The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has announced the winners of the 2023 RIAI Awards. The RIAI works to inspire excellence in Architecture to deliver a sustainable and resilient future and the awards recognise the contribution Registered Architects make to the built environment.
The RIAI announced 19 winners across 12 categories, including Conservation, Adaptation and Re-Use, Cultural and Public Buildings, International, Learning Environments, Living (Individual houses and housing development), Public Space and Urban Design, Wellbeing, Workplace and Fit-Out, Research, Sustainability, Universal Design and Public Choice.
This year’s awards recognised The Lower House by Fitzgerald Kavanagh & Partners as the winners of the highly competitive Conservation, Adaptation and Re-Use category.
Beyond the Trees: Avondale House & Forest Park in County Wicklow by van Dijk Architects and Stöger + Kölbl Architekten and the International Rugby Experience in Limerick by Niall McLaughlin Architects both took home the awards for the Cultural and Public Buildings category, recognising the significant contribution made by both projects to culture.
Sustainability was a core element of this year’s awards with Silver Bark House by Marshall McCann Architects recognised for its contribution to innovation in sustainable architecture, receiving the overall award for this category.
The importance of well-designed learning environments was highlighted by the Awards with Printing House Square by McCullough Mulvin Architects and O’Mahony Pike Architects receiving the award for the Learning Environments category.
The International Award also went to a learning project, Quadrangle Building at King’s College London by Hall McKnight Architects.
This year’s awards represented Architects’ commitment to sustainable residential developments with four awards given to housing projects located in both Dublin and Monaghan. In Dublin, the three winning projects included Dominick Hall by Cotter & Naessens Architects and Denis Byrne Architects; Ladyswell Square by ABK Architects; and O’Devaney Gardens by Dublin City Architects receiving awards for their contribution to high quality housing design. In Monaghan, the Clones Renewal Scheme by Craftstudio Architecture received the Special Award for Rural Town Renewal.
Architectural excellence in individual houses was also recognised with both An Tuí by Karen Brownlee Architects and Charleville by Scullion Architects receiving awards within the Living category.
Investment in high-quality Public Space was recognised with the award for the Béal na Bláth Centenary project in West Cork. This project was designed by Cork County Council CPIU Architects with Scott Tallon Walker Architects and Professor Finola O’Kane.
The award for excellence in the Workplace and Fit-Out category was given to the ESB Headquarters, designed by Grafton Architects and O’Mahony Pike Architects. A small bespoke Writer’s Room by Clancy Moore Architects was the second Winner in this category.
In Wellbeing, the award was given to Ardee Ambulance Base, designed by Moloney O’Beirne Architects for the Health Service Executive.
In the Research category, Military Architecture and Brick Manufacture by Taylor McCarney Architects was awarded by the jury for its revival of the tradition of brick-making.
The Universal Design category also recognised Beyond the Trees: Avondale House & Forest Park by van Dijk Architects and Stöger + Kölbl Architekten as the winner for its excellence in design.
Earlier in the day, the RIAI President Charlotte Sheridan also announced the Public Choice Winner – the International Rugby Experience, in Limerick by Niall McLaughlin Architects.
RIAI President, Charlotte Sheridan MRIAI, said: “We are delighted to be here at the 34th annual RIAI Architecture Awards, to celebrate the value that architecture brings to society through excellence in design innovation – from our urban spaces in towns and cities and our workplaces, to our healthcare buildings and homes. I would like to congratulate the 19 winners of this year’s Architecture Awards on their outstanding designs, which represent the contribution that architecture can bring to the creation of an inclusive and sustainable society.”
