Approved: 17.11.2011

Henry Amos

Artist, Maker, Researcher

Approved: 17.11.2011

Molten Architecture Henry Amos is an architect who has put glass right at the centre of his practice because he recognises this enormous potential and how its particular characteristics can be used to inspire a more dynamic and open architecture. [] What is distinctive about Amos' approach is the emphasis he places on glass as a metaphor in architecture that as he states 'lets the audience

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    Artist Statement

    Molten Architecture Henry Amos is an architect who has put glass right at the centre of his practice because he recognises this enormous potential and how its particular characteristics can be used to inspire a more dynamic and open architecture. [] What is distinctive about Amos' approach is the emphasis he places on glass as a metaphor in architecture that as he states 'lets the audience imaginatively inhabit the structure of the world around them'. When in 'Metro-Morphosis' he suspended 28 metres of glass from the ceiling of a pedestrian bridge with fine nylon thread he wanted the audience to share his vision of transparency that would challenge the familiar solidity of architecture. As the public walk across the bridge it comes alive with sound and light rippling across its surface inviting the viewer to ponder where they were going, where they came from and highlighting as Amos suggests 'somewhere in the space between'. This is work that tries to identify what the language of glass in architecture could be in the future, often using glass with a combination of the latest technologies. It includes processes of public and audience engagement in all stages in the development of a project in a refreshing spirit of open ended investigation, research and experiment. Prior to the construction of Metro-Morphosis Amos had already developed and tested the idea in an innovative process open to people he called 'interact' where the Globe Gallery became a kind of open studio for the development of ideas through hands on creative projects with an invited public. (Part of larger review by Gary Power - University of Newcastle for Bound Publication)

    CV & Education

    Public commissions

    2020 Opening Glass Gallery on the Fish Quay

    2019 HOD Public Tours with Glass House

    2018 Set up Creative Hub on Fish Quay with others

    2018 HODs and Walk and Tours about cutting edge creativity now in historic context

    2016 ongoing Art Architecture Research Exploration - Active Haus Fish Quay: Scheduled Monument

    2015 Leading Lights Old Low Light: Listed Grade 2: 3D printed translucent inter-active installation

    2014 Windscreen Tessellation - Experiments for surface covering with recycled wind shields

    2013 Blast Blocks Cullercoats – Low environmental impact, re-use installation in an historic harbour

    2012 /15 / 16 Alaistar Pilkington Award for Innovation Society of Glass Technologists

    2012 Window Farms Newcastle University Culture Lab Onsite – experimental temporary installation.

    2012 Screen II Competition - Worshipful Company of Glaziers Winner - Special Award

    2009 Foucault's Pendulum Kesteven and Sleaford High School – inter-active 7m pendulum

    2008 Holey Moley Sacriston Health Centre interventions – direct wall installation in a new build surgery

    2006 – 2008 Future Platforms Tynemouth Metro Station Listed Grade 2* – temporary installations

    2006 Cut Glass IV Dublin Botanic Gardens: Award Winner – Excellence in Large Scale Sculpture

    2005 Imagining Aurora Science Learning Centre, Durham – solar and magnetic EMF research

    2005 Inter-Section Tynemouth Station – time related public intervention on the platform

    2005 Talking Posts Blyth Valley - Audio now in the National Sound Archives

    2002 Touching the Void – Solo Show Tyneside Cinema – multi-media inter-active installation

     

    Permanent Commissions

    2018/9 S.Light (working title) Royal Quays Marina - Window integrated shaped stacked recycled glass

    2016/7 Quake Hauxley Nature Discovery Centre 6No. Door Side Panels

    2011 Rise Cullercoats - Wall integrated shaped stacked recycled glass

    2010 Baroque Bird Box Hospital; Roseberry Park, Teeside

    2010 Sightlines 4 Acre Sensory Trail, Carlisle Park, Morpeth – Start point William Turner's 'New Herball'

    2009 Synapse Tanfield Lea – 30m long, 6 m high kinetic tension atrium piece

    2009 F.LIGHT II Baltic Campus – Courtyard Work as a foil to the interior work,

    2009 F.LIGHT Baltic Campus – 15m interactive work introducing interactive daylight into an atrium

    2003 The Odd Pod – Akenside, Newcastle – 1 Tonne structural glass and wood sleeping pod

    2002 Fissure; Slide Light – Cullercoats – Integrated kiln formed glass, slide images, lighting.

     

    Collaborations / Group Shows

    2009 20/20 Time Flies Market Towns Visioning Project with Commissions North

    2005 Cut Glass III Waterperry Gardens / Art in Action

    2005 Fracture National Glass Centre – Fracturing integrated into walls and glazing systems

    2004 Vetrospective Phantasm The Biscuit Factory

    2004 Ever Changing Light Touring Exhibition Tensegrity Upton House Oxfordshire

    2004 Collaboration with Matt Hearn Locus+ Northern Architecture

    2004 Glass Alfresco Cut Glass l + II Crook Hall Co Durham & Hutton Forest Integrated land installation.

    2004 Shaping Light Glass & Architecture Tea Building London Video Installation

    2004 Inter-change Architecture Week Tynemouth Station Micro Cinema installation

    2003/4 METRO-MORPHOSIS The Bridge Gallery Tynemouth – 25m long multi-element suspended bridge

    2003 INTER-ACT Solo Exhibition The Globe Gallery North Shields

    2003 Ever Changing Light :Trace I, II Crook Hall Co Durham – Ground integrated fracture.

    2002 Collaboration with David Arnold Water Tree Early Years Excellence Centre, Hadston

    2000/1 Collaboration with Francis Gomilla – BALTIC Artist in Residence – Millennium Chicken

     

    Awards

    Winner – Excellence in Large Scale Sculpture - Cut Glass IV Dublin Botanic Gardens:
    NATIONAL WINNER SUSTAINABLE AWARD 2019 - GAGA AWARDS
    RICS NATIONAL AWARD 2018 - COMMUNITY BENEFIT - RUNNER UP
    GREEN APPLE AWARD - SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION - 2018
    RIBA NORTH EAST AWARD WINNER 2018;
    RIBA NORTH EAST SUSTAINABILITY AWARD WINNER 2018; 
    RIBA NORTH EAST CLIENT OF THE YEAR 2018 for Northumberland Wildlife Trust
    RICS NORTH EAST AWARD 2018 WINNER - COMMUNITY BENEFIT
    LABC NORTHERN AWARD 2018 WINNER - BEST PUBLIC SERVICE BUILDING

     

    Research Papers / Teaching / Tutoring:

    Presentation Paper: Innovative Glass in Buildings – SGT 100 Anniversary International Conference 2016

    Presentations and seminars: Thinking through Making – 'LIGHT' 2016 Newcastle University

    Presentations and seminars: TechFest - 'Glass' Newcastle University 2015

    Invited Speaker: Landscape Institute North East – Edible Architecture 2015

    Invited Speaker: Pecha Kucha – Edible Cities presentation: 2014

    Invited Speaker: INHABIT Edge Artists Symposium : 2012

    Invited Speaker: Decoration or Integration Sunderland University: CGS / ESG Glass Conference 2009

    Invited Speaker: Cafe Culture Chaired by PEALS, Science Learning Centre, Durham - Imagining Aurora

    Research Presentation to Contemporary Glass Society: 2009

    Research presentation to Society of Glass Technology: Local Section: 2008

    Visiting Tutor: University of Northumbria - Yr 1; University of Sunderland - CAD Tuition in Art's Practice; University of Newcastle - Year Three Final Design; South Bank University - Year Two Design Tutor

     

    Non-Executive and Advisory Roles

    2014 – 2015 Mentor – HsED – My team Overall Winner

    2002 – 2019 FISH Consultation Group

    2002 – 2013 Heritage Consultation Group Fish Quay North Shields

    2010 – 2011 National Glass Centre – Arts Advisory Committee

    2004 – 2007 Trustee & Chairman – Scotswood Permaculture Garden

     

    Work Related Learning / Research / Inter-disciplinary Activity

    Architect Led Design & Build for a new very low impact Visitors Centre at Hauxley Nature Reserve

    Architect : Brinkburn: new ecologically based tourist destination. 2 No. Awards : integrated renewables; Zero Carbon (Net) Building

    Architect Led Design & Build for a mixed use sustainable building in an Ancient Scheduled Monument

     

    Professional Qualifications:

    RIBA Registered Architect in Registered Practice

    Registered with the Architects Registration Board

    Association of Environment Conscious Building (AECB) Member for 18 years

     

    Academic Qualifications and Training:

    RIBA Conservation Courses – 4 Day and 2 Day Advanced – 2012; 2016. ICOMOS Guidelines

    MA Glass : Distinction – 2009

    Permaculture course (1-year part time) at John Marley Centre, Scotswood, Newcastle upon Tyne 2003

    Bachelor of Architecture Honours: Dip. Architectural Management

    BA Architecture and Environmental Design Honours

    Hot Glass Courses: National Glass Centre: Hot glass and blowing techniques; Borosilicate Courses