Awards highlight builder-architect relationships

OpusAwards Heritage achieved the top number of awards in this year's Opus Architecture and Construction Awards, writes Emma Cullinan

Appropriate design, quality workmanship and sympathetic spaces are all features of the winning buildings in this year's Opus Architecture and Construction Awards (sponsored by Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking).

Last year the awards expanded from just an architectural competition, to include contractors "'to acknowledge the symbiotic relationship between architecture and construction". A good relationship between the two disciplines is certainly helpful in the realisation of a good building, not forgetting the third, crucial element, of the client. And, let's be inclusive here, how about engineers too?

With builders coming in for a lot of criticism (and rightly so in some cases) it's heartening to see cases where contractors are recognised for the skilled, careful and innovative work that they can do.

The judging panel includes two contractors: Eugene Cleary and Roger Dunwoody, as well as architects Ciaran O'Connor and Noel Dowley, and engineer Pearse Sutton. They travel the country visiting the buildings and having detailed discussions on both design and construction. While they often agree on who should get an award, the detailed talks take place over whether projects should be given a "commended", "highly commended" or an "award".

If something is of average design but beautifully built, then the decision can be difficult, although the judges say that they won't reward quality construction if the design isn't right. As they point out, the design quality has to be high enough to make it worth all the effort of building it well.

There aren't a set number of awards, instead buildings are put categorised purely on their merits. The sector that achieved a straight set of awards (rather than commended or highly commended) was the heritage group, which is heartening in a country that has been accused of neglecting its built heritage in the past.

Some of the winning projects have already appeared in AAI and/or RIAI awards, including Poustinia, by Bates Maher Architects and Kieran Doran building contractor; an extension by NJBA Architects and Hollybrook Construction; Athlone Library and Civic Centre by Keith Williams Architects and John Sisk and Son, Galway; and sheltered housing and hostel, Gorey, Co Wexford by Paul Keogh Architects and Richard Browne and Sons, which have all also featured in The Irish Times architecture pages.

It was good to see student Gemma Ginty, who we interviewed earlier this year as she was leaving DIT, nab an award for her thesis Continuum - a crematorium on the threshold.

The judges are wary about being style police and follow a strict formula so that although buildings may not appeal on a personal level, the awards recognise good design that has been well-executed. As assessor Ciaran O'Connor says: "While someone may not personally like the work of writers, such as Ian McEwan or James Joyce, you can see that they are well written books and you have to admire what they do."

All winning schemes will be on display at Plan Expo at the RDS from November 10th to 12th.