The Clarion Quay housing scheme at North Wall Quay, Dublin has been awarded the Silver Medal for Housing by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) at the National Housing Conference.

Architects Gerry Cahill, Michael McGarry and Derek Tynan from Urban Projects were presented with the medal by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dick Roche TD, at Dublin's Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Clarion Quay in Dublin's Docklands consists of an urban space that links the River Liffey to a new square on Mayor Street. The development involves a series of private landscape gardens and a well serviced neighbourhood with retail, creche, medical centre, bars and hotels, in addition to 360 apartments. There are a wide variety of apartment types including duplex apartments and a number of penthouses.

Urban Projects is an association of the architectural practices of Gerry Cahill Architects, McGarry Ni Eanaigh and Derek Tynan Architects (now DTA Architects) Previous designs by the Urban Projects include:

• Smithfield Civic Space, the Liffey Boardwalk and Ratoath College, Meath by McGarry Ni Eanaigh;
• New Street Housing, Dublin, the Farmleigh Gallery at Farmleigh House and Sophia Housing, Donabate by Gerry Cahill Architects;
• Temple Bar's Printworks by Derek Tynan was awarded a previous Silver Medal for Housing.

Speaking on behalf of the Urban Projects, Derek Tynan explained: "Urban Projects are honoured by the award of the RIAI Silver Medal for Housing for Clarion Quay in recognition of the proposition that we should not only design for people to live in the city but also to live well in the city. The ambition of the project was to form a neighbourhood on the new city of the Docklands, a reality which is now emerging."


Chairperson of the assessing jury, Gus Cummins, recognised the Clarion Quay housing development as an excellent example of integrated urban design.

"The framework for a sustainable community is created by the mixed-use development, which includes mixed tenure residential accommodation consisting of private, affordable and social housing. The design ensures that the natural features of the site, in particular views to the river, are fully maximised." Mr Cummins added: "The success of the project is greatly assisted by the handling of the central open space area, which, although accessible to all residents and clearly well used, shows little sign of wear and tear."

The scheme is one of the first mixed tenure schemes, with 37 of the 190 apartments being managed as affordable rental housing by the Cluid housing association, demonstrating the potential for integrated, well managed, mixed tenure housing.

John Graby, Director of the RIAI, stated: "We award the medals every two years to acknowledge outstanding achievement in architectural design in housing. The medal scheme is integral to the work of the RIAI and our commitment to excellence and sustainability in the built environment. The Urban Projects work represents some of the finest architecture within an urban design strategy."

Also highly commended at the presentation were Howley Harrington Architects for their housing project at Balgaddy, Clondalkin, County Dublin. The social housing project for South County Dublin encompasses a high density neighbourhood of 83 dwellings in north Clondalkin. Set along Balgaddy Road, a three and four storey south facing crescent creates a distinctive place as a focus for the area. At the end of the crescent, there are four storey buildings with shops and community facilities at ground floor level. The assessing jury noted that "the housing project for South Dublin County Council sets down a marker in an area that, in common with many other suburban areas, has in the past seen more than its fair share of undistinguished housing development". The jury considered that the choice of materials, the effective use of colour and the quality of detailing in the scheme, were particularly worthy of commendation.

Other shortlisted projects included a housing project at Ballyfermot, Dublin, a residential scheme for 376 social and affordable housing units by O' Mahony Pike Architects and Coppinger Court at Courts Quay in Cork, and 43 apartments with 12 parking spaces, a glass showroom and a licensed pub/restaurant, by Magee Creedon Architects.

(CL)