Cork City Council was yesterday commended by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland for promoting high quality contemporary architecture while respecting the urban fabric of the city centre through holding a design competition for a historic part of the city.
RIAI president Anthony Reddy praised Cork City Council for its decision to hold a Design Ideas competition in conjunction with the RIAI for the redevelopment of the Kyrls Quay area.
Mr Reddy explained that the main aims of the competition were to promote high quality urban design and architecture as well as to identify options for the redevelopment of the prominent group of sites between North Gate Bridge and Cornmarket Street.
Mr Reddy was speaking following the announcement that the competition - which carried a first prize of €5,000 - had been won by Irish company Conroy Architecture, whose principals, Bobby Conroy and Patrick Little were praised for their design for the waterfront site. More than 80 entries were received for the competition with most entries coming from Ireland, though submissions were received from as far afield as Japan, the US and Australia as well as from the UK, Denmark, Italy, France, Germany and Greece.
The winning entry was chosen by a team of assessors comprising Piers Gough, CZWG Architects; Jim Barrett, city architect, Dublin City Council; Tom De Paor, De Paor Architects; Kelvin Campbell, Urban Initiatives; TG Mitchell, Mitchell and Associates and Ann Bogan of Cork City Council.
The assessors praised Conroy Architecture for their design for the site which comprises two parcels of land owned by Cork City Council as well as a timber yard which is privately owned and flanks the Bridewell Garda station.
According to the assessors, Conroy Architecture's design is distinguished by its "recognition of the importance of the river by the provision of a raised river walk, while the proposal also opens new routes between Kyrls Quay, the city wall and the city."
"Placing the buildings at right angles to the quay creates new routes through the site, allows views across the site, links to the river and improves the permeability of the entire area. The entrants showed a careful consideration of circulation routes and the use of different levels linked to public spaces," noted the assessors.
"The concept and building forms are sufficiently robust to accommodate a range of uses including retail, offices, residential, leisure and cultural activities," they added.
Second prize went to Danish firm, ChristianCarlsen Arkitekfirma for its design. The assessors gave a special award to Donaghy and Dimond Architects of Dublin and English firm BRE was highly commended by assessors.
Mayo-born Bobby Conroy, now based in Dundee in Scotland, and Patrick Little, now based in Tullamore, Co Offaly, said that they had been entering competitions for many years and were delighted to see their entry chosen as the winner.
Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Seán Martin congratulated the winners.
Cork city manager Joe Gavin said winning the competition did not necessarily mean Conroy Architecture's design would be implemented but it did provide some interesting ideas.