North Wales Society of Architects explained

North Wales Society of Architects
Size:220px
Abbreviation:NWSA
Formation:1928
Type:Professional body
Leader Title:President
Leader Name:David Hughes
Leader Title2:Past-President
Leader Title3:Hon. Secretary
Leader Name3:Derwyn Owen
Leader Title4:Hon. Treasurer
Leader Name4:Andrew Kelly
Main Organ:NWSA Council
Region Served:North Wales
Affiliations:RSAW, RIBA

The North Wales Society of Architects (NWSA; Welsh: Cymdeithas Penseiri Gogledd Cymru; formerly the North Wales Architectural Society) is one of four branches of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW).[1] [2] It was established in 1928 as an independent organisation, becoming a branch of the newly formed Society of Architects in Wales (as the RSAW was initially styled) in 1970 upon the restructuring of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

The Society champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and its members. As of 2014 it represented over 120 chartered architects in the region.

The RSAW is the Wales region of the RIBA. RSAW was granted Royal status by the Privy Council in 1994. The society are also members of the Architects Benevolent Society and provide advice for members in the North Wales area.[3]

Events & publications

The Society is noted as being a particularly active branch of the RIBA and organises an annual series of well-attended building visits and lectures, usually held from early autumn through to late spring.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] In line with NWSA's ethos of promoting architecture to a wider audience, these events are open to non-members and all with an interest in design and architecture.[9]

Visits have included the 2014 Stirling Prize-winning Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, Copper Kingdom, Amlwch, recipient of the RSAW Building of the Year 2014 and Cefn Castell, Criccieth, RSAW Small Project of the Year, 2015.

The society has previously jointly produced the journal, Architecture Wales, with their South Wales counterpart,[10] [11] [12] and as the Chester & North Wales Architectural Society.[13]

Governance

The Society is governed by its elected Council. Councillors are elected for a three-year term at the Society's Annual General Meetings and can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. Council meets every two months and is led by the Society's President, who serves a maximum two-year term. There is no maximum term for the Society's Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer offices.

Design Consultation

NWSA offers a design review panel to provide impartial expert advice on the quality of designs submitted to local authority Planning Departments across North Wales.[14] [15]

Regalia

The Society's Presidential Chain of Office was designed in 1954 by Fattorini and Sons of Birmingham of hallmarked sterling silver finished in polished hard gold plate and vitreous enamelled in three colours. Between 1961 and 1994 the Society presented a Past President Medal, similarly designed and produced by Fattorini. This custom was reinstated in 2017.

Presidents

As of February 2024, the Society has been served by 46 presidents in its 96-year history, amongst them many celebrated luminaries of the profession.

Whilst there are inconsistencies in the years in office quoted below, due to Annual General Meetings being held at various times throughout the year, with the exception of the Second World War Presidents have served a single fixed two-year term.

Current President David G Hughes is the first two-time holder of the office.

For consistency and in the interests of historical accuracy, the dates shown are therefore taken directly from the Chain of Office.

Honorary Secretaries

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Honorary Treasurers

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Royal Society of Architects in Wales. RIBA. 5 June 2021.
  2. Web site: NORTH WALES SOCIETY OF Architects Charity number: 254039. Charities Commission. 5 June 2021.
  3. Book: ARCHITECTS BENEVOLENT SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2012. Architects Benevolent Society. 2012.
  4. Web site: THE NORTH WALES SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS SUMMER LECTURE. BFF Architects. 20 June 2012.
  5. Diary. Architects Journal. 12 February 2004.
  6. Web site: LECTURE · NWSA CYMDEITHAS PENSEIRI GOGLEDD CYMRU NORTH WALES SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS 2007. Dokumen. June 5, 2021.
  7. Web site: Dartmouth Park Pavilion Lecture. B P N Architects. 27 May 2009.
  8. RIBA Journal. 100. 14. 1993.
  9. Book: Sessional Papers. Volume 16. H. M. Stationery Office. 70. 1970.
  10. Book: Advice to inform post-war listing in Wales. Report for Cadw. Edward Holland and Julian Holder. 23. Holland Heritage. March 2019.
  11. Book: New Serial Titles. Volume 1. Library of Congress. 214. 1966.
  12. Book: Stephens, M.. The Arts in Wales, 1950-75. Welsh Arts Council. 1979.
  13. The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, Volume 11, Issue 2, October 1960, pp. 186 - 201 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022046900066781 (Burne, R. V. H., 'Chester Cathedral in the Reigns of Mary and Elizabeth', Journal of Chester and North Wales Architectural Society, XXXVIII (1951), 41–94.). 11 . 10.1017/S0022046900066781. 162049307 .
  14. Web site: Pumping Station. Historic England. 5 June 2021.
  15. Book: The Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).: House of Lords official report. Volume 327. 709. 1972.
  16. Book: Hale, R. Architecture. 103. 1964.