Architect lets the train take the strain

Oct 17 2007 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

BELINDA IRLAM-MOWBRAY is the director of the Royal Institute of British Architects North West. She heads a team that represents just over 2,000 members in 550 architectural practices in the region, promoting the benefits of good design to as wide an audience as possible.

She has been in the role for five years and was responsible for bringing the regional office to Liverpool in 2004. RIBA North West is based in the Tea Factory in Wood Street.

6am I need to be up early to get things ready for the boys before they go to school and to see to the horse, my third baby. Quick coffee with my husband before heading out.

7.15am I made a conscious decision at the beginning of the year to reduce my carbon footprint, not sure how I’m doing but I do use the train rather than the car to get to the office. The Crewe to Liverpool line is a lot less stressful than the M62 and Edge Lane.

8.15am Arrive at the Tea Factory. Our co-location with organisations including the Arts Council and Liverpool Biennial has been a great success. Can’t believe we have been based in the city for three years now. Numerous emails to deal with, everyone expects an immediate response.

9am The morning is given to meetings with colleagues to progress several initiatives we are currently involved in. Brief meeting with the Places Matter! team, a project we are working on with the regional centre of excellence, RENEW NorthWest. It includes a regional design review panel, established to look at schemes that will have a major impact on their immediate surroundings. This meeting is to discuss the next panel get-together in East Lancashire in September.

11.30am Take a telephone call from a member of the public interested in converting their Georgian terrace into three flats. We are able to offer them a free, confidential advice service providing a bespoke list of architects with experience/ interest in that sector.

12pm A member calls seeking advice on Part L of the Building Regulations. Able to offer some general advice, and inform her of a forthcoming seminar we are running on the topic.

1.15pm Lunch with Liverpool John Moores University and the RIBA Trust to firm up plans for the Le Corbusier exhibition taking place at the Crypt, Metropolitan Cathedral during October, 2008. The exhibition is part of the Capital of Culture programme.

2.45pm Back to the office to deal with messages before meeting with one of team to discuss the RENEW Rooms. The space is based on Wood Street and includes a gallery and bookshop. We are working on our ongoing programme of lectures and need to agree the exhibition schedule from August through to December. Particularly excited about Liverpool University bringing in an exhibition on architecture in Southern Spain during September and October.

4.00pm Take a call from BBC Radio Merseyside. Planning permission has been granted to an important development site on the edge of the city, and they are looking for a comment from the RIBA.

4.30pm Finalise the location schedule for Architruck, our peripatetic exhibition unit. It is off to the Wirral in the morning to participate in an education programme. Need to ensure the driver knows where he is going.

5pm Answer a range of emails before trying to meet the train. If I miss this one, it is a two-hour wait for the next.

6.45pm Boys fed, time to sit down and start the homework. Will check emails before I go to bed. In London in the morning, early start, so won’t be late to bed.