The Reason of Towns Exhibition

The Reason of Towns is a touring exhibition that celebrates Irish towns through “a public occasion for the telling and retelling of true stories, lost traditions and possible futures for Irish towns and the people who live in them.” Drawing from Valerie Mulvin's book ‘Approximate Formality’ and three decades of research, the exhibition demonstrates the potential for careful conservation and sustainable reuse of existing buildings and public spaces in Irish towns.

The exhibition toured five towns and one city across Ireland, presenting working models of architectural interventions, salvaged materials, historical maps, 400 35mm slides with accompanying travel sketchbooks, new films exploring Irish towns across different eras, and forward-looking interviews with architects shaping future town projects. This beautifully curated and accomplished project is truly deserving of the award, offering both scholarly depth and broad public accessibility in its examination of Irish urban heritage and potential.