The Dublin-based architectural firm Hassett-Ducatez has been selected for inclusion in the prestigious New Trends of Architecture in Europe and Asia-Pacific Exhibition which will tour to Cork in 2005 as part the city's architecture programme as European Capital of Culture.

The work of the award-winning Irish firm will be presented alongside that of 9 other leading European architects and 10 from countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Hassett-Ducatez was selected by the project's European commissioner Mr Dominique Perrault in cooperation with Mr Aaron Betsky, Director of the Netherlands Artchitectural Institute and advisor to New Trends.

The Exhibition, the first New Trends Exhibition under a reorganized biannual system and extended to the entire Asia-Pacific region, will commence this October in Lille as part Lille's celebrations as European City of Culture and tour to Hong Kong and Toyko before it opens in Cork's Crawford Municipal Art Gallery as part of Cork 2005 in June next year. It will then travel to Melbourne before closing in Pusan in Korea in the autumn of 2005.

Highlighting the significance of the selection of Hassett-Ducatez for the Exhibition, Mary McCarthy, Director of Programming for Cork 2005 commented: "This is the largest and single most significant exhibition of contemporary architecture touring the world, and its presence in Cork next year is an important part of our architecture programme. New Trends of Architecture has never come to Ireland before and the exhibition's presence in Cork will open the cutting edge of architecture up to a whole new audience."

Mary McCarthy also highlighted the importance of Cork's inclusion in the Exhibition's touring schedule: "We are delighted that an Irish firm is included in the New Trends in Architecture exhibition and that an Irish firm takes its place with the finest of contemporary young international firms. It is testimony to Irish architecture and in particular to Hassett-Ducatez that the firm was selected."

Responding to the selection of Hassett-Ducatez, Grainne Hassett stated: "The development of a meaningful international dimension and exchange for our work could be hugely significant should it arise from this exhibition."

In addition to the New Trends Exhibition, Cork 2005 will host the prestigious architectural pavilion, Eighteen Turns by internationally renowned Daniel Libeskind. Daniel Libeskind will also present a lecture in Cork during 2005.

New Trends of Architecture Touring Schedule
Lille, France 9 October - 7 November 7 2004 (Lille 2004)
Hong Kong, China 5 - 19 January 2005
Tokyo, Japan 22 April - 22 May 2005
Cork, Ireland June - July 2005 (Cork 2005)
Melbourne, Australia July - August 2005
Pusan, Korea Autumn 2005 (Pusan International Architiecture Festival 2004 - 2005)