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THE O’DONOGHUE CENTRE for Drama, Theatre and Performance at National University of Ireland Galway has been voted Ireland’s favourite building.
The centre won the public choice award at the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Awards 2017.
The building was designed by Taylor Architects in association with Richard Murphy.
O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Donal Murphy via RIAIDonal Murphy via RIAI
The O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance NUI GalwayNUI Galway
Now in their 28th year, the awards are the primary architectural awards in the country.
The shortlist for the public choice award included 60 projects across 13 counties and three international projects – in Hungary, Poland and Palestine – all of which have been designed by RIAI-registered architects.
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There were entries from 13 counties across Ireland, including two from Northern Ireland
Over 20% of votes cast by members of the public online went to the winning project. It’s the second time in five years that Taylor Architects has been crowned as the winner in this category. Over 14,000 people voted in the public choice section.
Dublin and Cork
Second place went to the Central Bank of Ireland, North Wall Quay, designed by Henry J Lyons Architects, while third place went to a Cork project – Child’s Play Tower, designed by Kane Architects.
RIAI president Carole Pollard said the standard of entries was “very high”, adding: ”It’s a great achievement to win the public vote twice in five years.”
Eamon McCarney, managing director of Taylor Architects, said winning the award is “particularly special” as it is voted for by the public.
There are a record 18 categories in this year’s awards. The rest of the winners will be announced at a ceremony in Dublin’s Mansion House this evening.
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@Neville Patterson: Yes its a 150 year old factory warehouse converted into a new theatre. In the past it was a whiskey distillery, linen factory and even made shells during world war one.
@Paul Foot: I sort of don’t get your point. You disagree because it’s for students. Every building is designed with a certain demographic in mind, so I don’t get it. I’m sure it’s open to the public also. I don’t think these awards are based on that.
@Meekus: Fair enough – but converted warehouses are everywhere – and virtually identical from the outside. From the industrial revolution – they ‘re just large rectangular shed/ barns, which provided space for manufacturing, storage etc. Little architectural interest these days – if you’ve seen the Pompidou, the Louvre or the Guggenheim.
@Paul Foot: says the man with what looks like a very uninteresting picture of a house as his profile photo! What’s your gripe with students, you keep mentioning them!
There is something unique to Irish buildings in using natural products like limestone and slate. Even if the design does resemble a farm out building or cow shed.
@Bilbo Baggins: I wouldn’t say horrific, but it does look like they sat in a room and said “how do we get rid of the anglo baggage the building has?” and a clerk sarcastically said that they should wrap it in gold, with a yacht club sail-design, and the bankers said “yes!”, high fived each other while smoking cigars wrapped in 500 euro bills, lit by pages torn from Sugarmans book.
Did people actually voted for best 3D visualisation or real building? Because that barn in Galway is not real – it is computer generated !!
Also kids tower Cork architects built for their daughter – pretty nice and shows clearly there is lot of money in architecture again. Go and look their carparks – no longer bikes and old cars, only new 16 and 17 registrations !!
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