Why aren't there more architects on TV? TV Channels can do more to engage us.......

There seems to be a problem with the lack of architects and architecture on TV but when we do get there it is a good thing. As an architect I have been part of three primetime TV shows over the past ten years. The main reason I do it is to break down the barriers between architects and the public and make architecture and design more accessible and fun - without dumbing it down. People have a short attention span watching TV, but some architects have great communication skills and know how to speak in simple terms to engage and inform the public on good design.

We have had fantastic feedback particularly from our recent TV show

“Designing Ireland” which is a 4 part TV documentary that Dr Sandra O Connell and I both wrote and presented for RTE, made by Newgrange Pictures, based on our ideas and format. It was broadcast on RTE several times over past 3 years and in Australia and New Zealand with a great response, giving a better understanding of Irish Architecture and design. We have been trying to get it on air in UK, but they are not interested - which is surprising. A few years ago I worked on "The Home Show" with George Clarke making a 6 part series and I was the architect seeking out international design style in Copenhagen, Marrakech, Venice, Paris, Bavaria and Palma. It was a popular TV series and fun to research and present.

I also made the ITV x 62 part "Building the Dream" where at BMA we designed an eco home in Somerset, to be built in 14 weeks with 14 couples as the contestants. The last couple - not voted off - won the 500K home - the largest prize in TV at the time. This was a big risk for me working on a reality TV show as you never know how its going to work out. Luckily it worked very well and was shown internationally for years. https://bradymallalieu.com/project/whitam-friary/  

TV is a great media for getting our message across about quality design in architecture interiors and urban design. I would like to see more public debates on architecture so we can listen to peoples views and also give people a better understanding on how we work, how we design and how they can help the process and be involved in their own neighbourhood town or city.

 There is a real opportunity for more architects on TV particularly in environmental awareness. We are working on this - but these days when TV channels are short of funding - we need to bring a sponsor with us to get it made.

The Architects Journal have an article about this by Richard Waite @Waitey 26/09/2019 This was my response to AJ online.

MORE ON DESIGNING IRELAND

Designing Ireland

RTE Landmark TV Series (4 x 50 minutes)

A visually rich journey with a powerful story to the heart of 

Ireland’s best Architecture, Craft and Design 

Produced by Newgrange Pictures

Written and Presented by Angela Brady and Sandra O’Connell

Designing Ireland is a four-part RTE television series that takes the viewers on a visually rich journey with a powerful story through Ireland’s vibrant design culture. Architect Angela Brady and design writer Sandra O’Connell discover some of Ireland’s most talented architects, craft makers and designers, revealing award-winning buildings and well-designed spaces, and finding beautiful craft items and ingenious every-day design objects. Designing Ireland explores the core questions – is there such a thing as the Irish design style? Is it rooted in our history, culture or landscape? Who are its creators? And does it connect with the people of Ireland and the world beyond? 

Design affects every part of our lives – from the clothes we wear to the objects we use, the spaces we inhabit and the built environment that surrounds us. In our opening programme we explored how design helped define our national identity and how we sought inspiration in our ancient Irish Culture and rural heritage. In Programme 2 we showed how – as an island on the edge of Europe – we were always open to outside influence, and how this influence became absorbed in the evolution of our own indigenous design style. In Programme 3 we continued our quest for a distinctive Irish design style and looked at how our architects, designers and makers draw inspiration from our natural landscape and raw materials to make wooden handcrafted furniture, stone carvings, stained glass panels and beautifully crafted buildings. We took an in-depth look at six Irish materials – Stone, Wood, Metal, Glass, Clay and Wool – to create bespoke crafted pieces and showed how our craftspeople have used them in innovative ways. In Programme 4 we looked at design thinking and how our every day lives are affected by good design.