Is there a building on the Island that holds special memories for you?  Is there a building you particularly like or admire?  The Isle of Architecture is looking for your help to build up an archive under the umbrella #ilovethisbuilding.
 
Earlier this year, Manx National Heritage, Culture Vannin, and the Society of Architects launched Isle of Architecture to raise awareness of the value of the Island’s rich built environment.   And now they’re encouraging everyone on the Isle of Man to get involved in #ilovethisbuilding by sharing a photograph or a video of their favourite building, explaining why it’s important to them.
 
It doesn’t need to have any special architectural merit, it just have to mean something to you.  Already involved are historian Charles Guard, son of a hotelier, who’s uploaded a video of the place he grew up, the Hydro Hotel, and musician Jeff Jepson who has chosen the Baillie Scott designed Onchan Parish Hall where he recent played because ‘it’s beautiful, inside and out’. Architect Martyn Thomas has a special reason for choosing ‘The Nook’:  it’s where he bought sweets when he was a child.
 
Funding for the year-long Isle of Architecture initiative has come from Culture Vannin and the Trustees of Manx National Heritage, and both organisations are keen to encourage people to take a greater interest in the built environment.
 
“Whether it’s the buildings we live and work in, or the buildings that make up our surroundings, the built environment plays such an important role in creating a sense of place,” says Dr Catriona Mackie, a Trustee of Manx National Heritage. “Through Isle of Architecture we want people to reflect on what’s important to them. #ilovethisbuilding is a great way of starting the conversation, and it’s so easy to get involved.
 
“No building is too old or too new, too large or too small,” continues Dr Mackie, “it just has to be important to you.  It might be your house or your school, your local pub or church or even the place where you met your future husband or wife.  If it’s important to you, it’s important to Isle of Architecture.”
 
And anyone, of any age, can join in this important conversation about the Island’s built environment.  All you have to do is visit www.facebook.com/isleofarchitecture  and like the page, upload your image or video with the hashtag #ilovethisbuilding and write a short post saying why you’ve chosen it.  And if you don’t use Facebook, then all you can send your contribution via email to isleofarchitecture@gmail.com. 
 
Isle of Architecture is active across social media, and as well as liking the Facebook page you can also follow @isleofarch on twitter, or @isleofarchitecture on Instagram.  The website is www.isleofarchitecture.com.
 
Photo -  Martyn Thomas at ‘The Nook’.