RIAI Awards Exhibition 2025
The RIAI Architecture Awards acknowledge achievements in Architecture and celebrate the quality of work carried out by RIAI Members and the contribution Registered Architects make to the built environment.
The winners of the 2025 RIAI Architecture Awards have been announced, demonstrating the quality being delivered in Architecture across Ireland and internationally. This year’s Awards recognise projects across 12 categories, showcasing the depth and diversity of architectural achievement with buildings and places that are central to our everyday lives. The full results of the RIAI Awards 2025 are available here.
In addition to the award winners and commended projects, the RIAI Awards Jury also selected 17 projects for Exhibition. These projects, including housing, public buildings and urban design projects, can be viewed below.
The Jury members for the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards 20254 were: Séamus Guidera MRIAI, Chair; Annie Fletcher, Director, IMMA, Distinguished Guest Juror; Carmel Brennan MRIAI; Nicci Brock MRIAI; Mark Costello MRIAI; Martin Liepmann MRIAI; Derbhile McDonagh MRIAI; Anna Meehan MRIAI; Sharon O’Gara MRIAI; Declan Scullion MRIAI.
3D MMC Housing
Architect: Office of Public Works
Client: Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Architect: Office of Public Works
Client: Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Location: Co. Dublin
This project showcases Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to deliver high quality 3D volumetric housing quickly. The Ukraine Rapid-Build Housing programme provides 654 homes to accommodate Ukrainian families at 11 sites throughout Ireland. A single-storey unit was initially developed to maximise delivery with regard to speed, quality, and availability of resources. Building upon this technology, a two-storey, three-bed housing exemplar has now been delivered which can contribute towards a sustainable national housing model.
Ballybrew barn
Architect: DUA - Darragh Breathnach
Client: Private
Architect: DUA - Darragh Breathnach
Client: Private
Location: Co. Wicklow
This home reinterprets the Irish agricultural shed with a curved-roof and corrugated green cladding, inspired by local agricultural sheds. The building itself follows the site’s slope to minimize excavation. The house is inverted to maximise daylight, with living spaces above and semi-submerged bedrooms below, both opening to the landscape. Refined materials and detailing elevate it beyond a farm aesthetic, while carefully placed openings frame views of the valley.
Birdhide
Architect: Ambacht
Client: Private
Architect: Ambacht
Client: Private
Location: Dublin
A new room is set into the garden to provide dining, living and a home office space. The room wraps around a courtyard while clerestory windows capture the sky and sun. The desk sits low under a mono-pitched roof, sunk deep into the garden like a birdhide, hidden from view.
The planted courtyard defines and separates each functional area, providing air, light, sun and sheltered views onto occasional visiting birds.
Carrick on Shannon Public Realm, Destination Towns & Streetscapes
Architect: dhb Architects
Client: Leitrim County Council
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Architect: dhb Architects
Client: Leitrim County Council
Location: Co. Leitrim
This project consists of a number of public realm interventions for Carrick on Shannon which improve the pedestrian experience in the town and improve the connectivity between the town centre and the River Shannon. These elements include wider footpaths with quality stone, less street parking, new lighting, shared surfaces, planting, a Shannon-side boardwalk, a bus stop, back-land development, a painting scheme for the street frontages and an integrated wayfinding strategy.
Celtic Park Avenue
Architect: Architectural Farm
Client: Private
Architect: Architectural Farm
Client: Private
Location: Dublin
The project consists of the renovation of an existing end-of-terrace house with a two-storey side extension and storey and half rear extension. The rear extension housing a new open plan kitchen/dining/family area is conceived as a pavilion addressing the south-facing garden and is defined by four deep brick piers with a concrete cornice to provide solar shading, which in turn supports a landscaped central glazed lantern.
Finlay Building
Architect: TAKA Architects
Client: Belvedere College SJ
Architect: TAKA Architects
Client: Belvedere College SJ
Location: Dublin
The refurbishment of the Finlay Building focused on upgrading classrooms to meet modern educational standards while uncovering and restoring the historic fabric. Classrooms were redesigned to meet DoE standards, incorporating improved ventilation, storage, and child protection measures. A new Pastoral Centre, defined by a timber-framed ‘Baldachin’ lined with deep-blue acoustic felt provides space for communal discussions and counselling. Fire safety upgrades were designed to preserve historic fabric while achieving compliance.
Lakeview House
Architect: de Blacam and Meagher Architects
Client: Private
Architect: de Blacam and Meagher Architects
Client: Private
Location: Co. Tipperary
‘Lakeside House’ is situated on a sloping site with views across Lough Derg to the north. It is positioned at the upper end of the site, with the living spaces elevated to take advantage of these views. The house is slender in plan, designed to allow south sunlight into the house, while maintaining the views to the north. Bedrooms are on the lower level, stepping down with the sloping site.
Liffey Street Public Realm
Architect: dhb Architects
Client: Dublin City Council
Architect: dhb Architects
Client: Dublin City Council
Location: Dublin
The project involves street improvement works to Liffey Street Upper and Lower. The proposal declutters the streetscape while creating a pedestrian-friendly environment through a series of safe and enjoyable public spaces linking the Ha’penny Bridge to Henry Street. Prioritising the needs of the pedestrian over the vehicle was central to the concept, and pedestrian numbers and street activities have increased since completion of the project.
Lusk for Life
Architect: AP+E in collaboration with Prescience, Miriam Delaney, Tara Kennedy & Livia Hurley
Client: Fingal County Council
Architect: AP+E in collaboration with Prescience, Miriam Delaney, Tara Kennedy & Livia Hurley
Client: Fingal County Council
Location: Co. Dublin
‘Lusk for Life’ is one of the first 26 Town Centre First Plans, commissioned by Fingal County Council, emerging from the community-led ‘Lusk Vision 2030’. Both plans were led by the same Architect, and, in collaboration with the Local Authority, Lusk Town Team and Pillar Groups developed creative urban strategies prioritising urban resilience, climate mitigation and community cohesion. The focus on delivery mechanisms and funding ensures long-term viability.
Mercy Cancer CARE Centre
Architect: JCA Architects
Client: Mercy University Hospital Foundation
Architect: JCA Architects
Client: Mercy University Hospital Foundation
Location: Cork
The project involved the conservation, adaptation, and extension of a protected structure at Dyke Parade. The Mercy Cancer CARE Centre gives an appropriate new life to the previously vacant office building / Georgian townhouse. Domestic features of the building were reinstated, creating a welcoming and supportive environment for patients and their family undergoing cancer treatment in the nearby hospital, while sensitively incorporating modern fire safety, accessibility and building regulation requirements.
Office Building Athlone
Architect: ABK Architects
Client: IDA Ireland
Architect: ABK Architects
Client: IDA Ireland
Location: Co Westmeath
Located in the mature landscape of IDA’s Athlone Business and Technology Park, this office building, with its deeply modelled elevations of brick and banded concrete, looks to create an architecture that establishes a sense of place through mass and materiality, in contrast to the often insubstantial architecture of the business park.
Pinterest EMEA Headquarters
Architect: MOLA Architecture
Client: Pinterest
Architect: MOLA Architecture
Client: Pinterest
Location: Dublin
Pinterest EMEA Headquarters in Dublin was destined to be a standout project. As a leading online inspiration platform, Pinterest aims for all its offices to reflect the brand – unique, highly visual, and full of discovery. The brief was to create an innovative, dynamic space for 300 employees, blending Irish influences with Pinterest’s identity. This design celebrates inspiration, creativity, and Irish craftsmanship.
Post Office
Architect: RKD
Client: Diageo
Architect: RKD
Client: Diageo
Location: Dublin
109 St James’s Street was in operation as a Post Office since opening in 1893 and ceased operations in 2005. The building, purchased by Diageo, has now been converted into a modern, bright dining hall where over 500 employees gather to enjoy healthy meals. Energy use has been reduced and accessibility has been improved to the existing protected structure.
St Agnes Road
Architect: Architectural Farm
Client: Private
Architect: Architectural Farm
Client: Private
Location: Dublin
This project consists of the renovation and extension of a mid-20th century semi-detached house in the Crumlin Architectural Conservation Area. Rear and side extensions create an open plan living area as well as a new bedroom and bathroom at first floor to accommodate their growing family. Bringing the house up to an energy efficient standard with the use of renewable energy and building fabric upgrades was central to the project.
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St. Lawrence Garden
Architect: McCullough Mulvin Architects
Client: Ballymore
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Architect: McCullough Mulvin Architects
Client: Ballymore
Location: St. Lawrence Garden
The Brentford Waterside Masterplan regenerates an area of London into a thriving community of some 850 new apartments. Plot A of the Masterplan, St. Lawrence Garden, provides amenity space for the whole community, placing sensitively designed new buildings alongside the rejuvenated 15th century church. The church and churchyard are re-imagined as cloister garden, around which public and private amenities - outdoor lido pool, gym, leisure facilities, and small apartment building – are set.
Tallaght Stadium New North Stand
Architect: Cooney Architects & Box Architecture
Client: South Dublin County Council
Architect: Cooney Architects & Box Architecture
Client: South Dublin County Council
Location: Dublin
Tallaght Stadium’s expansion and refurbishment elevate it to UEFA standards, increasing its spectator capacity to over 10,000 while enhancing media and hospitality facilities. The addition of the new North Stand completes the stadium’s enclosure on all four sides, creating a more immersive atmosphere for fans. The stand serves as a striking new gateway to the stadium, complementing the surrounding civic space and contributing to Tallaght’s evolving identity and community vibrancy.
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The Sidings
Architect: Henry J Lyons
Client: Evara [Formerly Quintain]
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Architect: Henry J Lyons
Client: Evara [Formerly Quintain]
Location: Co. Dublin
The Sidings serves as a 'gateway' building within Adamstown's Station Tile development zone. The project delivers 184 apartments across 15,360m² of gross internal floor area. Arranged in two linear blocks sharing a ground-level landscaped courtyard, 26 own-door units enhance the street environment while a distinctive nine-storey structure on the northwest corner acts as a wayfinding 'landmark', marking the entrance to this new community.