Experience Europe’s best buildings and the first-ever Irish winner on show at the EUmies Award Exhibition in Dublin

Sean Mahon, RIAI’s newly elected President said: “From urban green spaces to affordable housing and innovative designs, architecture can make a difference in creating healthier, sustainable and resilient environments for society. Architects are playing a key role in providing solutions to many of the challenges we face today both in Ireland and across all regions of the EU. This exhibition is one way of highlighting transformational architectural solutions, from the smallest scale to the large-scale planning of our towns and cities, and allows us to reconsider and challenge our current ways of thinking of what is possible and achievable. High quality architecture is the essential foundation of our National Policy on Architecture and New European Bauhaus.

Front Row LR:  Kathryn Meghen, RIAI CEO; Shelley McNamara FRIAI and Yvonne Farrell FRIAI, Grafton Architects; Anna Ramos, Director and Ivan Blasi, Curator of Prizes, Fundació Mies van der Rohe. Back Row LR: Sean Mahon FRIAI, RIAI President; Sandra O’Connell, RIAI Director of Communications; Eugene Downes, Cultural Director, Department of Foreign Affairs; Emmett Scanlon, Director, Irish Architecture Foundation; Philippe O’Sullivan MRIAI, Grafton Architects; Nicola Matthews FRIAI, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Ciaran O’Connor FRIAI, State Architect, OPW;  Ger Carty FRIAI, Grafton Architects. Photo Ros Kavanagh.

The RIAI is delighted to support the EUmies Awards exhibition and to showcase to the public the positive impact architecture can have on our environment, our people and our future.”

Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara of Grafton architects said: “We are very proud to be the first Irish Architectural Practice to receive this highly prestigious European award. We believe this to be an endorsement of the rich Architectural Culture which exists in Ireland.”

Since 1988, the European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe of Barcelona have been jointly responsible for this prestigious biennial award, which recognises and commends excellence in the field of architecture and draws attention to the important contribution of European professionals in the development of new ideas and technologies.

Ivan Blasi, director of programs, Fundació Mies van der Rohe said: “The exhibition is a fantastic opportunity to travel around Europe visiting its best architecture, highlighting the topics that are paramount today. Having Grafton Architects win the Prize and being able to present their work surrounded by a big group of excellent architecture in Dublin is a great honour for the European Union and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe. We are extremely grateful to the RIAI for nominating fantastic works for each cycle of the Prize, the Irish nominators, and Grafton Architects and those who have made the exhibition possible”.

Alongside the exhibition, there is a fantastic programme of free lectures and events.

The opening talk by EUmies Prize Winners Grafton Architects took place on 17 January.

On 31 January (5.30pm), Deadline Architects from Berlin, who were Finalists in the EUmies Awards, discuss Liveable Cities and their innovative co-working project Frizz23 at the Printworks.  Frizz 23 is a groundbreaking example of how architects can create innovative and affordable workplaces for those on lower incomes, with some work/live units for artists and creatives. Places are filling fast and tickets are available here.  

On 12 February, the Irish Architecture Foundation presents – in partnership with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the RIAI – Unlocking Potential, a half day conference with Irish Architects, who have been nominated in the EUmies Awards 2022 and 2024. The conference is followed by a public lecture by Architect Francesca Torzo, a finalist in the EUmies Awards. Free tickets to both events are available here. 

We will say goodbye to the EUmies Awards Exhibition with a closing event on 14 February (5.30pm) in partnership with RIAI Women in Architecture. Entitled Contemporary + Beyond – this evening will feature contributions from Cristina Gamboa, Lacol Architects, Barcelona, Emerging Winner, EUmies Award; Dr. Alice Casey MRIAI, TAKA Architects; Laura Hurley, a CCAE graduate and EUmies Young Talent winner; and Igea Troiani, Professor of Architecture at London South Bank University and Chair of Women in Architecture UK. The evening is curated by Dr. Carole Pollard and RIAI President, Sean Mahon FRIAI will open the event.

The event is free and open to all, and we hope that the 2024 audience will be fully representative of all those interested in contemporary practice of architecture. We recommend early booking as this is a very popular event. Followed by a reception. Places are filling fast and tickets are available here.

About the exhibition

Exhibition opening times from 16 January to 14 February (inclusive) are:

• Tuesdays – Fridays from 11am to 5pm
• Saturdays 12 to 5pm
• Closed on Sunday and Monday

About the EUmies Award

The EUmies award is the European Union prize for architecture and the ultimate honour for a building in Europe. The EUmies Awards are granted to single architectural works demonstrating excellence in conceptual, social, cultural and technical terms. They raise awareness of quality architecture and its contribution to the well-being of citizens and the sustainable development of European cities, towns and villages.

The RIAI is presenting the exhibition in Ireland to engage public and professional audiences with Irish and European architecture, the New European Bauhaus and the positive impact architecture can have on the challenges we are facing – from climate change to affordable housing and liveable cities.

The exhibition is supported in Ireland by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the National Policy on Architecture (DHLGH), the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland and the OPW.