Leading international architect Keith Williams is in York later this week to launch the York Design Awards 2013.
Keith, who also headed the team choosing the winners of the Guildhall design competition, will talk about the need for excellence in architecture and how old cities must embrace new design rather than simple ape the styles of the past.
His own multi-award-winning international architectural practice, based in London, was founded in 2001 and reflects his own principles. He says: “Great design combines both intelligent strategy and precise detail to create the most dynamic outcome. In architecture there is a part that is created through intuition and the senses and a part that is made from analysis and reason. The union of the two is at the heart of great architecture.
He will present his ideas to an invited audience at The Bar Convent on Thursday 31st January, when he will also launch the call for entries for the 7th annual York Design Awards.
Says Janet Hopton, who heads the York Design Awards steering group: “Despite the tough economic conditions there is some great work going on in the city and we are hoping for a good response to the 2013 awards programme. Like Keith Williams, we believe that good design plays a significant role in keeping York special and we have been delighted by the way that those involved in delivering new buildings and preserving old ones have embraced the awards scheme.”
Since the launch of the awards in 2007, there have been over 200 entries with a total of 55 receiving awards from the judging panel.
The awards are sponsored by local businesses and organisations including S Harrison Developments Ltd, York Civic Trust, City of York Council, York Archaeological Trust and the York Guild of Building. This year the former chief conservation architect for English Heritage, David Heath has joined the independent judging panel.
