‘A champion of urbanism’: Influential architect Niall McCullough has died

Tributes paid to author and co-founder of award-winning McCullough Mulvin Architects

Dublin Civic Trust is among those that have paid tribute following the death of influential architect and writer Niall McCullough.

In a post on social media the trust said Mr McCullough was “one of the great minds of our time”.

“A champion of urbanism and author of the poem to our capital, Dublin: An Urban History – to forever endure. Condolences to [his wife] Valerie family and colleagues.”

Mr McCullough was in his 60s and had suffered from cancer.

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He studied architecture at University College Dublin and founded McCullough Mulvin Architects in 1986 with his wife Valerie Mulvin. The practice has won numerous awards and is renowned for its work in the education sector.

It designed several buildings within the Trinity College Dublin campus including the James Ussher library, the Long Room hub and its ongoing work at Printing House Square. Education projects account for about 40 per cent of its business.

Earlier this year, the practice won German industry magazine Detail's reader award for its work on Thapar University's Learning Laboratory, in India's Punjab region.

The non-profit Irish Architecture Foundation described Mr McCullough as "a champion, a maverick and a good friend. The IAF sends our condolences to Valerie and all at McCullough Mulvin Architects."

Architect Emmet Scanlon, who is a former adviser to the Arts Council, described Mr McCullough as an "outstanding presence and influence".

"By books and buildings he enabled a better understanding of our spatial selves, always tending to the culture of architecture in Ireland. "

Ali Grehan, Dublin city architect, described Mr McCullough as "an enormously talented architect and writer. Niall with his partner Valerie, has gifted Dublin fine buildings and helped us understand Dublin City and what it can be. He is a huge loss."