Built vision

Irish architecture is entering a moment of quiet revolution. The Building & Architect of the Year Awards 2026 showcase projects that push conventional boundaries and celebrate ingenuity across the country. Kennedy Wilson’s transformation of St Stephen’s Green exemplifies this daring spirit, adding a ninth floor with a cultural dimension that blends heritage and contemporary ambition. Henry J Lyons demonstrates the other side of the equation, stabilising revenues in a market of tight margins while navigating the pressures of director pay. 

Together, these stories reveal a sector balancing creativity, financial discipline and cultural resonance. What ties them together is a forward-looking vision that embraces opportunity in every form. Architects, developers and designers are no longer just constructing buildings; they are shaping experiences, community value and long-term sustainability. The industry’s pulse is defined by imagination tempered with pragmatism, proving that innovation thrives even under constraint.

Irish architecture is not simply reacting to market conditions, it is anticipating the needs of cities, stakeholders and communities, setting a standard that will define the next decade.