RIAI | Irish Architecture Awards

Citation

Overseas - Over £200,000

A design-build, fast-track contract combined with a low budget and a difficult urban site are not conducive to the production of quality architecture. In this instance the architects have overcome the restrictions and created a building which is inventive, stylish and expressive of its design school function.

The elevation to the busy Holloway Road is deeply articulated to form a distinctive entrance and shop window to the school. Fragmented windows enliven the facades and strengthen the identity of the building in an area which lacks a coherent urban order.

Architects' Comment
The need for sped lead to a direct approach to materials and construction. All finishes are fair faced and services are left exposed as an educational tools for the students. the ground floor is the 'shop window' of the school with a tall open plan multi-purpose foyer space connected to the street.

Clients Comments
This was a challenging deisgn and build project completed in ten months from inception to comletion. It contains 3,200 square metres of new and refurbished buildings for the purpose built School of Architecture and Interior Design.