Docklands apartment scheme wins top architecture award

Clarion Quay, a Dublin Docklands development of 186 apartments - 37 of which are "social and affordable" homes - has won the latest Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Silver Medal for Housing, for the years 2002-2003.

Architects Gerry Cahill, Michael McGarry and Derek Tynan from Urban Projects, who designed the scheme, were presented with the medal by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche at the National Housing Conference dinner last night. The jury hailed Clarion Quay as an excellent example of integrated urban design that provided for a sustainable community.

It also "fully maximised" the natural features of the site on North Wall Quay, including views to the River Liffey.

The Clarion Quay scheme, which includes shops at street level, is flanked by an urban space that links the Liffey to Mayor Square. Laid out around a series of private landscaped gardens, it has a wide variety of apartment types, including penthouses.

"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," said architect Gus Cummins, who chaired the assessment panel.

Speaking on behalf of Urban Projects, Derek Tynan said they had set out with "the proposition that we should not only design for people to live in the city but also to live well in the city".

Urban Projects is an association formed by Gerry Cahill Architects, McGarry Ní Éanaigh and Derek Tynan Architects (now called DTA), which previously won the RIAI Silver Medal for the Printworks, one of the earlier residential schemes in Temple Bar.

Howley Harrington Architects were highly commended for their high-density social housing scheme at Balgaddy, Clondalkin, which was commissioned by South Dublin County Council. Its south-facing crescent creates a distinctive place as a focus for the area.

According to the citation, this scheme of 83 houses and apartments "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".

Other shortlisted projects were a scheme of 376 social and affordable homes in Cherry Orchard, west Dublin, by O'Mahony Pike Architects, and Coppinger Court in Cork, a mixed use development of 43 apartments, a pub and glass showroom by Magee Creedon Architects.

John Graby, director of the RIAI, said the Silver Medal for Housing - which is now being awarded biennially to coincide with the National Housing Conference, was intended to acknowledge outstanding achievement.

In addition to Mr Cummins the assessment panel included former RIAI president Joan O'Connor and award-winning architect John Meagher.