RIAI Awards 2007

From Ireland.com

Hanover Quay development wins architecture award
Clodagh Mulvey

A building development at Hanover Quay in Dublin has won this year’s Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) award for best housing project.

Designed by Dublin-based architecture firm O’Mahony Pike, the development in the Grand Canal Dock area of Dublin city consists of 292 residential units along with a crèche, retail and commercial accommodation and a pub.

The area has become a vibrant quarter of the city, combining residential and commercial development
Conor Kinsella of O’Mahony Pike architects The project was one of nine category winners at the 19th annual awards ceremony opened by Batt O’Keeffe, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment with responsibility for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas.
Conor Kinsella of O’Mahony Pike architects said the firm was “honoured” to receive the award for their project which was designed to “create a balance between the neighbouring residential areas around Pearse Street and the industrial scale of the Grand Canal Basin”.

“The area has become a vibrant quarter of the city, combining residential and commercial development. The aim was to create a contemporary residential development that would stand the test of time,” he said.

Other winning categories included best sustainable project, best health building, best education building and best house, with winning entries located in Galway, Mayo, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford and even London.

John Graby, director of the RIAI, said the organisation had received 187 entries this year, with 59 of these selected for a final exhibition to run at the Architecture Gallery at the RIAI at 8, Merrion Square, Dublin 2 from today.

Emphasising this year’s theme of quality in building, Mr Graby noted that five of the nine projects awarded this year were publicly funded. “It is important that public money is used to procure the highest standard of buildings which contribute to the overall built environment,” he said.

“Standards are continually rising as are peoples’ expectations; this is why it is so important to promote inclusive design and to ensure we invest in well-designed buildings