After the successful spring lecture series and the enjoyment of the few sunny summer days, we continue to revisit the home as a place to live and not just to be dressed up like a dolly! Our autumn lecture series will focus on revaluing the house as a home and not just a piece of "real estate."

In the current climate where the slogan "Improve Rather Than Move" is gaining popularity, home-owners and homemakers are facing the challenge of how best to utilise and add value to their living space. This short course of lectures will assist you in better understanding the needs related to the use of space and in developing your own brief for realistic home improvement. As a family grows up and on its needs change, so too should a house respond to these changing circumstances.

The course will develop the appreciation of interior architecture and design as a process and will also give you confidence in formulating the design requirements and discussing them with specialists who might be engaged. As part of the series, we shall get an insight into latest thinking on kitchen, bathroom, lighting and flooring supplies from the invited specialists.

The format is informal, encouraging the course participants to engage with the presenter and drawing on your circumstances to elaborate the different themes of the lectures.

Within the confines and possibilities of a given architectural layout this lecture will analyse the relationship between the allocated use of space and the "interior." It will show how the internal organization of space evolves and how it relates to lifestyle, technology and trends. It will also cover the notions like "First impressions," "Inside-Out approach" and the ghastly influence of TV Home makeovers.

This lecture will discuss development of house layouts in the Irish urban and sub-urban context and internationally; Vernacular versus Cosmopolitan; What can we learn from others? How do our needs change in time?

This lecture will discuss typical house layouts in the Irish urban and sub-urban context and how we adapt space to our current needs. It will address the steps which need to be considered in deciding when and how to de-clutter, modify, renovate or extend. The details of the existing architectural context of the building, external open space, energy efficiency, orientation, natural daylight and sunlight will also be discussed, in relation to re-organising the interior of the home.

This session will discuss different internal zones within the home and how they respond to personal/shared/family use. It will look into how circulation space, storage, services and utility all function together. It will discuss the "pros and cons" of transforming/ renovating versus adding/extending the house. The "best extension you never built" or clever intervention - somewhere in between might be the answer to any problem, real or imagined.

Having established an understanding of real needs this session will look into developing the interior space by maximising the given conditions. The fixed elements of space and reference will be made to choices of internal finishing materials, with guidelines for their sourcing and selection.

Apartment living is relatively new phenomena in the Irish urban space. This topic explores the imaginary dividing line between "flats" and "apartments" and discusses the aspects of modern apartment living and all the private and shared elements in it.

Either you are a Working Woman, Domestic Goddess or a Chef from Hell, the way you prepare and share your food is reflected in your Kitchen, its layout and equipment. This session will discuss contemporary kitchen designs and tips for improvement.              [This lecture will be conducted during the Design Week to include Open Shop evening]

This is the fun bit now that you have done your "home" work! In this session we will look into further developing the interior space by focusing on Furniture and soft furnishings. Functionality and comfort will be explored, together with guidelines for their sourcing, selection and budgeting.

In this session we will look into further developing the interior space by visualizing the end result. The different sanitary fittings, appliances and equipment will be discussed with guidelines for their sourcing, selection and budgeting.

What we need to know to enhance the interior space by artificial decorative and functional lighting. Intelligent homes, Beauty before Age and Energy with Aesthetics will be discussed.