Rowan Moore on Millennial Architects, Biennials, and the State of Criticism
Rowan Moore, the architecture critic for The Observer and the 2014 UK Press Awards Critic of the Year, spoke at the British School at Rome during the "Brave New World" initiative, curated by Marina Engel. This 18-month program showcased emerging British architects, including Assemble, Finn Williams, and Adam Nathaniel Furman. While Moore acknowledged the social awareness of millennial architects, he pointed out their limited influence. He commended collaborative efforts, particularly muf architecture/art's collective work since the 1990s. Although he expressed skepticism about biennials in Oslo, Sharjah, Lisbon, and Seoul, he appreciated the Dulwich Picture Gallery pavilion by Pricegore and Yinka Ilori. Moore criticized the RIBA Stirling Prize for its sustainability focus and highlighted the decline of print critics, praising new voices on social media.
Key facts
- Rowan Moore is architecture critic for The Observer and won Critic of the Year at UK Press Awards 2014.
- The interview took place at the British School at Rome during the closing event of 'Brave New World. New Visions in Architecture' curated by Marina Engel.
- The program featured emerging British architects including Assemble, Finn Williams, and Adam Nathaniel Furman.
- Moore stated millennial architects have stronger social consciousness than any emerging generation in the last 40 years.
- He praised collaborative practices like Assemble, Interrobang, Orizzontale, and muf architecture/art.
- Moore expressed skepticism about the proliferation of biennials, calling them platforms for discussion rather than action.
- He favored the Dulwich Picture Gallery pavilion by Pricegore with Yinka Ilori for its playful, economical design.
- Moore criticized the superficial application of sustainability regulations, highlighting the neglect of embodied energy.
- He advocated for awarding architectural approaches rather than projects, citing Cork House as an example.
- Moore noted a decline in print critics but praised new voices like Owen Hatherley and Douglas Murphy on social media.
- He published a monograph on punk painter Jock McFadyen, exploring the connection between technique and subject matter.
Entities
Artists
- Rowan Moore
- Marina Engel
- Assemble
- Finn Williams
- Adam Nathaniel Furman
- Interrobang
- Orizzontale
- muf architecture/art
- Maria Smith
- Phin Harper
- Matthew Dalziel
- Cecilie Sachs Olsen
- Pricegore
- Yinka Ilori
- Owen Hatherley
- Douglas Murphy
- Jock McFadyen
- John Soane
- Richard Hamilton
Institutions
- The Observer
- UK Press Awards
- British School at Rome
- Brave New World. New Visions in Architecture
- ICA
- AA
- Triennale di Oslo
- Serpentine Pavilion
- Dulwich Picture Gallery
- RIBA Stirling Prize
- Cork House
- Guardian
- Royal Academy of Arts
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- London
- United Kingdom
- Oslo
- Norway
- Sharjah
- United Arab Emirates
- Lisbon
- Portugal
- Seoul
- South Korea