The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has announced the winners of the 2024 RIAI Architecture Awards. The Awards Jury selected 20 winners across 9 different categories, including Sustainability, Restoration and Repair, and Urban Design and Public Realm.
The RIAI Public Choice Award – where the Irish public select their favourite building or public space – was previously announced this morning by RIAI President, Sean Mahon.
The Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan came first in the category, winning the overall award with Castleblayney Library and Market Square Regeneration coming in second, followed by Kinsale Library in third.
The RIAI announced 20 winners across 9 categories:
RIAI President, Sean Mahon FRIAI, said: “I want to extend my warmest congratulations to the award winners and those who were shortlisted for this year’s RIAI Awards. This achievement is not only a celebration of individual excellence but also a testament to the profound impact these projects have on our built environment. Each project plays a crucial role in enhancing our social fabric, economy, culture, and identity. With this year’s theme focusing on sustainability, and the reuse and retrofit of old buildings for enhanced energy efficiency, I am delighted to see several projects thrive in this area with many acting as a guiding example of effective transformation. This year’s projects have been truly spectacular, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these architects.”
This year’s awards recognised Kinsale Library by Cork County Council Architects’ Department as the winner of the Conservation, Adaptation and Re-Use category – an inspiring example of how vacant buildings in our towns can be transformed into vibrant community amenities. The jury also recognised 14 Clarendon Street by Shaffrey Architects for its skilled Restoration and Repair.
In Public Buildings and Infrastructure, the jury presented St. David’s Holy Faith Secondary School in Greystones by McCullough Mulvin Architects and the Rock Wing, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital by Scott Tallon Walker Architects with Awards.
The Workplace Award went to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Headquarters by the Office of Public Works, which was also recognised with a Sustainability Award as an exemplary retrofit project for Ireland that can be applied to other buildings.
The importance of well-designed public spaces was highlighted by the Awards for Urban Design and Public Realm which went to The Campus in Cherrywood by MOLA Architecture and Sandyford Central by Henry J Lyons.
In the largest category, Living, the jury recognised different types of housing including Adaptions with Awards going to Apple Tree Terrace by Scullion Architects; Barney’s Ruins by Patrick Bradley Architect; and High Street Balbriggan by Robert Bourke Architects. Living in a Landscape by Arigho Larmour Wheeler Architects won the Award for New House. For larger housing developments, the jury presented awards to Cornamona Court by Paul Keogh Architects; One Lime Street by Henry J Lyons; and Wilkinsons Brook by Proctor and Matthews Architects, de Blacam and Meagher Architects and Doran Cray.
The jury also awarded an exemplar of low-rise medium-density housing by DTA Architects – the Infill Housing & Rectory at Purser Gardens, Rathmines. The RIAI has been advocating for this new housing typology to create sustainable communities in our cities and towns.
The Jury presented a Research Award to the Office of Public Works and Shaffrey Architects for their work into ‘Improving the energy efficiency of heritage properties in State care’; while a second Award was given to Donaghy and Dimond Architects for their housing and urban design research, ‘Model Housing and Urban Horticulture’.
Last but not least, the Jury made a Special Award to O’Donnell + Tuomey for a unique ‘Collaboration between designers and craftsperson’s’ for Stone Vessel. Built hand-by-hand, stone-by-stone by stone masons from Ireland and Japan in collaboration with Joseph Walsh Studio, the vessel is of an extraordinary quality.
The RIAI Awards 2024 are proudly supported by Awards Gold Sponsor Sika Ireland.
The RIAI Award Winners 2024
1. Conservation, Adaptation and Re-Use
Winner: Kinsale Library
Architect:Cork County Council Architects’ Department
Client: Cork County Council
2. Restoration and Repair
Winner: 14 Clarendon Street
Architect: Shaffrey Architects
Client: Private
3. Public Buildings and Infrastructure
Winner: St. David’s Holy Faith Secondary School, Greystones
Architect: McCullough Mulvin Architects
Client: The Board of Management of St. David’s Holy Faith Secondary School
and
Winner: The Rock Wing, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
Architect: Scott Tallon Walker Architects
Client: Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
4. Workplace and Fit-Out
Winner: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Headquarters
Architect: Office of Public Works
Client: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
5. Living – Houses / Adaption
Winner: Apple Tree Terrace
Architect: Scullion Architects
Client: Private
and
Winner: Barney’s Ruins
Architect: Patrick Bradley Architect
Client: Private
and
Winner: High Street Balbriggan
Architect: Robert Bourke Architects
Client: Private
5. Living – Houses / New
Winner: Living in a Landscape
Architect: Arigho Larmour Wheeler Architects
Client: Private
5. Living – Housing / Low-Rise Medium-Density
Winner: Infill Housing & Rectory at Purser Gardens, Rathmines, Dublin 6
Architect: DTA Architects
Client: The Select Vestry of the United Parish of Rathmines with Harold’s Cross
and
Winner: Wilkinsons Brook
Architect: Proctor and Matthews Architects, de Blacam and Meagher Architects and Doran Cray
Client: Glenveagh
5. Living – Housing / High-Density
Winner: One Lime Street
Architect: Henry J Lyons
Client: Marlet Property Group
5. Living – Housing / Public
Winner Cornamona Court
Architect: Paul Keogh Architects
Client: Dublin City Council
6. Sustainability Award
Winner: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Headquarters
Architect: Office of Public Works
Client: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
7. Urban Design and Public Realm
Winner: The Campus, Cherrywood
Architect: MOLA Architecture
Client: Spear Street Capital
and
Winner: Sandyford Central
Architect: Henry J Lyons
Client: Richmond Homes
8. Research
Winner: Improving the Energy Performance of Heritage Properties in State Care
Architect: Office of Public Works and Shaffrey Architects
Client: Office of Public Works
and
Winner: Model Housing – Urban Horticulture
Architect: Donaghy and Dimond Architects
Client: Irish Architecture Foundation and The Housing Agency
9. Special Award for Collaboration between Designers and Craftspersons
Winner: Stone Vessel
Architect: O’Donnell + Tuomey
Client: Joseph Walsh Studio and O’Donnell + Tuomey
10. Public Choice
Winner: The Lark Concert Hall, Balbriggan
Architect: Stephen Foley Architects and CAMPUS
Client: Irish Institute of Music and Song
