The Irish Times

Architecture in the 21st century will be more sensual, more pre-occupied with place, more radical and challenging, more environmentally sustainable and, above all, more fun. And as technological possibilities expand, architects will collaborate more with artists, software programmers and others in creating new work. These were the messages that came out of a wide-ranging symposium, New Trends of Architecture in Europe and Asia-Pacific, held at the weekend in Cork City Hall, which drew together architects from three continents to present their work under such esoteric headings as "Sensual Atmospheres" and "Fluctuating Scales". What was being discussed, of course, was high architecture, which is as far removed from the general standard of building as haute couture is from pret-a-porter in the fashion world; as if to underline this point, what is in my view one of the worst new buildings in Cork is currently being completed just across the River Lee from the venue.