RIAI celebrates Rising Stars of Architecture 2024
We were delighted to announce the winners and commended recipients of the RIAI Emerging Awards 2024 and the RIAI Student Awards 2024 at our annual conference in the RDS. The RIAI Emerging Awards recognise new talent within Irish Architecture. The RIAI Student Awards foster excellence and support for the next generation of Architects and Architectural Technologists.
RIAI Emerging Awards 2024
Awarded in association with the RIAI Journal, Architecture Ireland, the RIAI Emerging Awards (formerly the RIAI Future Award) are open for entries to individuals and practices, acknowledging the collaborative nature of architectural practice. The Jury was delighted to receive entries demonstrating exceptional skill and talent in a wide range of areas relating to architecture, such as design, practice, public engagement, research, writing, and education.
Orla O’Kane, O’Mahony Pike Architects, was announced as the winner of the RIAI Emerging Architect Award 2024, while Cormac Murray, O’Mahony Pike Architects was selected as Highly Commended.
Orla O’Kane made a very coherent statement about the role of the architect as a public advocate that showed a strong capacity to deliver. She demonstrated passion, energy and capability to work at a high level in professional practice whilst immersing herself in architectural culture. She is clearly an agent of architecture who is able to span many different interests and to bring many people together. Beyond her practice, she has achieved this through her roles in the Architectural Association of Ireland, the Kerry Festival of Architecture, and Ailtireachtúil - Ailtireacht As Gaeilge each of which have benefited from her personal energy and commitment.
Jury citation
Winning the RIAI Emerging Practice Award 2024 is Design Architecture Urbanism (DUA), founded by Darragh Breathnach
Design Architecture Urbanism (DUA) made a very thoughtful presentation that showed confidence across a breath of scales of work with a clear approach to the design of contemporary vernacular architecture. Their work demonstrated successful and high-quality design approaches to a range of challenges from commercial interiors to the regeneration of a mid-twentieth century residential estate by upgrading the external works. The portfolio included a number of new houses that were beautifully conceived and executed. This is evidently a practice that has established itself on a strong footing and we have high expectation for its future.
Juy citation
RIAI Student Awards 2024
RIAI Scott Tallon Walker Student Excellence Award for Architecture 2024
This Award, sponsored by Scott Tallon Walker Architects, fosters architectural excellence and is open to students of architecture enrolled in their final thesis year. We are delighted to announce this year’s Award winners: Kevin Barry, University College Dublin (The Department of Husbandry) and Rachel Murphy, Queen's University Belfast (Playful Minds – School as a Neighbourhood, Neighbourhood as a School). The Jury also selected three Highly Commended entries – Sophie Reid, University College Dublin, Michaela Harte, University College Dublin and Orlaith Cahill, CCAE University College Cork.
RIAI Henry J Lyons Rising Star Award in Architectural Technology Award 2024
This Award, sponsored by Henry J Lyons, recognises an individual third-year student who exemplifies academic excellence and dedication to the field of Architectural Technology in the national context of the Architectural Technologists’ education. The Jury named the winner as Sean Auden, Technological University Dublin. Highly Commended is Brian Mulhall, South East Technological University Carlow.
RIAI Student Award for Sustainable Design 2024
This Award, sponsored by Sika, recognises the awareness and integration of sustainable design principles by students as an inherent part of their design approach. This year’s Jury acknowledged the broad range of students’ knowledge of sustainable principles and practices, reflecting an increased focus within the Architecture Schools. The entries displayed wide-ranging approaches to sustainable design, material selections and how to contribute mitigation or adaption solutions to climate change challenges. This year’s winner is Kevin Barry, University College Dublin (The Department of Husbandry – Labourer’s Dorms). The Jury also selected two Highly Commended entries – Clodagh Meaney, University of Limerick and Sophie Read, University College Dublin – and two Commended entries – Natalia Szymkowia, University of Limerick and Matthew Egan, University College Dublin.
RIAI and Architecture Ireland Student Writing Prize
This Award, sponsored by Hacketts, aims to nurture and recognise the importance of writing in architecture, with students contributing an article of no more than 1,000 words on a theme of their choice. The winner was announced as Djenab Bha, University of Limerick (Journey Through Time and Space: Navigating Culture, Architecture, and Ageing in a Globalised World). Highly Commended is Ben Sharkey Garrard, University of Limerick and Commended is Rosie Bergin, University of Limerick.
