Horizons: American architect and winner of the 2005 Pritzker Architecture prize - at $100,000 (€81,430), this is architecture's equivalent of the Nobel Prize - Thom Mayne comes to Dublin next week to give a free public lecture.
The Pritzker jury said of his work: "Mayne's approach towards architecture and his philosophy is not derived from European modernism, Asian influences or even from American precedents of the last century. He has sought throughout his career to create an original architecture, one that is truly representative of the unique, somewhat ruthless culture of Southern California, especially the architecturally rich city of Los Angeles." His current projects include the Sun Tower in Seoul, South Korea and the Hypo Alpe-Adria Centre in Klagenfurt, Austria. Mayne is also professor of architecture at the University of California, Los Angeles, and founder of the Southern California Institute of Architecture. The lecture, organised by the Irish Architecture Foundation, will take place in the National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin on Tuesday at 7pm. Tickets available from tel: 01 4170000. See also www.pritzkerprize.com and www.lovingarchitecture.com
A date with the environment
Congratulations to the University of Limerick's environmental committee which has produced a 2006 desk calendar to raise awareness of environmental issues. Each month, messages remind staff and students of the simple things they can do - such as turning off unnecessary lighting and equipment, integrating sustainable issues into subject modules and car pooling - to protect and enhance the environment on campus and in the wider community. "The challenges posed by increased student numbers, increased waste quantities, more traffic and increased energy and water use must be addressed on an ongoing basis," says Tony Kay, lecturer at the department of mechanical and aeronautical engineering and chair of the UL environmental committee. See also www.ul.ie.
Blaze your own trail
Ordnance Survey Ireland has produced an interactive route-planning software tool which will be of benefit to hill-walkers, climbers, cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts. The DVD-based, PC-compatible mapping tool brings maps to life on screen and allows users to prepare their own personalised trails. Three of a total of six DVDs have been completed. One covers the east of Ireland and another the south. The third is an educational DVD to support the teaching of geography in secondary schools. Later this year, three more DVDs covering the west, the North and one for cruising the Shannon will be launched. See www.osi.ie.
Clean up your act
National Spring Clean, Ireland's largest anti-litter campaign, co-ordinated by An Taisce, begins next month. Community and environmental groups who want to get involved should contact the National Spring Clean hotline on tel: 01 4002220 or register an event online on www.nationalspringclean.org.
