About the RIAI

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About the RIAI

 

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) is the Regulatory and Support body for Architects in Ireland. Support services are also provided for Architectural Technicians.

Although the RIAI carries out a statutory function as the Registration Body and Competent Authority for Architects in Ireland this is carried out on an entirely self-funding basis. The RIAI does not receive any Government Funding or State Aid for this Statutory Function

The RIAI is a company limited by guarantee without share capital, registered in Ireland. Company Registration Number: 003498. Company Registered Address: 8 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.  Company Charitable  Tax Exemption Number  CHY 5436.

The Directors of the company for 2012 are: Michelle Fagan, David Power, Grainne Shaffrey, Angela Rolfe, Orla Fitz.Gerald, Paul Keogh, Fionnuala Rogerson, Toal ÓMuire, Eddie Conroy, James Coady, Ali Grehan, Robin Mandal, Peter Carroll, Niall Meagher, Emma Curley, Eamonn Greville, Derek Meenan, Kevin Smyth, Laura Bowen, John Ruane, Joseph Byrne, Douglas Carson, Anne Lynch, Ronan Rose-Roberts.

Since 1839 the RIAI has been committed to upholding the highest standards in architecture and providing impartial and authorative advice and information in issues affecting architects, the built environment and society. 

Our main roles are:

  • Governance
  • Promoting architecture
  • Supporting architects
  • Regulating architects

1) Governance

RIAI activities are co-ordinated by a 24 Member Council, the Institutes governing body, elected by the Membership.

The Director, the RIAI’s chief Executive Officer, has a permanent staff which services the Institute's Council and Committees and also administers the requirement of the sections of the Building Control Act dealing with the registration of architects.

2) Promoting

The RIAI promotes the activities and achievements of the Irish architectural profession - both in Ireland and abroad - through a wide variety of initiatives. Communicating to a wider public the value that quality architecture brings to all our lives is a central objective of the RIAI.

Publications

The RIAI publishes two magazines: Architecture Ireland and HOUSE architecture design. Architecture Ireland is the RIAI's official journal and the leading architectural magazine for Irish architecture. The magazine is published six times per annum and its objective is to give the widest possible coverage to both Irish architecture and to Irish architects as well as keeping the professional informed with up-to-date information on the activities of the Institute and architecture. In addition to the RIAI membership, the magazine is circulated to Government Ministers, TDs and Senators. Editor is Dr Sandra O'Connell.

HOUSE architecture design was specifically devised by the RIAI to communicate architecture to a wider public audience. The magazine has a strong focus on residential design and will be published twice a year in 2012. Editor is Emma Cullinan.

RIAI Annual Review

The RIAI has published to-date two editions of its new Annual Review, Irish Architecture. The publication marks the far-reaching achievements of Irish architecture, both at home and abroad, over a two-year period in each volume. The current Volume 2 features 144-pages of award-winning buildings alongside essays and reviews by leading cultural and architectural commentators, the book offers a fresh and uplifting look at contemporary Irish architecture. It also features a section on recent RIAI competitions, emerging practices and essays on the Irish architect Dr Ronnie Tallon, whose distinguished career was marked with a life-time achievement award, the Gandon Medal, from the RIAI. Volume 1 features 28 award-winning projects alongside competition-winning schemes and an interview with Ireland's Prizker Prize Winner, Kevin Roche. Both volumes are available from the RIAI bookshop.

 

Simon | Open Door

The RIAI & the Simon Communities of Ireland joined forces to create the annual fundraising initiative "Simon Open Door" - whereby participating RIAI Architects around Ireland open their offices on to give members of the public an hour's consultation with an architect in return for a donation to Simon of €50. Over the last 6 years, we have raised nearly €250,000 for Simon and provided over 3000 consultations to the public.Visit the Simon | Open Door website
  

 

Architecture Tours Ireland

Available all year, Architecture Tours Ireland takes in a variety of historical and contemporary architecture including such urban highlights as Dublin Docklands, Georgian Dublin, Temple Bar, and a dedicated Children’s Activity Tour. Tours run every week and are led by RIAI-Registered architects. In addition to regular tours, ATI offer special interest tours for pre-booked groups, which will cover a wide range of architecture and urban design topics. A joint initiative between the RIAI and the Irish Architecture Foundation, Architecture Tours Ireland was launched in May 2011 by Jimmy Deenihan, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. “Feedback on the tours has been extremely positive – our guides have a passion for architecture and a desire to show off Dublin’s achievements”, says Kathryn Meghen, Assistant Director at the RIAI.  www.architecturetours.ie

 

 

EFAP and Converging Territories

The RIAI is responsible for the Irish delivery of the EU project EFAP Converging Territories. The project promotes architects’ mobility in Europe with a view to foster cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. In 2011, the Italian architect, urban designer and academic Dr Nicola Russi undertook a research residence at the RIAI. Dr Russi presented his findings ‘West Side Strategy’ in a lecture at the RIAI on 6 December 2011. Russi examined areas in Dublin that were less developed during the so-called Celtic Tiger years of economic boom. He then proposed a series if interventions on the ‘West Side’ of the city based on some of the city’s successful urban design components, such as Dublin’s low-rise character and lush Georgian squares.  www.convergingterritories.eu/home.

Architectural Competitions

Architectural Competitions have an important role in advancing quality in architecture. The RIAI provides a full range of services to help clients who wish to commission an architectural competition. Go the competitions area

 

RIAI Medals - Promoting Excellence in Architecture

The RIAI promotes excellence in architecture and awards medals for outstanding achievement. The RIAI Gold Medal is considered the premier award for architecture in Ireland. It is awarded for a building completed within a defined three year period, some years after completion so that the building can be evaluated in a mature state. The best buildings built during a given three year period since 1932 can be viewed on the Irish Architecture Awards website. In addition to the Gold Medal, the RIAI also awards a Silver Medal for Housing and a Conservation and Restoration Medal. The inaugural Gandon Medal for lifetime achievement in Irish architecture was presented to Dr Ronald Tallon, a founding director of Scott Tallon Walker Architects in December 2010.

 

Irish Architecture Awards

The RIAI organises and presents a range of Architectural Awards to acknowledge and promote the best work being carried out by Irish Architects in particular categories at a particular time. The Irish Architecture Awards web site contains all of the previous award winners and gives an unrivalled picture of the development of Irish Architecture.

 

Events

RIAI and RIAI Regional Groups run a wide range of events including lectures aimed at promoting architecture. Go to the current events listing

3) Supporting

RIAI represents the views of architects and architectural technicians on architectural and built environment issues to the media, through liaison with Government, Government Departments, Local Authorities, State Agencies and other architectural/urban bodies, and EU and International organisations.

RIAI is represented on a wide range of industry bodies including:

EU Organisations

  • Architects Council of Europe
    • ACE Urban Issues
    • ACE SHW
    • ACE Professional Profile
    • ACE Qualifications Directive
  • ENACA – European Network of Architects’ Competent Authorities

International Organisations

Architectural and Urban Organisations

4) Regulating

Standards for Architects

RIAI Education Policy is informed by EU and International Standards , the RIAI Matrix of Knowledge, Skills and Competences, and the standards prescribed by the Building Control Act 2007, to ensure that the built environment is designed and directed by properly trained architects

Go to the Register of Architects

Standards for Architectural Technicians

Architectural Technicians play an important role in supporting the complementing the work of architects and architecture practices. RIAI Standards of Knowledge, Skills and Competences for Architecture Technicians (TBA) are used to ensure appropriate standards.

Go to the Register of Architects

Consumer Protection and Services

The RIAI through a range of services and the provisions in the Building Control Act 2007 works to ensure consumer protection.

In order to fulfil this objective the RIAI:

  • Acts as the Registration Body for Architects in Ireland
  • Uses RIAI education policy and the RIAI Matrix of Knowledge, Skills and Competence when accrediting schools of architecture, for prescription by the Minister for the Environment.
  • Uses RIAI education policy and the Professional Practice Matrix of Knowledge, Skills and Competence in Professional Practice Examination to ensure candidates:
    • Fully understand the nature of Professional Architecture Practice
    • Have sufficient knowledge of Irish Law and Contract Procedures, and
    • Have enough practical experience of all the stages of a building project
    • Have experience and knowledge of the procedures and judgement required to run an architectural practice and provide a full range of architectural services.
  • Provides an independent Statutory CONSUMER/REGISTRATION Complaints Procedure with a majority of non-architects on the Professional Conduct Committee
  • Requires a stated level of Continuing Professional Development
  • Provides detailed information on the design and construction process for small and large scale projects.
  • Publishes a range of standard documentation providing a framework for construction.
  • Publishes a range of standard agreements for use between the Client and the Architect.
  • Provides advice and information on RIAI Standard Client/Architect Agreements
  • Publishes consumer guides including “Working With Your Architect”
  • Provides a nomination service to assist in the selection of REGISTERED architects and to help clients select architects in practices appropriate for their projects
  • Provides information on registered architects and practices accredited in conservation work
  • Provides information on architects accredited as Project Supervisors for the Design Process

 

 

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