• 05 Oct 2022

Architects Gather at RIAI Conference 2022 to Play their Part in Delivering Ireland’s Environmental, Economic and Social Infrastructure and Bringing New National Architecture Policy, Places for People

The 2022 RIAI Conference took place on Wednesday 5 October and Thursday 6 October at the RDS alongside the Architecture + Building Expo and online (hybrid) with over 1,300 attendees. Themed Places for People, the Conference marked the milestone publication of Ireland’s new Policy on Architecture, exploring key policy action areas: Value and Empower; Set a Quality Agenda; and Generate Knowledge.

The conference was supported by our premium sponsor OUTHAUS.

The Conference was formally opened by RIAI President Charlotte Sheridan MRIAI and Minister of State, Peter Burke TD.

Keynote speakers on day one were Grafton Architects founders, Yvonne Farrell FRIAI and Shelley McNamara FRIAI, who discussed their focus on ‘Making Places’, sharing new and award-winning work, including Town House at Kingston University in London, which won the EU’s Mies Van der Rohe Award.

They were joined by the Emerging Winner of the Mies Award, Cristina Gamboa from Lacol, a non-profit cooperative of architects founded in 2014 in the neighbourhood of Sants, in Barcelona.

Psychologist, author and broadcaster Maureen Gaffney spoke on the theme of ‘resilience’ and provided insights into how we can develop tools to cope with the challenges in our professional lives as well as transform our thinking to reclaim control.

Day one of the Conference concluded with the presentation of the RIAI Future Award and Student Awards in the RDS by RIAI President Charlotte Sheridan. Celebrating the next generation of Irish Architects and Architectural Technologists is an important part of the Conference. Full press release available here

The day concluded with a social event with drinks and DJ Tadgh Byrne.

Day two was opened by RIAI President, Charlotte Sheridan MRIAI and RIAI CEO, Kathryn Meghen, who gave an overview of the strategic work of the institute in areas such as 'Collaboration, Information and Better Systems'. Australian architect and thought-leader Caroline Pidcock spoke about how architects can be advocates for climate change action.

Dr. Marjan Colletti, an expert in digital design discussed the topic of ‘Postdigital Architecture.’

Architect and city planner Stein Kolstø, Head of the Oslo Waterfront Planning Office Agency, provided insights into how the project has set a quality agenda for urban regeneration.

The final session titled 'New Irish Housing' focused on three Housing projects by leading Irish architects. The final session focused on new Irish Housing, with the forthcoming publication of the RIAI’s New Housing 3 book. Louise Cotter MRIAI, Cotter & Naessens, and Denis Byrne MRIAI, Denis Byrne Architects gave a 'Preview of Dominick Street Regeneration: a Social Housing and Mixed-Use Project for Central Dublin'. Esmonde O'Briain MRIAI of O’Briain Beary Architects spoke about 'Ard Cre Social Housing project (Phase 2), Ballymoneen' in Galway. Grace Keeley MRIAI and Michael Pike MRIAI of GKMP discussed 'Transformation of St Senan’s Hospital', Enniscorthy. 

The conference was expertly and engagingly chaired by Architect, artist, broadcaster and writer Róisín Murphy. Our panel contributors provided valuable insights into the topics and our sincere thanks go to: Nicki Matthews MRIAI and Dr. Nessa Roche, Built Heritage, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Grafton Architects, Making Places); Fionnuala May MRIAI, County Architect, Fingal County Council and Michael Goan MRIAI, Land Development Agency (Cristina Gamboa, Housing as a Collective Process); Sarah O’Dwyer MRIAI and Catriona Duggan MRIAI (Caroline Pidcock, Climate Change Action: ‘A Journey to Understanding my Place’); Maire Henry MRIAI, South East Technological University; Michael Early, RIAI BIM Committee; Emma Hayes, Build Digital Project (Dr. Marjan Colletti, Postdigital Architecture. What Now?!); and Charlotte Sheridan, RIAI President; David Browne FRIAI, Irish Cities 2070; Alan Mee MRIAI, Space Engagers (Stein Kolstø, 40 Years of Planning and Architecture in Oslo FjordCity).

Our thanks to the 1,300 RIAI Members, built environment professionals, guests and students who joined us for this two-day celebration of Architecture. 

The conference was supported by our premium sponsor OUTHAUS.

The Student rate was supported by Cement Manufacturers Ireland. Stage furniture was provided by MINIMA.
Attending the RIAI Conference constituted to 5 Structured CPD Points per day.