Cities, Towns, Neighbourhoods

Our cities, towns and neighbourhoods form the bedrock of our society, culture and economy. However, there are many challenges affecting them, including a lack of affordable housing, vacancy and dereliction, and the impact of climate change. These issues will only accelerate further in the context of our population growth.

To discuss architectural and urban design solutions the RIAI Conference builds on last year’s popular Cities conference with the theme Cities, Towns, Neighbourhoods. The theme reflects the RIAI’s ongoing focus on reimagining our towns and cities as climate-resilient neighbourhoods and places for people with access to affordable housing.

The RIAI Conference will bring together a great line-up of national and international practitioners and thought leaders over two exciting days. 

RIAI Conference Programme, 8 October 

Following on from a Conference address by RIAI President Sean Mahon FRIAI, we are delighted to welcome Kristiaan Borret, who was the Bouwmeester - Maître Architecte (BMA) of the Brussels Capital Region from 2015 to 2025. The BMA is a government-appointed official who advocates for spatial quality in urban development from an independent position. In addition, we will have a special contribution from the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. 

From London we will hear from Hackney ‘Town Architect’, Holly Lewis who has been appointed by Sadiq Khan, Mayor of the Greater London Authority (GLA). Holly is also a Mayor’s Design Advocate and a Design Council Expert. She co-founded We Made That, a practice that creates equitable places through incisive research and impactful projects.

Affordable housing is essential to creating long-term sustainable neighbourhoods. Barcelona architect José Toral will present the acclaimed public housing work of his practice, Peris+Toral Arquitectes, for municipalities across Spain. The practice’s focus is on innovative materials and construction methods to address both the need for affordable housing and the climate emergency. Their work features in Spain’s Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale.

The opportunities and challenges for Irish towns, including the conservation and reuse of existing buildings and public spaces in Irish towns, will be discussed by Valerie Mulvin FRIAI, co-founder of McCullough Mulvin. Valerie will draw on many decades of built work and research into Irish towns, including books such as A Lost Tradition (with Niall McCullough) and Approximate Formality, Morphology of Irish Towns. She will also discuss The Reason of Towns exhibition (with The Irish Architecture Foundation and AP+E), which won an RIAI Research Award. Valerie will be joined by Andrée Dargan FRIAI from dlr Architects’ Department, who will present innovative housing solutions in Dun Laoghaire.

In our ‘Rising Stars’ session, we will hear from the Winners of the RIAI Emerging and RIAI Student Awards, who will be presenting their innovative projects. We are also delighted to welcome once more a student exhibition from Ireland’s Schools of Architecture – Constructive Interference 2 – at the Architecture + Building Expo.  

The first conference day will conclude with a special guest! Watch this space!

RIAI Conference Programme, 9 October 

We are delighted to be joined by Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD on 9 October for a special conference address. We will then focus on Architects delivering key national infrastructure with Dr. Andrew Clancy MRIAI, Clancy Moore Architects, presenting the practice’s RIAI award-winning Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant. This project has been praised by the jury as “exemplifying the civic value that a thoughtful architectural response can bring to public infrastructure.”

On the large urban scale, we welcome this year Sheila O’Donnell FRIAI and John Tuomey FRIAI, co-founders of O’Donnell + Tuomey, who are shaping the UK’s youngest urban quarter East Bank in Stratford, Greater London. O’Donnell + Tuomey won the masterplan through an architectural design competition, together with Allies and Morrison and Arquitecturia Camps Felip, and are delivering three buildings for the site including the recently completed Sadler’s Wells East dance theatre, the V&A East, as well as The Prow housing. Mayor of Greater London, Sadiq Khan, described Sadler’s Wells East as a “fantastic example of what it will achieve as we build a better London for everyone.”

The afternoon on Thursday 9 October will focus on ‘Urban Futures’ showcasing innovative ideas for developing sustainable cities, towns and neighbourhoods. We are joined then by the renowned Dutch architect, Francine Houben a founding Partner and Creative Director of Mecanno. She has gained international acclaim for projects ranging from theatres, museums and libraries to neighborhoods, housing and parks. Each design is founded on the observations of people, location, culture and climate. 

Vienna-based Architect Katharina Bayer, from einszueins Architects, will present inclusive, sustainable and affordable housing solutions, including the ‘Vienna Housing Model’ with its strong focus on providing long-term homes to all in society.

Peter Cody FRIAI and Dermot Boyd FRIAI, Boyd Cody Architects, will be discussing housing delivery in Irish towns, including their competition-winning project in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, delivered through a blend of adaptive reuse and new build. New models for schools and learning in our cities will be discussed by Paul Fox MRIAI, Rose Bonner Alexander MRIAI and David Jameson MRIAI, who co-founded tún, an award-winning architectural practice based in Dublin.

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