Architecture Ireland, the RIAI Journal, has announced joined winners for the 2016 Architecture Ireland Student Writing Prize: Kirstin O’Regan from Queens University Belfast (QUB) and Ronan Power from Cork Centre for Architectural Education (CCAE).

Kirstin O’Regan’s essay ‘The Terra Incognita of Dementia in An (in)Authentic World’ explores ‘De Hogeweyk’, a model village situated on the outskirts of Weesp in Holland which offers an alternative lifestyle to those suffering with dementia. It was chosen by the jury for the award for its “topicality, research and engaging journalistic writing style”.

Ronan  Power’s creative essay ‘Universal Satellites’ was described by the jury as “a witty and loaded piece of writing that interweaves the only essentially Irish interiors and places – the pub and the Catholic Church”. “Language and humorous tone are reminiscent of the Surrealist writings of Joycean scholar/architect Niall Montgomery during the 1950s”.

The joint Winners received a €700 cash prizes from Forbo and a €100 book token for the RIAI Bookshop, the largest Irish stockist of architecture and design books. Three shortlisted entries also received a cash prize of €200 and a €100 book token for the RIAI Bookshop.  The three shortlisted entries are (in alphabetical order):

Anna Crew, Queen’s University Belfast

Essay: ‘Estate of the Art: Collage and the Smithsons’ Golden Lane Estate’

Beibhinn Delaney, University College Dublin

Essay: ‘Simon’s Place in George’s Street Arcade’

Ronan Power, Cork Centre for Architectural Education

Essay: ‘Universal Satellites’

 Aoife Troxel, University College Dublin

Essay: ‘Edifices in the Sand’

The winning essay(s) will be published in the RIAI Journal Architecture Ireland and the shortlisted entries on the Architecture Ireland website architectureireland.ie

The Judging Panel are: Stephen Best (Architect and Lecturer DIT Bolton Street), Dr. Ellen Rowley (Architectural Historian and Writer); Michael Hayes (Architectural Graduate and Editor of 2ha); and Dr. Sandra O’Connell (Editor Architecture Ireland).

For more information, contact Dr. Sandra O’Connell, Editor, Architecture Ireland, sandra@architectureireland.ie.