Architecture students from Atlantic Technological University (ATU) showcased their work as part of the ‘Building Change’ project during the Royal Institute of Architects’ (RIAI) Annual Conference at the RDS in Dublin, last week.
The ATU students presented work as part of the ‘Constructive Interference’ exhibition on a range of topics covered in the Building Change curriculum, such as resilient design, sustainable materials, and community-led housing.
Unique globally, Building Change is a national, collaborative project between all six Irish schools of architecture to empower future graduates to meet the ongoing challenges of the housing and climate crises. Since 2022, the schools have been working together to radically transform the professional curricula by embedding the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals alongside Ireland’s Housing for All and Climate Action plans.
The exhibition was curated by Rubble, a collective of UCD architecture graduates, and featured a wide range of Building Change projects and studies encompassing designs, models and films.
Hugh Campbell, Professor of Architecture at UCD, said: “The exhibition draws together the thoughtful, inventive and optimistic ideas of students from all six schools, including UCD and TU Dublin, whose working lives will be spent meeting the fundamental challenge which the climate emergency poses to architects and to the construction sector generally: how do we continue to provide environments to serve human needs and activities without further endangering the future of the planet?”
“We see a real appetite for change amongst our students, so we were delighted to see that same enthusiasm from members of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science – Secretary General Colm O’Reardon and Principal Officer of the Construction and Green Skills Policy Unit, Sarah Miley, who were shown around the exhibition by students and lecturers of the six partner universities.”
Curator Nicolas Howden from Rubble said: “The work of students and young designers from Donegal and across the country sent a resounding message to the building industry; change is needed. Through their individual projects, presentations of their works, or from the questions they were asking to guests, there was a clear desire to re-invent, re-think, and re-imagine ways we can produce buildings and space going forward. They were not afraid to confront more established architects with their issues and concerns, and to challenge industry standards of manufacturing and demolition.”
‘Building Change’ is funded by the Higher Education Authority under the Human Capital Initiative. For more information visit: www.buildingchange.ie.
