Architectural Award Winners ‘testament to rising standard of building design’
Irish Times, Tuesday 25th May 2004

The restoration of the Main Guard in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, one of the most important late-17th century buildings in Ireland, has won a best practice award from the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI).

The project, by Margaret Quinlan Architects, which the jury commended for restoring the town’s civic pride, was among 22 buildings to feature in this year’s RIAI awards, which were presented in Dublin last night.

Winning schemes ranged from the North Kildare Educate Together school project in Celbridge, Co. Kildare, by Grafton Architects, to a new office building on Tara Street, Dublin, by Donnelly Turpin Architects.

Mr. Tony Reddy, the RIAI’s President, said the fact that such a variety of successful buildings had won awards this year was testament to the rising standard of building design across the spectrum in Ireland.

“Vast sums of money are due to be spent on construction in this country over the next 10 years. It is incumbent upon the State and the developers to see that this money is as well invested as possible,” he declared.

He cited South Dublin County Council’s Balgaddy A housing, by Howley Harrington Architects, as a fine example of public housing, and said Roches Stores in Henry Street, Dublin, by Newenham Mulligan, richly deserved its urban design award.

Mr. Reddy said the Celbridge School Project was a particularly welcome winner because it showed how important good design was in “facilitating a quality educational experience” through the use of space, light and welcoming surroundings.

He also singled out Justin Kilcullen’s Earthquake Resistant Housing for the Poor for three communities in El Salvador, saying it showed the contribution design can make to improving people’s lives.

Other housing winners included the Double Glass House in Dublin, by Hassett Ducatez Architects; an apartment in North Great George’s Street, Dublin; and two houses in rural settings by Henchion-Reuter Architects and Robinson Patterson.

Henchion-Reuter also won an award for Dublin City Council’s new community and sports centre in Cabra. Another firm of architects, Burke-Kennedy Doyle and Partners, won an award for a new swimming pool complex commissioned by Sportslink.

The Best Commercial Building Award went to Pelham House, in Dublin’s South County Business Park, by Horan Keoghan Ryan, and McCullough Mulvin won the Best Accessible Project award for Sligo County Council’s Tubbercurry Civic Offices.

For the Best Contribution to Urban Design Award, Roches Stores was cited for creating “a powerful impact on a major retail street”. Magee Creedon Architects won the Best Sustainable Building award for Coppinger Court in Cork.

Most of the regional awards went to projects in Dublin. They included the new medical research laboratory at UCD, by O’Donnell and Tuomey Architects, and housing at Cedarwood, Cherry Orchard, by O’Mahony Pike Architects.

The restoration of the great Palm House at the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin, won an award for the Office of Public Works’ architectural services. It is due to be officially opened next Monday by the Taoiseach, Mr. Ahern.