Henry Amos
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)
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