RIAI Universal Design Award 2023 Winner

Beyond the Trees: Avondale House and Forest Park by van Dijk Architects and Stöger + Kölbl Architekten.

Beyond the Trees: Avondale House and Forest Park, winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2023

Presentation of the RIAI Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Award 2023

Presentation of the RIAI UD category, RIAI Architecture Award 2023

Pictured from l to r: Declan Price, Jan van Dijk, van Dijk Architects, Charlotte Sheridan RIAI President, Aideen Hartney, Director NDA, Cathal Fearon, Andrew Kane, van Dijk Architects

The jury citation for the award states:

It is evident that Universal Design was integrated into Beyond the Trees at Avondale House and Forest Park, from the outset of the project. The result is an inclusive, thoughtfully considered and well-detailed scheme, which has been responsive to user consultation. Beyond the Trees provides a wonderful experience for people with a wide range of ages and abilities to have access to nature in a unique way.

Commended 2023

Dominick Hall by Cotter & Naessens Architects and Denis Byrne Architects was commended in the Universal Design category.

RIAI Architecture Awards Commended in UD Award Winner Dominick Hall

Dominick Hall, Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2023

RIAI Universal Design Award 2022 Winner

India Buildings, Liverpool

India Buildings, Liverpool, winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2022

India Buildings, Liverpool

Jury Comment:

The successful adaptation of India Buildings sets a very high standard for workplace design in a listed city centre commercial building, built almost 100 years ago. The client’s brief required their workplace to be designed:

‘to class-leading inclusive and accessible design standards, to ensure that it can be easily used by a wide and diverse range of people’

The building provides environments that are based on need rather than status, allowing staff to work in the way they feel is best for them, whether at a traditional desk, a quiet works area, an enclosed private room, or an open collaboration area.

It cleverly solves issues for neurodivergent people through the provision of natural lighting, restorative, and neutral spaces for people to take time out from stressful or upsetting situations and sensory muted spaces where visual and tactile distractions are minimised.

The architects have skilfully balanced the, sometimes, conflicting requirements of universal design, conservation, security and health and wellbeing with well-designed interventions informed by the need to achieve ‘equality of experience’ for all building users.

Highly Commended 2022

House at Chapelizod - Studio Red Architects

RIAI 2022 Awards Highly Commended - House of Chapelizod

House at Chapelizod - Highly Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2022

RIAI Universal Design Award 2021 Winner

The National Rehabilitation Hospital by O’Connell Mahon Architect

National Rehabilitation Hospital RIAI UD Award 2021

The National Rehabilitation Hospital - winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2021

Jury Comment:

The National Rehabilitation Hospital demonstrates the positive impact of involving diverse users throughout the design process by providing an environment specifically meeting the requirements of patients and staff. Consideration of Universal Design principles is evident from design concept through to detail design involving landscaping and access to nature, views to the Dublin mountains, natural light and ventilation and easy circulation, way-finding and use of colour.

Jointly Commended 2021

Donnybrook Parish Centre by Deaton Lysaght Architects

Donnybrook Parish Centre

Donnybrook Parish Centre - Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2021

Microsoft OMC by Coady Architects in association with Perkins and Will

Microsoft OMC

Microsoft OMC - Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2021

RIAI Universal Design Award 2020 Winner

Rochestown House Phase III, a housing development by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Architects’ Department.

Rochestown House Phase III

Rochestown House Phase III- winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2020

Highly Commended 2020

Candle Community Trust by McGarry Ni Éanaigh Architects

Candle Community Trust

Candle Community Trust - Highly Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2020

Lough Lannagh Leisure Complex by Mayo Co.Council

Lough Lannagh Leisure Complex

Lough Lannagh Leisure Complex - Highly Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2020

Brickworks – London - winner in the Universal Design category,

Brickworks – London by Brady Mallalieu Architects

Brickworks - London

Brickworks – London - winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2019

RIAI Universal Design Award 2018 Winner

Newry Leisure Centre – Kennedy Fitzgerald Architect

Newry Leisure Centre

Newry Leisure Centre - winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2018

Highly Commended 2018

26 York Street, The Royal College of Surgeons, Henry J. Lyons Architects

20 York Street, The Royal College of Surgeons

26 York Street, The Royal College of Surgeons, Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2018

RIAI Universal Design Award 2017 Joint Winners

Central Bank of Ireland, North Wall Quay, Dublin by Henry J Lyons Architects

Central Bank of Ireland

Central Bank of Ireland, North Wall Quay - joint winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2017

Elizabeth’s Tree House at Barretstown Castle, McCauley Daye O'Connell Architects

Elizabeth's Tree House at Barretstown Castle

Elizabeth’s Tree House at Barretstown Castle - joint winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2017

RIAI Universal Design Award 2016 Winner

Linn Dara, Child & Adolescent In-Patient Unit by A&D Wejchert and Partners Architects

Linn Dara, Child * Adolescent In-Patient Unit

Linn Dara, Child & Adolescent In-Patient Unit - winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2016

Highly Commended 2016

Margaret Aylward Centre Glasnevin, Dublin – MOLA Architecture

Margaret Aylward Centre, Glasnevin, Dublin

Margaret Aylward Centre Glasnevin, Dublin - Highly Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2016

Commended 2016:

St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre, Malahide Dublin Seán Harrington Architects

St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre, Dublin

St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre, Malahide, Dublin - Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2016

RIAI Universal Design Award 2015 Winner

Restoration of St. Mel's Cathedral, Longford, by Fitzgerald Kavanagh and Partners

St Mel's Cathedral, Longford

Restoration of St. Mel's Cathedral, Longford -winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2015

Commended 2015:

Athlone Community College by McGarry Ní Éanaigh Architects

Athlone Community College

Athlone Community College - Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2015

RIAI Universal Design Award Winner 2014

Residential extension and adaptation by Justin O’Callaghan, Architect

Residential extension and adaptation

Residential Extension and Adaptation - winner in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2014

Commended 2014:

Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny by McGarry Ní Éanaigh Architects

Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny

Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny- Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2014

Commended 2014:

Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, London School of Economics by O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects

See Swee Hock Student Centre, London School of Economics

Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, London School of Economics - Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2014

RIAI Universal Design Award 2013 Winner

UCD Student Centre, by Fitzgerald Kavanagh and Partners

UCD Student Centre

UCD Student Centre, winner in the Universal Design and Public Choice Awards, RIAI Awards Architecture Awards 2013, Photo by Donal Murphy, courtesy of Fitzgerald Kavanagh and Partners

Jury Comment:

‘The new UCD Student Centre is an exciting building which embraces many of the guiding principles of Universal Design. It is evident that the Design Team engaged with and carefully considered the end-users throughout the design and construction phases. The use of colour, choice of materials and the simplicity of its layout contribute greatly to its ease of use. The result is a dynamic building devoted to providing sports and recreational facilities to the students and staff of UCD as well as to members of the public, regardless of age, size, ability or disability.’

Further information about UCD Student Centre

Commended 2013:

Ballybay Community College by McGarry Ní Éanaigh Architects

Ballybay Community College

Ballybay Community College, Commended in the Universal Design category, RIAI Architecture Awards 2013