Six houses shortlisted for Irish architectural awards

Six houses are up for the Irish Architecture Awards this year, as part of a shortlist which reflects the status of Ireland’s society and economy.

Thirty-three projects on the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland shortlist were selected from 100 entries. The public can vote for their favourite scheme in the finals, which take place on July 2nd.

The categories with the most projects on the shortlist are houses, schools (five) and emerging practices (four), as population growth is seeing a rising need for new schools, with 275 schools or extensions being built between 2012 and 2017. "It is a positive indication for the future," said RIAI president Michelle Fagan (whose practice, FKL Architects, is up for a housing award).

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Shangan Avenue, Dublin

Architects are becoming more optimistic about the future, according to a recent survey by the institute. Last year 16 per cent of architects said they thought their workload was set to increase, while this year the figure rose to 32 per cent.

Commercial and housing projects are down, with just one of each on the shortlist (the culmination of projects that began up to nine years ago). There is a healthy showing of cultural buildings (three) and one of the two public buildings on the shortlist is a library. There are also three sustainable projects shortlisted and two are up for the universal design (for those with a disability) award.

The downturn has seen a rise in the number of architects working abroad, with about a third of practices having projects overseas. Two Irish practices are up for the best international project: O’Donnell + Tuomey, and de Blacam and Meagher.

To vote in the public choice award, see riai.ie.

The Shortlist

Best Commercial Building: Bord Gáis Networks

Best Cultural Building: Luan Gallery, Athlone, Keith Williams Architects; Temple Bar Umbrellas, Sean Harrington Architects; Contemplation Space, Mater Hospital, Michael Goan (MCO Projects), Garvan DeBruin, Sisk.

Best Educational Building: Presentation College Bray, Paul Keogh Architects; Ballybay Community College, McGarry Ni Eanaigh Architects; National School Extension,Carnaun, Galway, Paul Dillon Architects; Colaiste Cholim Secondary School, Coady Partnership Architects; JFK Memorial School, Limerick, Healy Partners Architects.

Best Health Building: Phoenix Care Centre, Dublin, Moloney O'Beirne Architects.

Best House: Quarry House, Dublin, Clancy Moore Architects; Carnivan House, Wexford, Aughey O'Flaherty Architects; 4 House, Dublin, Taka Architects; House by the sea, de Blacam and Meagher Architects; Hillside House, Laois, Architecture 53 Seven and Adrian Hill Architects; Chestnut Lane, Galway, Boyd Cody Architects.

Best House Extension: Rutland Avenue, Dublin, Eamon Peregrine Architect; House +3 Robert Bourke Architects; Laburnum Road, Dublin, Boyd Cody Architects; Portobello, SOSA Sterrin O'Shea Architects

Best Housing: Shangan Avenue, Ballymun FKL Architects.

Best Public Building: Ballyroan Library, Dublin, Box Architecture; Operation Centre Ballyogan, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Architects and Bucholz McEvoy Architects.

Best International: Photographer's Gallery, London, O'Donnell and Tuomey Architects; San Lorenzo House, Portugal, de Blacam and Meagher Architects

Best Research Project: Town, Orla Murphy; Utility of Landscape, LiD Architecture

Best Sustainable: Bord Gais Network (as above); Operations Centre Ballyogan (as above); Government and civic office, Tipperary, Coady Partnership Architects

Best Universal Design: UCD Student Centre, Fitzgerald Kavanagh; Ballybay Community College (as above)

Best Emerging Practice: Stephen Mulhall nineteeneighty; ODKM Architects; Meme Architecture; anima, Aoiheann Ni Mhearain