Latest news with #RoyalInstituteoftheArchitectsofIreland
Yomiuri Shimbun
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Ireland Opens New Embassy Building in Japan; Visiting Irish Prime Minister Pledges Commitment to Bilateral Ties
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of Ireland House, the new Irish embassy building, was held in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on Wednesday. Before cutting the ribbon together, Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Hisayuki Fujii, state minister of foreign affairs, both made speeches expressing the two countries' commitment to further improving their bilateral relations. Also in attendance were Irish Ambassador to Japan Damien Cole and Princess Hisako of renewal of the Irish embassy was described by Martin as one of the 'flagship projects of the [Irish] government's global strategy' and a 'physical symbol of [Ireland's] long-term commitment to a deep bilateral relationship with Japan.' Acting as the Japanese government's representative at the ceremony, Fujii made his speech in both Japanese and English. He described Japan and Ireland as 'partners with shared ambitions.' Martin is in Japan for a four-day visit, having arrived on Tuesday. He met with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday, during which he said they 'reaffirmed our [two countries'] commitment to continue to take our relations and exchanges to a new, higher level over the next decade.' The commitment is based on the 2022 Joint Leader's Statement issued by Martin and then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Martin was set to visit the Osaka-Kansai Expo on Thursday and then travel to Hiroshima on Friday to mark 80 years since the city's atomic of cultures Ireland House Tokyo is a five-minute walk from JR Yotsuya Station and covers about 2,700 square meters. Its construction has been described as one of the largest single capital investments ever made overseas by the Irish government. The building's design was chosen through a competition run by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland in 2019, with the winning proposal coming from Dublin-based architecture firm Henry J Lyons. Under the theme 'Irish stone meets Japanese stone,' the building incorporates limestone from Kilkenny, Ireland, and granite from the Setouchi islands. Elements of both Irish caislean tower houses and traditional Japanese machiya townhouses have been interwoven to symbolize the expanding relationship between the two countries.
The Journal
18-06-2025
- General
- The Journal
This Galway monastery has been voted Ireland's favourite new building of 2025
THE BENEDICTINE MONASTERY at Kylemore Abbey in Co Galway has won the 'Public Choice' award at the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Architecture Awards. The institute said 14,000 votes were cast in total, with the monastery emerging as the winner. The Kylemore building was designed by Axo Architects for The Kylemore Trust. It is located on the edge of Pollacappul Lough, beneath the Duchruach Mountain and near the historic Kylemore Abbey. There were 14,000 votes cast by the public for the award. RIAI RIAI RIAI president Seán Mahon said the winning entry 'demonstrates a deep understanding of heritage, landscape, and community, creating a space that feels both grounded in tradition and relevant to the present'. Advertisement 'We are thrilled to see the public recognise and celebrate architecture that enriches lives and contributes meaningfully to a much loved natural landscape and environment,' he said. The Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant in Co Wicklow came in second place. It was designed by Clancy Moore Architects in collaboration with Ayesa Engineers The Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant in Co Wicklow came in second place. RIAI RIAI The 12-classrooom building at Scoil Naomh Bríd Culleens, designed by SJK Architects finished in third, while the redevelopment of the Dún Laoghaire Baths in Dublin by dlr architects and A2 Architects came in fourth place. There were 124 entries for the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards this year, with 48 projects shortlisted for the Public Choice Award. The full list of winners across all categories will be announced at the awards tomorrow, which are taking place at the Merrion Cricket Pavilion. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
30-05-2025
- General
- The Journal
The 'cathedral of crap' and Trinity Campanile among 2025 contenders for Ireland's favourite building
CONTENDERS FOR IRELAND'S favourite architectural project of 2025 have been announced as voting opens to the public . The 36th annual Public Choice Award hosted by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), which has seen past winners include the Criminal Courts of Justice in 2010 and the Royal College of Surgeons premises at St. Stephen's Green, features 48 candidates this year. The prize is given to the building or public space that exhibits the most excellence in design and delivery of buildings. The Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan, north Dublin is the current holder of the coveted prize, and it looks as though this year's competition is highly contested as the shortlist for 2025 has been announced. Here are ten of the 48 projects vying for the title. Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wicklow Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant, otherwise known as the 'cathedral of crap' RIAI RIAI Warmly referred to as a 'cathedral of crap' by The Guardian owing to its implicitly stated role in the Wicklow town, the inspiration for the €139 million project comes from the Sydney Opera House. The construction has been vaunted for its smooth aesthetic design which was completed by Clancy Moore Architects in collaboration with Ayesa Engineers on behalf of Uisce Éireann. Droichead an Dóchais Droichead an Dóchais, Galway RIAI RIAI Meaning 'Bridge of Hope' in Irish, this new project stands beside the old Salmon Weir Bridge on the River Corrib in front of the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas. Developed by Seán Harrington Architects, the bridge serves as a thoroughfare for pedestrians and cyclists alike, traversing three waterways to connect the University of Galway and the city centre. Tolka Estuary Greenway, Dublin Port Tolka Estuary Greenway, Dublin Port RIAI RIAI Conceptualised by Darmody Architecture and TTT (thirtythreetrees), this greenway sheds its former status as desolate wasteland, stretching 2.2km at Dublin Port to overlook the Dublin skyline and port. It contains a series of three distinct character spaces and celebrates Dublin Port's industrial heritage and history. Trinity Campanile Tower Trinity Campanile Tower, Trinity College RIAI RIAI Howley Hayes Cooney Architecture took on the role of refurbishing this iconic Irish landmark in Trinity College Dublin's city centre campus. The tower underwent extensive repair works after centuries of wear and tear to conserve its aesthetic. Expert craftsmen were deployed to restore the tower's most important features and to undo substandard previous works. Advertisement Two Grand Parade, Dublin Two Grand Parade, Dublin RIAI RIAI Located along the serene Grand Canal, Henry J Lyons produced this silky merge of heritage and modernity. It functions as an office space and is recognisable by its complex façade work achieved by virtue of its restoration works to the surrounding building's older structure, incorporating a reimagined entrance plaza and water feature. Leeson Park Avenue Leeson Park Avenue, Dublin RIAI RIAI A modernised extension to a Victorian house in leafy south Dublin overlooks the Royal Hospital Donnybrook. Its timber screen front covers a kitchen pitched above the level of the historic wall beneath, projecting new age design conceived by desiun architects. Scoil Naomh Bríd Culleens, Mayo Scoil Naomh Bríd Culleens, Mayo RIAI RIAI A twelve-classroom primary school project by SJK Architects is up for this year's award for its colourful splash of creativity in bringing education alive for its 330 pupils. It features a two-classroom integrated Special Education Needs unit and invites daylight and openness into its immaculate design. The Redevelopment of Dún Laoghaire Baths, Dublin The Redevelopment of Dún Laoghaire Baths RIAI RIAI This public infrastructure work by dlr architects and A2 Architects on the 400-metre stretch of south Dublin coastline produced accommodates a café, toilets and artist studios. It has introduced a new walkway between Newtownsmith's promenade and Dún Laoghaire's East Pier with new viewing points. There are also accessible ramps, seating and a sculpture of Roger Casement on a new jetty. Monaghan Peace Campus, Monaghan Monaghan Peace Campus, Monaghan Donal McCann Photography Donal McCann Photography Hall Black Douglas is behind this design for the purposes of providing an inclusive 'living room' to local people. It serves to marry Monaghan town's urban and rural landscapes into a symbol of the future by gathering a museum, library and youth hub around accessible community spaces. Demolition Take Down, Dublin Demolition Take Down RIAI RIAI Led by Islander Architects, this project in October 2023 to raise awareness of the waste levels produced by the construction industry. It calls on policy makers, councils, construction industry workers and clients to take urgent climate action. This public installation in the courtyard of the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin 8 attempts to visually exhibit the sheer volume of waste created in the building process and included input from industry professionals and students of construction. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
