The Irish Architecture Foundation has an established network and track record in delivering major projects primarily aimed at developing audiences for architecture in Ireland, while also raising the profile of Irish architecture abroad.

Our programme of exhibitions, talks, film screenings, symposia, competitions, publications, school and community workshops, is intended to generate dialogue as well as critically engage a diverse public. We produce on average about 10 projects a year, and collaborate with many cultural and academic institutions, in architecture, design and other related disciplines and artforms.

For example some highlights are The Fourth Wall, a film and architecture season in partnership with the Irish Film Institute, Cardboard City a collaboration with the Temple Bar Cultural Trust, and a talks programme called Agents of Architecture, with the Irish Museum of Modern Art. A Space for Learning, a successful architecture in schools programme across 120 secondary schools with 90 architects in Ireland. We deliver Open House Dublin, the largest annual architecture festival in Ireland, which has achieved staggering figures of over 25,000 people engaging in architecture over 3 days. In 2009 we delivered with The Small Print, the first Pecha Kuchas in Dublin, with 60 presenters from art, design and architecture. We have had the honour on three occasions to act as commissioner for the Irish pavilion at the Architecture Biennale in Venice and in 2011 we delivered Irish Architecture Now, six events in six cities in the US promoting Irish architecture.

The IAF was established in 2005, and our vision is to continue to deliver a programme that is topical, important and essential from both an international and national perspective: to be aware of and reflect the critical thinking in architecture practice, academia, research and education; to encourage initiatives which push the boundaries on definitions of architecture and its effect on society, culture and community.

The Irish Architecture
Foundation is funded by:

Core Funding

Arts Council of Ireland
Department of Arts, Heritage
and the Gaeltacht
Office of Public Works
Royal Institute of the
Architects of Ireland

Restricted Project Funding

Culture Ireland
Dublin City Council
Dun Laoighaire-Rathdown
County Council
Failte Ireland