Sarah Adekoya

Sarah Adekoya is a graduate architect with a BArch from TU Dublin, currently working at Studio 3, a small architectural practice based in Dublin. She is a member of the RIAI Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and a participant in the Irish Architecture Foundation’s GAP Lab programme, contributing to conversations and initiatives that promote greater representation within the profession. She participated in a month long program with the African Future Institute in Morocco, exploring how African identity, culture, and heritage can inform new approaches to architectural design. Her work is driven by a commitment to ensuring inclusivity remains central to both the architecture sector and the built environment.

Instagram: @sarah_thearchitect

As February stretches into longer days, it feels like the right moment to look outward and reflect on how architecture shapes more than just the buildings we design. From housing and public responsibility to the streets and interiors we move through every day, this month’s events bring together policy, practice, heritage, and small stories from the places we inhabit.

The month begins on February 7th with free LGBTQIA+ tours at Collins Barracks, National Museum of Ireland, inviting participants to see a familiar site with fresh eyes. These guided walks explore identity, social history, and the subtle ways architecture shapes everyday life. You’ll likely leave thinking differently about spaces you thought you already knew.

On the 12th, the Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI) continues its Systems & Selves lecture series. London-based practice Carmody Groarke, known for its thoughtful public and cultural work, will speak about architecture’s social role. It’s the kind of talk that encourages reflection on how buildings influence and are influenced by the communities and systems around them.

Also on February 12th, the RIAI hosts a Safety by Design CPD webinar. Safety may not be the most glamorous topic, but it remains a crucial part of design. This session examines how risk, compliance, and ethical considerations are embedded in the earliest stages of a project, reminding us that good architecture protects people as much as it appeals visually.

Heritage comes into focus on February 18th with the Ruin to Revival lecture. Heritage professionals will discuss the challenges of conserving, restoring, and reusing historic buildings. The event highlights how older structures can be given new life while retaining their stories, a balancing act that requires care and creativity as much as technical expertise.

On February 20th, the Dublinia Spring Lecture Series turns to Dublin’s Viking and medieval past. It’s an invitation to read the city’s history not only in museums, but in its streets and skyline, and to consider how lessons from the past can inform sensitive and sustainable design today.

Housing, inevitably, remains central to the conversation and continues to be a pressing issue in Ireland. On February 23rd and 24th, the RIAI/DHLGH Housing Conference in Sligo brings together architects, local authorities, and policymakers to discuss practical approaches to meeting urgent housing needs. Expect lively panels, real-world examples, and open discussion about how design and policy can work together.

February concludes with the Sustainable Construction Conference at Queen’s University Belfast on February 24th. Researchers and practitioners will explore materials, low-carbon strategies, and the realities of building in a changing climate. It serves as a reminder that the choices architects make today can have lasting impacts on the environment for decades to come.