Select language:
EN
News and Events

New exhibition of Peter Rice

Get in touch
Charlotte S Charlotte Fernández UKIMEA Press Office,Leeds
26 November 2012

Arup’s new exhibition - Traces of Peter Rice - celebrates one of the most influential structural engineers of the late 20th century.

On show at the Phase 2 gallery in London from 27 November to 5 April 2013, the exhibition marks 20 years since his death. It focuses on his contribution to five significant design projects including the Centre Pompidou and the Musée des Sciences et del’Industrie, Paris; the Menil Collection, Houston; the Full-Moon Theatre, Gourgoubès; and the proposal for the Groningen Museum in the Netherlands in collaboration with artist Frank Stella.

The exhibition will feature prototypes, maquettes, drawings, paintings, photography and a new documentary film. There are also references to Peter Rice’s love of poetry, his interests in horse racing and nature as well as personal photographs, which capture the spirit of the times.

“

The legacy left by Peter Rice continues to resonate throughout the built environment and stimulate contemporary designers. In addition to showcasing past design stories, we are delighted to be presenting a new work by Tristan Simmonds inspired by Peter Rice’s collaboration with Humbert Camerlo on the Full-Moon Theatre. ” Jennifer Greitschus Head of Exhibitions, Arup

In 1992 Peter Rice was awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the design of the built environment.

The documentary, produced by Arup, explores the life, career and legacy of Peter Rice and is currently being shown as part of the exhibition. The film is also available to view on Arup's website and on its YouTube channel.

“

It became very clear to me quite early on in the film-making process that Peter Rice's interest in philosophy, art and music was just as important as his analytical ability and his intuitive feel for structural design. This helped him to form some intense and very productive relationships with architects and clients. He was an amazing engineer who had a profound effect on the engineering profession. ” Ben Richardson

A book also entitled Traces of Peter Rice, will also be launched at the private viewing of the exhibition. A collaboration between Arup, Culture Ireland, the Centre Culturel Irlandais and the Ireland's Office of Public Works, it brings together contributions from family, friends, artists, scholars and colleagues from the worlds of engineering and architecture, including Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano, Andy Sedgwick and Sophie Le Bourva.
 
“

Whether adapting nature’s patterns to build flexible structures, or transforming our experience of the ecology of light, Peter Rice’s public spaces delight and surprise with their sensual mathematics. Through his innovative use of materials, especially glass and steel, Peter Rice pushed the boundaries of his discipline. ” Kevin Barry Editor of Traces of Peter Rice