Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI)

This is the final week for bookings for this major RIAI and AoU Conference on 25 and 26 March in Dublin Castle. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from some of Ireland’s foremost Architects, urban designers, and policy commentators on why Architecture matters and how we can deliver high-quality, sustainable places to live. Speakers include: RIAI President Sean Mahon; Professor Xavier Matilla, former City Architect, Barcelona; Alice Charles, Arup; Bob Allies, Allies and Morrison; Professor Frances Ruane; Conor Sreenan Screenan, State / Principal Architect Office of Public Works; Pasi Rajala, Head of Masterplanning, City of Helsinki; Olivia Kelly, Irish Times; Professor Philip McCann, Alliance Manchester Business School; Matt Cooper, Journalist; Senator Michael McDowell and many more. Tickets are still available, but we encourage you to book now. https://lnkd.in/eeihVe-f

This is a reminder to join us on Tuesday, 25 March, for an insightful online event exploring the conservation of Sceilg Mhichíl, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in the face of climate change. Do not miss out on this opportunity to learn about climate resilience and heritage preservation! To book you place, visit riai.ie #riaicpd #conservation #climateresilience

Ireland 2025: Balanced by Design - Irish towns can do much better by David Browne FRIAI and Tony Reddy FRIAI, Irish Cities Group In this short article, Architects and Urban Designers, David Browne FRIAI and Tony Reddy FRIAI, explore ‘how can Ireland’s growing towns and cities match the best of their European counterparts?’ The first step is to talk with, and learn from, those who have already done this creatively elsewhere. Let’s look beyond Dublin, Cork and Galway’s short term issues, and consider the achievements of successful cities like Barcelona, Freiburg and Helsinki, to see how we can raise the quality of our urbanism game.  Come to this landmark compact, sustainable and resilient development delivery conference in Dublin over 25-26 March, and be part of the change Ireland needs. Future homes, jobs, and local wellbeing will depend on it. On a recent research visit to meet city planners and architects in Helsinki and Copenhagen we saw long term, Integrated City Development Plans which addressed a wide range of issues from zoning, infrastructure, transportation, energy, water and waste to placemaking, street widths, building heights and climate change. These development plans were also focused on implementation and viability. In addition, these cities each have significant financial autonomy that gives them agency to finance and implement development. Unlike the British and Irish planning systems the plans for both cities, which result from properly resourced, proactive Council urbanists, both executive staff and councillors, using modern methods of media communication including CGI 3D models, are widely supported by citizens and politicians.  The overall outcome is that both cities achieve their targets for housing, cultural and mixed uses resulting in the creation of new sustainable neighbourhoods and the regeneration of the existing city fabric, and are excellent exemplars of good urbanism. The morning session on 25 March, Helsinki: Masterplanning and Vision, will further explore what urbanists in Ireland can learn from Helsinki’s approach, with speakers: Pasi Rajala, Head of Masterplanning, City of Helsinki; Dr Matti Kuronen, Professor of Practice, University of Helsinki; and Dr Dr.-Ing. Anke Jurleit, Senior Project Director, Union Investment. Elsewhere in the conference programme we will hear from Xavier Matilla, former City Architect of Barcelona, on neighbourhood exemplars, and from Wulf Daseking, former Head of Urban Planning in Freiburg, on the leadership challenge. For more on the conference and to book your place, visit 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e7ZtJKqH #irelandstownsandcities #townplanning #irishurbanism

Enhance your Contract Administration skills by joining us for the RIAI ADR CPD on Advanced Topics in Contract Administration - a must-attend event for all Architects. The session seeks to enhance participants' confidence in managing contracts, understanding the applications of the Construction Contracts Act 2013, mitigating risks, and resolving disputes effectively. 📆 Tuesday, 18 March ⏰ 9.00am - 1.00pm 📍 Live Session via Zoom ✔ 4 Structured CPD Points Register today 👉 https://lnkd.in/ebq9x5fn #riaicpd #managingcontracts #continuouslearning

Tickets for this amazing event are available here: https://lnkd.in/eeihVe-f   Join us at Dublin Castle on 25 & 26 March for Ireland 2050: Balanced by Design and engage with some of the most influential voices in urbanism, Architecture, and policy-making. The conference will address critical challenges and opportunities facing Irish cities, focusing on leadership, collaboration, and innovative design responses. Be part of the conversation shaping the future of urban Ireland. #urbanism #architectureandurbanism #challengesandsolutions

The RIAI Simon Open Door is back for its 21st year, offering homeowners across Ireland a unique opportunity to receive expert advice from an RIAI Registered Architect, while supporting the vital work of Simon Communities of Ireland. Registration is now open and consultations will take place from 7 to 13 April, with all proceeds going to the Simon Communities of Ireland in their efforts to combat homelessness. In return for a €125 donation, homeowners can book a one-hour consultation with a Registered Architect to discuss home improvements, including building, renovating, retrofitting, or future-proofing their homes. Join us in supporting this vital cause while gaining professional Architectural guidance. Book your consultation today 🔗https://lnkd.in/dpN7fVqk Pictured is campaign spokesperson Dermot Bannon MRIAI; RIAI CEO Kathryn Meghen with Ber Grogan and Aisling McSharry of Simon Communities of Ireland. Photos by julien behal #RIAISimonOpenDoor #homelesslivesmatter #helpthehomeless

Happy International Women’s Day from the RIAI! To mark International Women’s Day 2025, we have asked women Architects and Architectural Technologists on RIAI Council what advice they would give to young women entering the architectural professions. The RIAI supports women at all stages of their careers, and here is particular advice for younger professionals from RIAI CEO Kathryn Meghen, RIAI Vice President Sinéad Hughes MRIAI, and RIAI Council Members Amy Murphy MRIAI, Anna Meehan FRIAI and Róisín M. FRIAI. #internationalwomensday #IWD2025 #womeninarchitecture #careersinarchitecture

We’re delighted to add an evening of tours and networking in Dún Laoghaire (Great Town winner 2022) from 4.00-5.30pm, on Monday, 24 March as part of our joint Conference with the The Academy of Urbanism (AoU). Conference delegates will be able to experience the award-winning Coastal Mobility Walking/Cycle Route, the redevelopment of the Dún Laoghaire Baths, the existing and planned Harbour, Myrtle Square, the Living Streets initiative and much more. All tours will be guided by the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Architects’ team. Tickets are still available for the Ireland 2050: Balanced by Design conference. Join fellow built environment professionals for what will be an excellent two days in Dublin Castle! For more information on the Dún Laoghaire tours, visit https://lnkd.in/eAGfRNaB For further details and to register for the conference, visit https://lnkd.in/e8PpM7ZU Photo credits: Redevelopment of Dún Laoghaire Baths: Ste Murray | Photography & Design George’s Place Housing: Marie-Louise Halpenny The Metals: Donal Murphy

The RIAI Awards sees great examples of quality public and private housing schemes, including low-rise medium-density housing and schemes which we been advocating for to support the creation of sustainable communities in our cities and towns. Paul Keogh Architects received an Award for Public Housing for Cornamona Court, a project which creates opportunities for older tenants of council-owned houses to be rehoused into purpose-designed apartments within their neighbourhood. One of two Low-Rise Medium-Density Housing developments to receive an award was Wilkinsons Brook by Proctor & Matthews Architects, de Blacam and Meagher Architects and Doran Cray Architects, a family-friendly neighbourhood to the northwest of Dublin which provides 69 new two, three and four bed family homes. The jury also gave an award to DTA Architects for its Infill Housing & Rectory project at Purser Gardens, Rathmines, which created a mixed-use sustainable neighbourhood of 9 high quality dwellings on a previously under-utilised site. The Winner for High-Density Housing was One Lime Street by Henry J Lyons Architects, a dense and high-quality residential scheme of 216 dwellings on an urban site previously occupied by a number of obsolete buildings. Shortlisted housing projects included Leeson Street Upper by PLA Architects; The Residences, Sandford Close by Shay Cleary Architects; Donnybrook Gardens by de Blacam and Meagher Architects; and Marietta Woods, Castle Park by McCauley Daye O'Connell Architects. We look forward to seeing the housing projects entered this year! The closing date for entering the RIAI Awards 2025 has been extended to Monday, 10 March at midnight. For further details and to enter, visit https://www.riai.ie/awards. The RIAI Awards 2025 are kindly supported by our Gold Sponsors VELUX and Sika.   #RIAIAwards #irisharchitectureawards #architectureawards #housingdevelopments #sustainablecommunities

📢 Following requests from Members, we are pleased to announce that the submission deadline for RIAI Awards 2025 has been extended to Monday, 10 March at midnight. Please note that there will be no further extensions. For further details and to enter, please visit 👉 https://www.riai.ie/awards We look forward to receiving your entries and seeing what you have been working on!