Now in its 14th year, Waterford Festival of Architecture (WFA) takes place 13 to 18 October. WFA works to enhance the understanding and appreciation of our built environment in the wider community. This year WFA have partnered with ID2015, Waterford City and County Council and Dept. of Architecture WIT.

The theme of this year’s festival is Origins and will encourage the public to engage with the city and catchment area on a more intimate level, with visits to houses, public buildings, lectures, events, tours and walks, all the while exploring different aspects will the theme in the city and county.

It looks like a great week. There are talks and interviews by various practitioners, including James Howley, Conservation Architect, who will give a presentation on Pevsner Architectural Guides and the potential for a Waterford/Tipperary version of same. Michael Kelly Grow It Yourself (GIY), and Mike Haslam, Solearth Architecture, will give a presentation on the new GIY headquarters in Ardkeen.

This year the WFA will have a new event: Behind Closed Doors. This gives people a chance to visit properties which would not be normally open to the public. Locations will include recently completed examples of contemporary design and also some historic buildings.

Full details of all events and locations are available at www.wfa.ie