In Middle Quarter, architect John Tuomey continues the story of his life in architecture. The narrative moves from intimate laments on the loss of aging parents and artist friends to reflections on the poetical and practical aspects of an architect’s role in contemporary society.The focus shifts back and forth between personal episodes and recollected events, from the struggles of starting out in partnership with Sheila O’Donnell to their successes and failures in the international arena of architectural design.Written in clear and compact prose, including conceptual sketches and selected photographs, the book discloses sources of inspiration and ideas behind O’Donnell + Tuomey’s distinctive and dramatic designs, including the Glucksman Gallery Cork, the Lyric Theatre Belfast and public buildings in London and Budapest.Middle Quarter, a mid-career memoir, is a companion volume to First Quarter, the place-based trajectory of Tuomey’s first twenty-five years, published by Lilliput Press in 2023.
