28 Mar 2022

David O’Shea, ODOS Architects awarded the RIAI Silver Medal for Housing for Dublin’s Percy Place development

Percy Place development by ODOS Architects. Photo Ste Murray

Former Coal Yard Wins Prestigious RIAI Silver Medal for Housing Percy Place development, a best-in-class exemplar of high density, mixed-use development on a challenging urban site.

The RIAI awarded on 28 March 2022 the RIAI Silver Medal for Housing to David O’Shea, ODOS Architects for Dublin’s Percy Place development.

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 several years after completion of a project so that the success of the building can be confirmed by the passage of time. This year’s award is for projects completed in 2015 – 2017.

The award-winning development, a former coal yard, has been described as a best-in-class exemplar of high density, mixed-use development on a challenging urban site.

Standing at four stories tall, the Percy Place development has a basement below with 12 apartments above a ground floor retail unit and canal-facing restaurant. The development also includes three upper floor office suites overlooking Haddington Road. The ingenious planning of the individual units is a model for high quality apartment living in busy urban locations. Percy Place is a reconfiguration of an earlier planning permission, and an exemplar of what can be achieved in the regeneration of brownfield sites.

The Medal was presented to Architect David O’Shea of ODOS by Minister Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, at the Joint Housing Conference hosted by the RIAI and Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in Limerick.

Speaking at the presentation, Minister Darragh O’Brien, said:

“The Percy Place development is a well-deserved winner of this prestigious award from the RIAI. In the heart of Dublin this development made use of innovative planning to provide a multipurpose development where people can eat, work and live in the heart of the city. As we continue to tackle housing challenges it is more important than ever that we have a range of housing which is appropriate for the needs of individuals and families who may want different things at different life-stages. I’m delighted to say Percy Place goes some way toward meeting those challenges. A well-deserved winner to whom I was delighted to present the RIAI Silver Medal for Housing to.”

l-r John Bradley, Cedral; Minister Darragh O’Brien TD; David O’Shea, ODOS Architects, Recipient of the RIAI Silver Medal for Housing for Dublin’s Percy Place development, RIAI President Charlotte Sheridan PRIAI; Paul Keogh FRIAI, Chair of the Jury. Photo credit Liam Burke

Charlotte Sheridan, RIAI President, said:

“Year after year we are impressed by the talent, the innovation and the commitment our members show to solving Ireland’s housing challenges. The development at Percy Place shows how in a small space we can provide mixed-use buildings right at the heart of Dublin’s city centre. The project is an excellent example of place making and makes an important contribution to the wider city. We congratulate ODOS and David O’Shea whole heartedly for this stunning development.”

David O’Shea (Founder + Creative Director ODOS) said:

“I’m delighted our work on this landmark project has been recognised by the RIAI as it is rare that a developer is as focused on design as the architect, as was the case with Percy Place. It demonstrates how high-quality residential developments can fully utilise space and architectural potential when more time and consideration is given to design. More developers need to know and understand how good quality architecture not only enhances the built environment and the experience for those living in it, but also adds commercial value.”

Paul Keogh FRIAI and Chair of the Jury said:

“The jury was impressed with the high quality of the shortlisted nominations for the RIAI Silver Medal for Housing 2015-2017. The Percy Place development is a very sophisticated response to its very challenging urban context. Its skilful mix of commercial and apartment uses; its sophisticated design and handling of materials; and the example it provides for the development of the brownfield sites that exist in every town and city make it a worthy winner of the RIAI’s premier award for housing. Congratulations to ODOS and David O’Shea for this fantastic achievement.”

The jury also awarded three Highly Commended awards to the following housing projects:

Dunluce Anglesea Road by DTA Architects

Dunluce Anglesea Road, Highly Commended by DTA Architect. Photo by Ros Kavanagh.

DTA Architects’ Dunluce development accommodates 25 high-end apartments in four exquisitely designed blocks on a backland site between Anglesea Road and the River Dodder. Laid out along a deck that floats above the river floodplain, the ingenious site plan achieves a balance between the stand-alone architecture of each block and the sense of place that the design achieves overall.

Grattan Court East by Ailtireacht Architects/DTA Architects

Grattan Court East, Highly Commended by Ailtireacht Architects/DTA Architects. Photo by Barbara Corsico.

The Grattan Court development by Ailtireacht Architects/DTA Architects is a demonstration how urban backland sites can be re-imagined with high-density townhouse developments that are in scale with the scale and character of their locations.

Clancy Quay by OMP with Lindsay Conservation Architects

Clancy Quay Highly Commended by OMP with Lindsay Conservation Architect.

OMP Architects’ Clancy Quay is an admirable model of best practice in remodelling a former military barracks complex as a residential enclave of the highest quality. Its combination of conserved structures, infill terraced houses and a pair of taller apartment blocks provides a exemplar of mid-density urban regeneration that could be applied nationally.

The RIAI Silver Medal for Housing was kindly supported by Cedral (formerly Tegral).

The Silver Medal for Housing Jury were:

Paul Keogh FRIAI (Chair), Eddie Conroy FRIAI, John Parker MRIAI, Claire McManus MRIAI and Helena McElmeel MRIAI.

For media queries, please contact:
Kelly French, Drury Communications
Danielle Martin, Drury Communications
Dr Sandra O'Connell, RIAI Director of Architecture and Communications

David O’Shea, ODOS Architects awarded the RIAI Silver Medal for Housing for Dublin’s Percy Place development

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