Open House Galway to feature on Nationwide next week

By Richie Mccarthy

The RTE 1 Nationwide programme is due to feature Open House Galway, which takes place in association with the Irish Architecture Foundation, on the weekend of October 16-18. The programme, due to be broadcast at 7pm on Wednesday October 14, will preview many of the quality-designed buildings in the Open House programme as well as interviews with architects.

From luxurious penthouses and superbly designed family homes, to iconic public buildings such as the Marine Institute, the Custom House extension, the Western Regional Fisheries Board headquarters, and the refurbished Grammar School. Open House Galway offers a unique opportunity to experience some of Galway’s distinctive architecture.

“There’s been a huge interest in the architect-guided tours and many of those requiring pre-booking have already been booked out,” says Lorna Maguire, coordinator of Open House Galway’s Steering Group. “The Children’s Workshops ‘Art n Culture’ which take place at the Galway City Museum are also now fully booked.” A complete programme of events, as well as pre-booking facilities is available at www.openhousegalway.ie

An exciting element of the Open House Galway programme is the international Architectural Design ‘Ideas’ Competition, in association with the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and sponsored by Galway Harbour Company. More than 220 architects worldwide have already registered for the competition with a prize fund of €11,000 to design a building for Galway Harbour’s Centre Pier. All entries will be exhibited in the Centre Pier Building throughout Open House Galway weekend.

“This is a blank space which we are currently fitting out to exhibit what will be one of Ireland’s largest ever architecture exhibitions,” says Lorna Maguire. “It is a huge challenge, but we’re delighted with the way it’s coming together. It will be an amazing experience to view the creative talents of so many architects and the ideas they have come up with for the development of this fantastic waterside location.” The winner will be announced at the official opening of Open House Galway on Friday October 16 and the exhibition will remain open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 12noon to 4pm daily. Members of the public will be invited to vote for their favourite design.

A call for volunteers is being made for Open House Galway weekend. Volunteers will be stationed at each building on public view, to assist the architect providing the guided tour and to provide information to the public. Those who wish to volunteer are invited to do so through the event’s website. For more information visit www.openhousegalway.ie