See two Irish housing schemes awarded medals for design

Dublin's Capital Dock and Marianella in Rathgar have won Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland silver medals

Fri, 15 Mar, 2024 - 15:30

Eve Kelliher

The importance of architecture in resolving challenges related to housing was highlighted this week.

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) awarded its silver medal for housing to Capital Dock and Marianella, both in Dublin.

This is the first time the medal has been awarded jointly and is a significant moment for Dublin city, according to the RIAI.

The awards were presented at the RIAI and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Joint National Housing conference in Waterford on Monday.

Capital Dock by O'Mahony Pike. Picture: Fionn McCann

O’Mahony Pike Architects, which has offices in Dublin and Cork, designed the winning projects, during 2018-2019.

The projects resolve architectural design challenges in two very different contexts in Dublin — the city centre (Dublin Docklands) and an established neighbourhood (Rathgar).

Capital Dock was delivered under the Dublin Docklands Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). It demonstrates the value of a plan-led approach under the Docklands planning scheme for the area.

This is the fourth RIAI silver medal for a housing scheme in the Dublin Docklands.

The second winning project, Marianella, is located in one of the city’s established neighbourhoods.

Marianella, O'Mahony Pike Architects. Picture: Paul McCarthy

“It demonstrates how to successfully provide both public and private housing options. The development provides mixed dwelling typology, including apartments, townhouses and mews houses,” according to the RIAI.

The project is also “a great example of allowing people to remain in their neighbourhood and community while downsizing, thus freeing bigger houses for families with children”, say the judges.

Marianella, O'Mahony Pike Architects. Picture: Donal Murphy

“These two winning projects demonstrate the benefits for communities of creating thriving, sustainable neighbourhoods within liveable cities,” says the president of the RIAI, Sean Mahon.

“This is essential to address the great challenges that we have in Ireland — our growing population, changing demographics and the need to meet our climate targets to mitigate against climate change.”

Marianella, O'Mahony Pike Architects. Picture: Roger O'Sullivan

The RIAI silver medal for housing is the highest award for housing design given by the RIAI. It is a biennial award made to encourage excellence of design in housing.