Libeskind lectures Belfast

I attended a lecture by the renowned architect Daniel Libeskind to mark the launch of the University of Ulster Real Estate Initiative last night. Built environment is big business in Ireland and rapidly becoming a global enterprise for our top tier developers. The initiative is a public private partnership involving some of ireland’s leading property figures, the university of Ulster and Harvard University.

Libeskind was a musician before he decided to adopt architecture as a profession. The creator of so many iconic buildings in every continent he has more gongs then I have had birthdays. He had this message for Ireland. Development is a central proposition of humanity and buildings the the homes of human greatness. They only succeed in peace. Conflict restricts life and buildings need the elixir of humanity to succeed.

He also believes in simple value for money. Take the Imperial War Museum in Manchester, an amazing building built on a small budget. The impact is in the design not in the finish. The genius is in human intervention and creativity transforming a brown field site behind Old Trafford into a celebration of peace and a lesson to us all of the futility of war.

Born in post war Poland, he is your classic post conflict, post nationalist like so many Europeans of his generation. A rare breed on these shores, he builds for people. He believes in communities, shared space and urban freedom. Take a recent project in Beirne Switzerland which will bridge a huge motorway ring around the city with a wooden clad mixed development to incorporate a hotel, shopping centre, leisure centre and housing. The motorway connects Beirne with Germany and France but divides the city. He saw the opportunity to bridge the gap with amazing style creating a destination in nowhere. Imagine the Westlink bridged by such a project?

He talked about the new Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin and triple glazing with great design. Then ground zero. The day that changed his life and the project which above all will be his legacy. The hallowed sites  will remain, the footprint of the twin towers never to be built on again. They will be protected by a freedom tower 1776 feet tall and several other buildings. Yes there has been compromise in the design following extensive comnsultation in Manhattan but then compromise is central to democracy. That says Mr Libeskind is why he will never work for a totalitarian regime.

The lessons for us were clear. Be ambitious. Use regeneration to bring people together. Bridge divides and demand value for money and never forget buildings are expressions of liberal art. It was a pretty stimulating lecture. But is this city ready for such a liberal post nationalist built environment?