NORD Architecture

YAYA 2006, Young Architect of the Year Award

In 2006 NORD Architecture won the prestigious Young Architect of the Year Award, the only practice outside London to have reached the final list. The YAYA award is organised by Building Design magazine to recognise and reward the UK and Ireland's most promising architectural practice with principals under the age of 40.

The judges said NORD has " ...a raw energy and a passionate commitment while its invention and ability to get things built is remarkable..."

THE OBSERVER HOT LIST 2007

Hot Architects

NORD
Adroit branding has played a part in making Glasgow's NORD (Northern Office for Research and Design) one of the most interesting new architectural practices in Britain. This year they won the Young Architects of the Year Award. Robin Lee, who with partner Alan Pert founded NORD in 2002, defines their approach as 'thoroughly researched and co-ordinated with the clients' requirements'.

Although Lee and Pert are rightly reluctant to be stigmatised as provincial, the unique character of Glasgow - in particular its gritty social mix and its terrible weather - provide a richly stimulating context for NORD's designs. Since the smoking ban, the social dynamic of the city has changed. To meet new needs, NORD proposes to create subversive Ground Source Heat Pumps: these are boreholes cycling a warmed mixture of water and anti-freeze to heated outdoor seating for groups of exiled smokers.

NORD also has lively proposals to redeploy Glasgow's 33 splendid but neglected Victorian public lavatories: some will become cafes, others will be 'steamies', demotic for laundries. Other projects include the restoration of the epochal Govanhill Baths.

NORD makes building designs which are elegant, appropriate, witty, responsible, optimistic and cost-effective. Exactly what good architecture should be.

Stephen Bayley, The Observer
Sunday December 31st 2006

NORD win New Headquarters for Wexford County Council Architectural Competition

Wexford County Council and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland announce that NORD have won the New Headquarters for Wexford County Council Architectural Competition.

www.riai.ie

NORD Dublin office opened in September 07

In September 2007 the Dublin office of NORD opened in Harcourt Street in the centre of the city. The office is represented by Robin Lee, Project Director for Wexford County Council Headquarters and Project Architect, Graeme McQuaker.