Monday 21 September 2009

Gormley launches Open House 2009

Speaking at the launch of Open House Dublin and Galway 2009, Mr. John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, encouraged citizens to avail of the unique opportunity it provides to visit a wide range of buildings of architectural merit.

The Minister highlighted the fact that Galway is the first location outside Dublin to host the event and that this is a significant development with further potential in the coming years.

Minister Gormley referred to the imminent publication of the Government Policy on Architecture 2009-2015. When launched in October, the Policy will have a strong emphasis on sustainable development of the environment and good design. “The Policy is supportive of the incorporation of our architectural heritage in a holistic and integrated manner” - the Minister said.

“Since the idea of Open House was conceived 16 years ago in London by founder Victoria Thornton, the idea of opening buildings of architectural quality to the public and providing them with an educational and enjoyable experience has grown ever more popular with both the property owners and the public alike” - said Minister Gormley.

The Minister added - “Whether it is through designing the next generation of sustainable buildings or developing expert retrofit solutions - architects are constantly engaged in creative problem solving and Open House showcases their innovation.”

Open House Dublin runs from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th October and Open House Galway 2009 from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th October.

All Open House Dublin and Galway events are free of charge and only a small number require pre-booking.

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