe, and Giancarlo Alhadeff from AIA CE joined the Planning Committee and suggested a pre-conference event would entice attendees to arrive early, so a program around the Design Museum and Kensington High Street was developed – hence, Thursday became ‘Design Museum and Japan House’.
Now, all that was required was to fill in the gaps, hire a few venues and it was nearly there…. However, ALL THAT took the next year plus to finalise.
Except for Scaramucci, who returned to the US in late 2021 to head AHMM’s Oklahoma office, the original Planning Committee - Etain Fitzpatrick (now the lead organiser), Lester Korzilius, Michael Lischer, Lorraine King, Chris Musangi and Genie Khmelnitski (the UK Executive Secretary, handling communications) - stayed through the whole process. Along the way, other volunteers joined the UK Committee – including Anna Foden, Alex Miller and Maria Loring.
As planning progressed, a common theme of ‘Transformations’ across the main focus areas emerged. Whether it was the realisation of a masterplan, the design-led development of a campus, the energising of public spaces, the reconfiguration of an unfinished tower, the refurbishment of a listed building – the projects to be highlighted were all led by dedicated architects who had successfully transformed the built environment.
With the inclusion of the AIA International representatives – Scott Gold, Yew Kew Cheong, Jose Salinas, and Christine Bruckner (for the Int’l Design Awards) - planning started to accelerate. Insurance was acquired, financial commitments were made, a not-to-exceed budget and agreements were documented and made official.
Hopes were raised for a venue at the unfinished Battersea Power Station, but even a partially finished room could not be secured. Instead, the Sunday programme focused on the City of London. A venue at 22 Bishopsgate – the tallest building in the City of London and designed by an AIA UK member - was secured and multiple speakers arranged - hence, Sunday became ‘Colour & the City & Beyond’.
In the meantime, AIA I asked if there would be an extension day for those staying longer in London, so a walking tour was agreed – hence, Monday became ‘9 Elms to Battersea’.
Please find HERE a link to the final Conference Program and HERE a link to Speaker CVs. Links to videos of some Conference talks can now be reached via the Program, and more will be added as they become available. Quizzes will also be added so all AIA Members can earn on-demand CES credits by watching the recorded lectures. Watch out for an independent notice when these changes are complete.
Several Part 1 volunteer architecture students – mainly from University College London – were brought on board via contacts from AIA I to assist with administration and daily attendee queries. Fatim Kamara and Bertha Ho, joined on Opening Day, while Ho – who helped coordinate the volunteers – assisted for 3 days. Sidre Sulevam and Tolu Bewaji Oyesanya, joined for one day each.
At the last minute, an attendee wide WhatsApp Group provided an easy way to communicate. It became particularly useful for those getting lost or having trouble finding obscure venues or needing transportation advice.
By late September, it was all coming together, and all was ready for the Opening Day…
