Two Irish projects are among the winners of the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA) awards for their high architectural standards and contribution to their local environment.
Three small cabins used for silence and prayer at Kilsheelan, in the Comeragh mountains in Co Tipperary, and Áras Cill Dara, the county buildings in Kildare, were among eight winners in the European Awards category. Some 56 buildings in the UK will receive awards in other categories.
All buildings will be competing for the overall RIBA Stirling Prize, to be announced this evening at a dinner at London's Hilton Hotel. The awards are being held during Architecture Week 2006 (June 16th-25th).
European projects selected for their design excellence range in size and use, from the "constantly amazing" Phaeno Science Centre in Wolfsburg, Germany, to the Caixa Galicia Art Gallery in Spain and the German government's environment agency building in Dessau.
Projects by up-and-coming young architects, as well as established names including Richard Rogers Partnership and Zaha Hadid Architects are among the winners.
Buildings that have won European RIBA Awards include:
• Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare, by heneghan.peng architects in association with Arthur Gibney & Partners.
• Poustinia, Kilsheelan, by Bates Maher.
• Kilen, Frederiksberg, Denmark by Lundgaard & Tranberg Architektfirma A/S.