First Quarter – John Tuomey
In this reflective memoir, architect John Tuomey traces the places, people and experiences that have shaped his life and work over a period of twenty-five years. First recognised for his role in the regeneration of Dublin's Temple Bar, including the Irish Film Institute, the National Photographic Archive and the Gallery of Photography, Tuomey has gone on to design a number of significant civic and cultural buildings, among them the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, the Glucksman Gallery at University College Cork, and the V&A East Museum in London.
Rich in references to poetry, drama and literature, and written with clarity and quiet lyricism, the book reveals the intellectual and cultural influences that informed Tuomey's development as an architect. From his childhood in Tralee and across rural and small-town Ireland, to his student years and activism at University College Dublin, he reflects on the experiences that shaped his understanding of architecture, society and place. Particularly evocative are his observations of Dublin in the 1980s, capturing the character of the city, its buildings and its social life during a period of profound change.
The memoir also follows Tuomey's travels and professional experiences beyond Ireland, from London to Nairobi and Milan, exploring the international perspectives that informed his architectural outlook. Alongside these journeys run the personal relationships that defined his life, including his partnership with fellow architecture student Sheila and his formative employment with James Stirling in 1976.
Part memoir, part architectural reflection, this volume offers a thoughtful account of a distinguished career while engaging with wider questions of memory, city-making and cultural identity. Tuomey's observations on the pressures facing contemporary urban life, and the gradual erosion of the social fabric of cities, provide valuable insights for architects, students and anyone interested in the future of the built environment.
Author: John Tuomey
Publisher: The Lilliput Press
Format: Paperback
Pages: 180
ISBN: 9781843518747
Publication date: October 2023