THE CRIMINAL Courts of Justice in Dublin has been voted Ireland’s favourite new building.
The complex next to the Phoenix Park, which was opened by President Mary McAleese in January, won the Public Choice Award at the 2010 Irish Architecture Awards, announced yesterday at a ceremony in Farmleigh.
Since the shortlist of 55 projects was unveiled a fortnight ago more than 9,000 votes were cast, 20 per cent of which went to the new courts development, designed by Peter McGovern of Henry J Lyons Partners Architects on Pearse Street.
“We are delighted as a practice, it’s great to be acknowledged in this way by the public,” said Mr McGovern yesterday.
“It’s an important project for the city in that prime position beside the Phoenix Park, it was great for us and great for all the people involved in the project.”
Mr McGovern speculated that the building’s circular form was one of the reasons the public liked it.
Situated on the corner of Parkgate Street and Infirmary Road, the complex contains 22 courtrooms of varying sizes.
Other buildings on the shortlist included Eircom’s headquarters in Heuston South Quarter, the Fatima Mansions regeneration and the redevelopment of Newry Railway Station.
Some 14 projects received honours at the awards ceremony presented by Minister of State for Planning Ciarán Cuffe.
This year a new category was added to reflect the extensive high-quality work designed by Irish architects internationally.
The Brady Mallalieu practice, based in Queens Drive, London, was the inaugural recipient for its design of 199 homes in the UK capital, contained in two towers and five low-rise buildings, as well as a coffee shop and retail space, a community centre with allotments and a rooftop sports pitch.
The Engineering and Informatics Building at the Athlone Institute of Technology won the award for Best Educational Building while St Patrick’s Place, a mixed-use development in Cork, won for Best Sustainable Project.