The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has today launched the Public Choice Award – the search for Ireland’s favourite building or public space in 2023. The RIAI Public Choice Award is a unique opportunity for members of the public to choose their favourite project from a shortlist of buildings designed by Irish-registered Architects.
This year’s RIAI Awards received a record number of 187 entries, with 53 projects now in the running for the Public Choice Award. This year’s shortlist highlights strong regional representation of architectural quality, with buildings and public spaces located in all corners of the country from the large cities – Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Limerick – to small towns and rural communities in counties Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Down, Kildare, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Waterford and Wicklow. The shortlist also includes international representation with projects in both Lesotho, Southern Africa and London, UK.
Each of the projects shortlisted were designed by an RIAI-Registered Architect and were completed in 2022.
The Public Choice Award marks the launch of the annual RIAI Architecture Awards, now in their 34th year, which celebrate excellence in the design and delivery of buildings and places for people. The awards are organised across categories to recognise the wide-ranging contribution that architects make across diverse building types and places at different scales. Award categories include Conservation, Adaptation and Re-Use, Cultural & Public Buildings, International, Learning Environments, Living, Public Space and Urban Design, Wellbeing, Workplace & Fit-Out, Research, Sustainability, and Universal Design.
RIAI President, Charlotte Sheridan MRIAI, said: “The RIAI works to support architects in to deliver a sustainable and resilient future for society through their work. The annual RIAI Architecture Awards raise awareness of the value that architecture brings to society through inspiration and design innovation – from our homes to our workplaces, to our healthcare buildings, and urban places in towns, and cities. Quality architecture and placemaking is inclusive and sustainable and makes a positive contribution to climate change action. We are delighted to see how quality buildings and places are represented throughout the island of Ireland. The Public Choice Award provides members of the public a greater understanding and appreciation of the level of importance that architecture has on our day to day lives.”
This year’s Public Choice Award shortlist includes three Cork projects:
- Haulbowline Block No. 8 by OBFA Architects
- Béal na Bláth Centenary by Cork County Council CPIU Architects with Scott Tallon Walker Architects and Prof. Finola O'Kane
- Passage House by O'Donnell + Tuomey
Members of the public are invited to cast their votes through the RIAI online voting system. Online voting closes at midnight on Tuesday, 20 June and the Winner will be announced on 22 June by RIAI President, Charlotte Sheridan.
The RIAI Irish Architecture Awards will be announced in full on 22 June at the Museum of Literature Ireland.
The Jury for the RIAI Awards 2023 are:
- Dr Siobhán Ní Éanaigh, Chair FRIAI retired
- Dr Ellen Rowley, Distinguished Guest Juror
- Christophe Antipas MRIAI
- David Dwyer MRIAI
- Nives Dzindo MRIAI
- Máire Henry MRIAI
- Seán Moylan MRIAI
- Derek Murphy MRIAI
- Ruth C. O'Reilly MRIAI
See www.riai.ie for further details.
