The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has today awarded the RIAI Silver Medal for Housing to two exemplary housing projects in Dublin by O’Mahony Pike Architects. This is the first time the medal has been awarded jointly to two projects.
The awards were presented at the RIAI and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Joint National Housing Conference in Waterford.
The winning projects are Capital Dock and Marianella, both by O’Mahony Pike Architects. The projects resolve architectural design challenges in two very different contexts in Dublin; Dublin City Centre (Dublin Docklands), and in an established neighbourhood (Rathgar).
Capital Dock is a project delivered under the Dublin Docklands Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). It demonstrates the value of a plan led approach under the Docklands planning Scheme for the area. Having a plan that architects, planners and communities can adhere to and rely on delivers certainty and supports the delivery of quality buildings and places.
This is the fourth RIAI Silver Medal for a Housing Scheme in the Dubin Docklands.
The second winning project, Marianella, is located in one of the city’s established neighbourhoods. It demonstrates how to successfully provide both public and private housing options. The development provides mixed dwelling typology, including apartments, town houses and mews houses. The project is also a great example of allowing people to remain in their neighbourhood and community while downsizing, thus freeing bigger houses for families with children, for example.
The dwelling size and mix supports multi-generational living. In additional the development provides a new public park taken in charge by the Local Authority, a crèche, and clubhouse, incorporating community and leisure facilities
Presenting the medal, President of the RIAI, Sean Mahon said: “These two winning projects demonstrate the benefits for communities of creating thriving, sustainable neighbourhoods within liveable cities. This is essential to address the great challenges that we have in Ireland – our growing population, changing demographic and the need to meet our climate targets to mitigate against climate change.”
The RIAI Silver Medal for Housing is the highest award for housing design given by the RIAI. It is a biennial award made to encourage excellence of design in housing.
The medal is awarded to an architect or architectural practice for projects of significant merit completed within the specified two-year period. It is awarded several years after completion so that the success of the building can be confirmed by the passage of time.
