Winners Announced! – RIAI Awards 2014

The winners of the RIAI awards were recently announced at the Wood Quay Venue, DCC Offices, on Tuesday 24th Jun. Speaking at the event was RIAI President Robin Mandall, Minister for Education & Skills Ruari Quinn, and Director of the RIAI John Graby. In addition to the presentation of awards, Minister Quinn announced his third architectural competition during his time in office. Further details on this will follow soon.

Best Commercial Building

Pop Up Bar Lime Tree Theatre
Architects: Hugh Kelly Architects
Clients: Mary Immaculate College

Restaurant Dame Court
Architects: DTA Architects
Clients: Honest To Goodness

WINNER: Clerys Department Store
ARCHITECTS: Jennings Design Studio
CLIENT: Clerys Department Store

This is a magical project which succeeds in reviving the existing spaces, brings their potential back to life and captures their grandeur without the slightest hint of pastiche. Contemporary interventions are introduced with great care and superb judgement. Important elements such as the grand staircase are given deserved prominence, reminding us of the once glamorous world of department store shopping. The rehabilitation of this great Dublin institute is a real credit to the owners, following the recent disastrous flooding event. Following the makeover the “old lady’ of O’Connell Street is rejuvenated and suitably fit for the new century. All Ireland wishes her well.

Wainscoted
Architects: Lawrence and Long Architects
Clients: Confidential

WINNER: Russborough West Wing Refurbishment and Post Fire Reinstatement
ARCHITECT: Howley Hayes Architects
CLIENT: The Alfred Beit Foundation

A scholarly restoration and repair of one of our greatest Palladian houses. Built between 1741 and 1750 by Richard Cassels and in current use as a visitor centre containing one of Europe’s great art collections a substantial part of the building was recently severely damaged by fire. The restoration works have been executed meticulously and sensitively to create a spectacular finished product; an exemplar in this category.

Best Cultural Building

WINNER: Airfield Evolution
ARCHITECT: Solearth Architecture ltd
CLIENT: Airfield Trust JURY CITATION:

This project embraces the challenge of uplifting and extending the experience of Airfield, while maintaining the essence of its charm, that of a much loved city escape. The result is a tremendously popular public facility. Working with a distinct identity and culture, this was achieved by overlaying master planning, architectural and sustainable design skills
throughout. Considered design interventions such as the new entrance and cafe pavilion, a renewed house and separate teaching and event space have served to establish a much needed clarity of purpose.

~ Highly Commended ~

A School in Connemara
Architects: Simon J Kelly + Partners Architects
Clients: Board of Management Oughterard National School

~ Highly Commended ~

Three Classroom Extension
Architects: A2 Architects
Clients: Gorey Community School

WINNER: Coláiste Ailigh
ARCHITECTS: McGarry Ní Éanaigh Architects
CLIENT: NDFA Bam Building – Coláiste Ailigh

An extremely powerful building in an exceptionally strong category, Coláiste Ailigh’s architecture is ambitious and singular in its poetic response to sky and landscape context, creating a memorable image. Internal circulation and activities organisation are admirably clear. The sculptural roofscape topography of light wells combines with shades of Paul Henry colouring to provide a new visual vibrancy for the rural school challenging our perceived notions of what this building can be in a spectacular landscape context.

Best Emerging Practice assessed by Architecture Ireland Jury

The results in this Category in reverse order are:

~Commended ~

Caroilín Liston Architects

Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Outpatients
Architects: Anello Architects
Clients: Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (CFAI)

~ Highly Commended ~

Ballyfermot & Palmerstown Primary Care & Mental Health Centre
Architects: A&D Wejchert & Ptnrs
Clients: Health Service Executive

Best House

~Commended~

Private Residence at Meanus
Architects: PLM, Architects
Clients: Paudie & Mary Frances Moriarty

~ Highly Commended ~

Leagaun House
Architects: Ryan W. Kennihan Architects
Clients: Mary Enright

WINNER: The Cow House
ARCHITECT: Michael Kelly & Dan Costelloe Architects
CLIENT: June Blake

A crisp and effective two story insert within the existing walls of a ruined 19th century farm building the project provides open and uncluttered domestic spaces of great charm. The free standing timber post and beam structural system provides a robust framework which allows for rich and innovative thinking throughout the planning organisation and the project’s sophisticated detail design development. Noteworthy are its beautiful roof lanterns and the clever use of interstitial space between old and new.

Extension to a Protected Structure
Architects: Gottstein Architects
Clients: Alison Corr & Neil Pickard

Seven Square Metres
Architects: GKMP Architects
Clients: Tabitha Wood and Robert MacNicholas

~ Highly Commended ~

Harold’s Cross Road Extension
Architects: Ryan W. Kennihan Architects
Clients: Lisajane Duffy and Adrian Fitz-simon

Presenting a United Front
Architects: Leyden Hassett & Associates
Clients: Nicholas & Helen Morrogh

Terra-cotta House
Architects GKMP Architects
Clients: Rachel Nally and Andrew Westbrook

WINNER: Farmhouse Extension
ARCHITECT: Studio Red Architects
CLIENT: Private

This is a refreshing addition to a rural dwelling carried through with both supreme confidence and modest elegance in form, structure and sensitive choice of materials. It succeeds in avoiding previous stereotypes associated with the genre; such as the rural Irish vernacular or the white cube. It responds sensitively to site and context and in a series of well-chosen design innovations manages to complement the existing while simultaneously reading alone as a delightful and simple building

Best Housing (more than 1 unit) Award

WINNER: Southill Older Persons Accommodation
ARCHITECT: ABK Architects
CLIENT: Limerick City Council

This residential project, is the first phase in what is intended to be the redevelopment of the Southill area of Limerick city. It consists of 3,400 M of fully accessible apartment units for the elderly together with appropriate community facilities. Inside to outside relations are carefully considered. Internal spaces are organised in carefully modelled plan configuration around a shared landscaped communal garden.

Best International Building

~Commended ~

Headquarters Building, Kingston, Jamaica
Architects: de Blacam and Meagher Architects
Clients: Digicel

~ Highly Commended ~

Kal Waves, Copenhagen Harbour, Denmark
Architects: Andrew Griffin Architect in association with Urban Agency, JDS Architects, Sloth Moller and Klar
Clients: Copenhagen Municipality

Pulp Press, Kistefos Museum, Norway
Architects: A2 Architects in collaboration with John Gerrard Artist
Clients: Kistefos Museum

Best Leisure Building Award

~Highly Commended ~

Sandycove Lifeguard Hut and Changing Shelter
Architects: Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown Architects Department
Clients: Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council

Best Public Building

~Highly Commended ~

Adaptive Reuse: Deansgrange Public Library
Architects: Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Architects Department
Clients: Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

WINNER: Waterford Medieval Museum
ARCHITECTS: Waterford City Architects – Rupert Maddock, Bartosz Rojowski, Agnieszka Zipper-Rojowska
CLIENT: Failte Ireland, Waterford City Council

A beautifully crafted building on a historically sensitive site this project draws on lessons from history in its materiality. Contextually it improves the urban realm and pays homage to the surrounding Georgian architecture of Waterford’s John Roberts. Confronting contextual challenges its sculptural facade becomes a unifying element behind which one becomes aware of the layering of history through the echoing arrangement of gallery space crafted in board marked concrete and timber which link the medieval undercroft with the light filled courtyard.

Best Public Space/Urban Design

~Commended ~

The Stamping Building EU Conference Centre & Forecourt
Architects: OPW Architectural Services
Clients: OPW

Waterford Viking Triangle
Architects: GKMP Architects
Clients: Waterford City Council

~Highly Commended ~

Clonakilty 400, Urban Design Masterplan, Co Cork
Architects: Giulia Vallone, Cork County Council, Architects Department
Clients: Clonakilty Town Council

WINNER: Granby Park

ARCHITECTS: A2 Architects + Sean Harrington Architects

CLIENTS: Upstart + Dublin City Council

A transformative pop-up park achieved by the fulfilment of an ambitious process of collective creativity. From artists,architects, schoolchildren, horticulturists, cooks, musicians, and more this community based project brought forward, through a remarkable volunteering spirit, the potential of everyday vacant city spaces alive and inventive, the park embraces resourceful design; polytunnels for shelter and a winding amphitheatre constructed from industrial timber pallets featured. A significant element of the project is that, although temporary, it was designed as a template for other communities and their spaces.

Best Sustainable Building

~Highly Commended ~

Leitrim Innovation and Growth Centre, Carrick – On – Shannon
Architects: Frank Cooney Architect
Clients: Leitrim County Enterprise Fund

WINNER: Airfield Evolution

ARCHITECTS: Solearth Architecture ltd

CLIENTS: Airfield Trust

The client brief for the project called for “the conservation of resources through sustainable and energy efficient design based on passive measures”. The Architects have responded to the brief in an elegant and restrained manner adopting a holistic approach to the integration of the new buildings with old and an on-site water cycle into the landscaping. The siting of the new buildings, their form, the selection and appropriate detailing of environmentally-benign materials take precedence. The pavillion-type buildings eliminate most issues associated with lighting, cooling & ventilation (which would otherwise require the reverse engineering of plant and equipment if neglected). The overall approach is calm & well-considered. The project is a good example of how a shared focus on sustainability, from briefing throughout the design process, leads to success.

Best Universal Design Award – sponsored by the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority

~Commended ~

Coláiste Ailigh
Architects: McGarry Ní Éanaigh Architects
Clients: NDFA Bam Building – Coláiste Ailigh

Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, London School of Economics
Architects: O’Donnell + Tuomey Architects
Clients: LSE Estates Division

Public Choice Award
the result from online voting, of all 48 buildings in the shortlist, as announced on Morning Ireland RTE Radio 1 this morning.

In 3rd place with 1,235 votes

Waterford Medieval Museum
ARCHITECTS: Waterford City Architects – Rupert Maddock, Bartosz Rojowski, Agnieszka Zipper-Rojowska
CLIENT: Failte Ireland, Waterford City Council

In 2nd place with 1,653 votes

Clerys Department Store
ARCHITECTS: Jennings Design Studio
CLIENT: Clerys Department Store

In 1st Place Public Choice 2014 with 2,006 votes

WINNER: Clonakilty 400, Urban Design Masterplan
ARCHITECT: Giulia Vallone, Cork County Council, Architects Department
CLIENT: Clonakilty Town Council