Galway Harbour Competition, Ireland : Architecture

16 Oct 2009 Swedish Architects win Open House Galway Architectural Ideas Competition Swedish architects JM - Konrad Milton and Carl Jägnefält have won the Centre Pier, Galway Harbour Ideas Competition with their entry entitled 'The Sky Pier - Unity in Duality' coming out on top of a field of 117 entries. The judges described JM's submission as creating a compelling architectural image with a linear building along the northern edge of the pier which then rises vertically to form a tall thin tower at the point where it meets the sea. The fact that the stage is powered hydraulically from a pool on the top level of the tower adds to the delight of this scheme. On winning their majority share of the €10,000 competition prize fund, JM architects said they were delighted have won a competition which had attracted such a wide variety of diverse ideas from architects globally. Centre Pier Competition Winner Category A JM Konrad Milton and Carl Jagnefalt: Centre Pier Competition Winner Category B Laura O Brien and Faela Guiden: Local knowledge proved useful in the student category as two Galwegians Laura O'Brien and Faela Guiden took first place. Recently graduated from UCD, their winning design was described by the judges as a lucid and evocative response to the site, the brief, and the character of the place. The building steps out of the harbour into the sea off the southern shore to release and frame the centre pier as a public space in the foreground of the city of Galway. The centrally located site on the Centre Pier of Galway Harbour attracted over 100 entrants with huge variety in creative designs. The submissions ranged from those which sought to build on the entire site to those which stowed the entire accommodation required below ground. Pat McCabe chairperson of steering group delivering Open House Galway: "We are delighted with the huge public interest there has been in following the progress of the 'Ideas' competition and look forward to hearing the public's opinion on the winners and other entrants. We would like to extend our thanks to the RIAI for administering the process and the Galway Harbour Company for their vision in engaging with Open House Galway to bring such an evocative project to the public arena." John Graby, Director of the RIAI said that the competition "shows a huge, suppressed creativity among architects, which should be used to help shape a better future for the built environment in Ireland. This very important initiative by the Galway Harbour Company shows the importance of approaching significant urban and infrastructural projects using 3-D technology and design." Judging took place in-situ on the Centre Pier where the existing building has been transformed into an exhibition site. While the jury of architects and non-architects found the process of selecting winners from such a wide field initially daunting, the decisions to award first prizes in both categories of entry were unanimous. Eamon Bradshaw, CEO of Galway Harbour Company was one of the judges, "I found the process to be as creative as the entries themselves. Discussions on the merit of entries ranged from the use of material, to matching of the brief to courage of design. We are delighted with the winners in both categories and feel that these buildings would prove a visual and cultural landmark for Galway's Harbour keeping a strong maritime tradition at the heart of our city." The Galway Harbour Company is eager to get the public's reaction to the choice of winners and are inviting them to cast their own votes. All entries will be on display at the Centre Pier building, from 12-4 on Saturday, 17 October and Sunday, 18 October. The Centre Pier, Galway Harbour 'Ideas' Competition is part of the Open House Galway programme taking place this weekend from 16 - 18 October. Architect-led building tours, free children's workshops and guided walks are also available during Galway's first architectural festival that invites you to explore the city. Open House Galway is delivered in partnership with the Irish Architecture Foundation. The simple but powerful concept of Open House - opening buildings of architectural quality to the public and providing an educational and enjoyable experience - was conceived 16 years ago in London by founder Victoria Thornton. In Ireland, the Irish Architecture Foundation initiated Open House Dublin in 2006, which took place this year from October 8 to 11 and approx 15,000 people participated in its architecture building visits, walking, boat and cycling tours. Centre Pier Galway Harbour Competition images / information from RIAI