Ó An Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitúil agus Oidhreachta
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Dublin, May 20, 2019 - The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG), will today run the Joint National Housing Conference. Taking place in Dublin Castle, the biennial conference brings together a wide range of policymakers, practitioners, architects, planners and other stakeholders over 2 days. The theme of this year’s event is ‘2040 – Delivering the Vision for Housing’, exploring the positive influence of the National Planning Framework (NPF) on the future of sustainable housing in Ireland.
To mark fifty years since the first biennial National Housing Conference was held in 1969, the organisers have announced a wide-ranging programme addressing a range of topics which will impact on the future form, design, location and delivery of private, affordable and social housing in Ireland. A line-up of Irish and international speakers will discuss topics such as ‘Building Height & Increasing Density’, ‘Small Town Revitalisation’ and ‘New Typologies Changing Demographics’.
Speaking in advance of the conference the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, T.D., said: ““This week’s conference provides a great opportunity for architects, planners, developers and housing providers from both the public and private sectors, international experts and professional advisers and officials from my own Department, to discuss ideas, solutions and emerging trends in the provision of housing. I’m pleased that the conference will explore the role of the Government’s National Planning Framework, launched as part of Project Ireland 2040 last year, on the future of sustainable housing. I hope the conference will enhance national thinking on how we can meet the main challenges the National Planning Framework seeks to address: rebalancing development away from Dublin, creating a critical mass in the other major urban areas, and encouraging compact growth.”
“Architects design houses that build lives and sustain communities. As our demographics change so do our housing needs. This conference is an opportunity to consider how we want to live as a society, how we can adapt our existing housing stock and how we can ensure quality design is at the heart of our built environment and our public spaces.” said Kathryn Meghen, RIAI CEO. “The Government and public bodies are the largest procurers of architecture and design services in the State. It is our goal that every local authority in Ireland should have a well-resourced architects’ department to support the development of communities from the ground up.”
On the 50-year anniversary of the first Joint National Housing Conference, Minister Murphy said: “I want to pay tribute today to both my Department and the RIAI, who, together, have provided a platform for this biennial gathering of experts and sectors to discuss ideas, trends and solutions to housing. It’s a tribute to both organisations that this conference continues, fifty years on, to provide such high-quality speakers and content, exploring national and international thinking. The conference makes an important contribution to national thinking on an extremely important issue.”
The Conference will also mark the presentation of the RIAI Silver Medal for Housing – the country’s premier award for residential architecture. This award recognises housing projects designed during a two-year period, this year the award focuses on the period 2014-2016. This will be the first time the medal was awarded since 2015.
“We are delighted to be able to award the Housing Medal to two projects which represent quality design in the built environment. The fall in housing completions over the early part of this decade was unprecedented and resulted in a decision by the judges not to award the medal at the last conference in 2017.” said RIAI President David Browne. “However, a renewed and sustained focus on delivery of residential schemes across Ireland has meant that there was strong contention for the medal on this occasion and we are delighted that the jury has selected very worthy recipients who we will reveal at the conference.”
Running alongside the conference will be an exhibition of residential housing schemes, both in planning and completed, designed by RIAI members and Local Authorities. This exhibition will demonstrate the range of potential projects coming on-stream in the near-term across Ireland.
The presentation of Certificates for the RIAI Silver Medal of Housing is sponsored by Weinerberger.
FOR THE RIAI: Fiona O’Connor / Grace Cooney, Drury ǀ Porter Novelli
087 694 9601 (FOC) / 086 153 6886 (GC) / 01 260 5000
Dr Sandra O'Connell, RIAI Director of Architecture and Communications,
T 01 6691474, soconnell@riai.ie
Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government:
Press Office (01) 888 2638.
ENDS
About the RIAI
Founded in 1839, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland supports and regulates the architectural profession and promotes the value that architecture brings to society for everyone’s benefit. We also provide support services to Architects and Architectural Technologists.
The RIAI engages with government, the professions, industry, clients and the public to promote quality in architecture; to deliver quality and sustainability in the built environment; to enrich our distinctive culture and heritage; to contribute to the competitiveness of our economy; and to improve quality of life for the people of Ireland, today and for generations to come.
Follow us on Twitter for regular updates: @RIAIonline
About Rebuilding Ireland
Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, which was published 19 July 2016, is a whole-of-Government programme and response to the housing supply challenges we currently face.
Both comprehensive and backed by funding of €6 billion, Rebuilding Ireland is designed to significantly increase the supply of social housing by 50,000, double the output of overall housing to at least 25,000 homes per annum by 2021, service all tenure types (social, private and rental), and tackle homelessness comprehensively. The wide-ranging plan seeks to address all aspects of the housing system under Five Pillars:
Our most recent Quarterly Progress Report (for Q4 2018) was published March 8, 2019 and can be accessed here.
Rebuilding Ireland is available here.
Follow us on Twitter for regular updates: @RebuildingIrl #RebuildingIreland
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