Interview
with Liam O’Connor
Liam O 'Connor is a registered architect in the United Kingdom and a member of the Royal institute of British Architects. He co - organised the Vision of Europe exhibition in Italy in 1992, has taught at the Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture and has been an adjunct Professor at the University of Notre Dame Indiana & Rome and was Special Advisor to the Secretary of State for the Environment on Architecture & Urban Design from 1994 to 1997.
He is perhaps most well known for his design of the Commonwealth Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill in London.
The Commonwealth Memorial Gates is a monumental project celebrating the contribution made by the peoples of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Caribbean to the two World Wars of the twentieth century. The design features Portland stone piers and a pavilion in the form of an Indian Chhatri; as well as cast bronze street lamps, urns, balustrades and bollards. The project has won a number of awards including the Stone Federation of Great Britain Stone Award.
Liam was born, raised, lives and works in London with his wife and daughter and is founder of the practice Liam O’Connor Architects and Planning Consultants.
Liam credits his wife Marie-France as the inspiration for many of his designs. They travel widely together and he draws on the countries that have visited and their experiences together for some of his ideas. In fact it was whilst on honeymoon that that Marie-France came up with the idea that he later developed for the Commonwealth Gates.
As an architect, Liam O'Connor is committed to excellence at all scales from urban design to high quality individual buildings and their detailing. His passion for architecture and design is clear for all to see through his sensitive approach to layout and the placement of the architecture within its environment.
At the Armed Forces Memorial, Liam has designed a series of inter-related and superimposed spaces including a striking landscape design that forms an integral part of the project as well as providing a context for the memorial itself, which sits at the heart of the composition. His design encompasses landscape, architecture, sculpture and calligraphy.
Liam feels a real sense of personal and professional responsibility for the Armed Forces Memorial and what it stands for. He has made a point of going out on exercise with the Army and the Navy and meeting soldiers who have suffered the loss of their friends and colleagues. Liam explains:
'I am desperately sad about the human conflict that necessitates the loss of human life. It is inevitable that more names will be added to the blank panels that will sit beside the 15,000 names that will be carved in stone on the memorial. With contemporaneous events colliding with history the Armed Forces Memorial truly will be a living tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.'
'Visiting the Armed Forces Memorial will be a profoundly moving personal journey for many people and this will be especially true for those who choose to take the spiral path or pilgrimage route up the mound to the memorial. By taking the time to leave the world behind them and take the ten minute walk along the slowly ascending spiral path and evergreen oak trees which lead to the top of the monument they will find a place of light and space and ultimately I hope peace.'
For further information about the work of Liam O'Connor visit his web site at www.liamoconnor.com.
