ARCHIVE:
Unbuilt.ie – Jessica Keller & Róisín Cahill
Jessica Keller & Róisín Cahill are co-founders of Unbuilt.ie, an ever-growing database showcasing unrealised architectural designs in Ireland. Jessica is a Graduate Architect at TAKA with an interest in placemaking and public engagement. Róisín is a PhD candidate in Bologna, Italy, and former Sustainability Coordinator at Henry J Lyons. Together they have experience in exhibition curation, digital archiving, public outreach, workshop facilitation, and embrace the power of unbuilt architecture to foster inclusive dialogue on the built environment. In 2026, they were awarded an incubation space by Dublin City Art’s Office, and recieved the Project Architecture Award by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Amid recent geopolitical chaos, the need for architecture and design to hold a steady path towards a fuel and environmentally conscious future grows. As climate pressures and resource constraints are felt in daily life, we are seeking spaces for discussion, learning and innovation to address how we collectively inhabit, adapt, and construct cities. This May, a wide programme of talks, exhibitions and conversations are taking place, reflecting how architects are responding to both immediate global challenges and the long-term future of our built environment.
Contributing to this dialogue is the Office of Public Works in partnership with the National Library of Ireland, through its Conversation Club lecture series. Bringing together influential architectural practices from Ireland and abroad, the programme offers space to reflect on the role of architecture in fostering civic life. On the 13th of May, REIR Architects will offer insight into their work across domestic, cultural and educational projects. Since 2020, the practice has developed a reputation for thoughtful interventions in existing buildings, prioritising context, sensitivity to place and the lasting value for inhabitants.
Questions of care and stewardship continue into mid May with Dublin Climate Action Week (May 11th – 17th), which presents a full programme of free public events exploring the city’s commitments to a stable sustainable future. As Dublin navigates the tensions of urban growth and climate targets, public engagement and interdisciplinary dialogue are vital in shaping the city’s evolving trajectory.
Two Dublin events offer both inspiration and caution as we navigate the uncertain future. The Irish Architectural Archive’s exhibition Paddy Healy’s Dublin, a photographic record of the city during the 1950’s and 1960’s, is a powerful reminder of how rapidly change can happen and of the importance of carefully considering fabric interventions. A reflection, which can be experienced first hand during the ‘past and present’ walking tour of Temple Bar led by Michael McDermott as part of the Bealtaine Festival on Friday May 29th.
As Unbuilt’s core interest is empowering discussion on our built future through the archived creativity of past thesis projects, we are looking forward to the conversations taking place in TUD’s Grangegorman campus during the Association of European Research Libraries seminars. From May 5th to 8th, librarians and architects from across Europe will share their experiences and needs in the design and operation of libraries.
While the urgency of the global crisis and the optimism of accessible knowledge may fuel creativity this month, it’s important to acknowledge the cyclical nature of the creative process. Belfast Design Week, ‘Season’, embraces this rhythm through a series of multidisciplinary events exploring the process of creative practice. Meanwhile Elva Mulchrone’s exhibition In The Grid in The LAB Gallery Dublin invites a moment of pause, reflecting on the tension between the ambitions of the human spirit and the boundaries of agency.
And finally, as the academic year draws to a close, keep an eye out for the School of Architecture Graduate shows that will be happening late May to early June across the country!
