AAI Launch: a+u 642 – Irish Architecture – 20 Houses by 6 Architects

The AAI is delighted to be hosting the Irish launch of Issue 642 of a+u magazine, featuring twenty houses by six Irish architectural practices.

Join us for an introduction by Dr. Lisa Godson, and a discussion with guest editors Tom dePaor and Andrew Clancy, as well as featured practices Clancy Moore Architects, Steve Larkin Architects, Ryan W.Kennihan Architects, TAKA Architects, David Leech Architects and t o b Architect.

From the Editors:

Tom dePaor and Andrew Clancy worked with Ayako Sato to edit this edition of A+U since January 2023. Given their last edition on Ireland was about the incredible work of Grafton Architects, and that the magazine had previously featured work by O'Donnell Tuomey, Níall McLaughlin and McCullough Mulvin, among others, the provocation from the magazine was to see if there was another generation coming.
We ended up looking at firms set up during the great financial crash and recession of 2008 - 2014. Particularly acute in Ireland, this economic situation was exacerbated by a state procurement system closed to new entrants, resulting in practices being solely sustained by small scale domestic adjustments, extensions and new builds. This context has resulted in a keen awareness of contingency, and the opportunities to develop territorial languages based on doubt, curiosity and care. The decision was made to make this an edition about houses, the first for A+U since Go Hasegawas global survey in 2020.

The majority of these houses are reuse and adjustment projects, with 20 works designed by:
- Steve Larkin with collaborators Deepka Abbi and Noreile Breen.
- TAKA architects (Cian Deegan and Alice Casey) with collaborators Bram D'hoedt, Jessica Keller and Ronan Lonergan.
- Ryan W. Kennihan Architects with collaborators Emma Kavanagh, Jarek Adamczuk, Colin Mac Suibhne and Oisin Jacob.
- David Leech
- Thomas O'Brien
- Clancy Moore with collaborators Erang Park, David Magennis MRIAI ARB, Alexandra Pickerill, Tobias Beale

Any publication such as A+U is also a publication about architectural photography and this edition would not have been possible without the work of incredible photographers here and in the UK. The edition features images by Noreile Breen, Dr. Sue Barr, Peter Maybury, Fionn McCann, Shantanu Starick, Alice Clancy, Johan Dehlin, Aisling McCoy, David Grandorge, Jim Stephenson and Thomas O'Brien.

This work of course is not a capturing of the full possibly of incredible talent working on the island - it is an essay of sorts, something discrete but valuable, and worth framing. We used the countries peer review systems of awards to produce long lists, but narrowing the list was not easy, and there will always be debates about another version of the story. We limited it to work built on the island, and sought congruences. The editorial board of A+U were an essential part of this process. This work is sustained by a broader eco system of excellence, which includes schools of architecture here, the work of other architects, great builders & craftspeople, and a conversation with European neighbours.

Tom and Andrew wanted to call it ‘House as Hero’ ; a framing of the house as a font of new thinking in architecture. These practices are about to change, and are now doing social housing, infrastructural and cultural works , so maybe this marks a moment in time too.

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Copies of the magazine are available to order within the ticketing options here, for collection at the event or for postage nationwide. Only a very limited number of copies will be made available to event ticketholders for direct purchase on the night.

Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

Unfortunately, due to the special nature of this event, tickets for the a+u launch are not covered by member benefits. We are grateful for your understanding. Please book a general admission or concession ticket as appropriate.