A well-known Donegal architect has won an International Architecture Award for his design of Donegal Town Credit Union.
Designed by McCabe Architects, the building beat off stiff competition from other practices and buildings around the British Isles to be commended for its design and construction in the 2016 Natural Stone Awards in London.
In fact, McCabe Architects design was the only building shortlisted from the Republic of Ireland.
Representatives from Donegal Town Credit Union management along with McCabe Architects; McMonagle Stone and Glebe Builders travelled to London for the awards ceremony last Friday.
The awards ceremony took place at the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel and was presented by the Right Honourable Michael Portillo with over four hundred guests in attendance at a gala dinner reception.
Declan McCabe of McCabe Architects and Daniel McMonagle of McMonagle Stone accepted the award on the night on behalf of the team.
Orla McMonagle, McMonagle Stone
Michael McMonagle, McMonagle Stone
Daniel McMonagle, McMonagle Stone
Barry Gallagher, Glebe Builders, Declan McCabe, McCabe Architects, Paul McDaid, McCabe Architects
Liam Kelly, Donegal Town Credit Union
The Natural Stone Awards is a biennial event set up by Stone Federation of Great Britain and has established itself as their most prestigious event.
The Awards celebrate and recognise the excellence of design in natural stone projects from across the industry. Each year the Awards see vast amounts of great projects from throughout the British Isles entered across various categories.
Judged by some of the top architects in the UK, the jury spoke on the night ‘To better understand this idiosyncratic building, there is a fundamental need to appreciate the philosophy, ethos and approach of the client Donegal Town Credit Union.
As a shareholding loans body, operated by members for members, the Union’s remit is geographically specific to the town and its design brief called for a building to epitomise a closer integration with the society it serves.
Also requiring reference to indigenous nautical influences, the underlying commitment was to create a statement building that grew from the landscape to advantageously and physically anchor the Union with the financial needs of its community.’
They went on to say ‘with such quality in the construction work that has been meticulously detailed throughout all aspects of the building, the unconventional end result admirably and fully satisfies the client’s somewhat understated requirements brief.’
The judges concluded ‘In no small measure the success of the project was due to its powerful concept, the quality of the craftsmanship, and the enabling effect it has created to sit comfortably in its environment creating a landmark building for Donegal Town to be proud of.’
“Donegal Town Credit Union wanted a ‘different’ building and that is what it has achieved. To the extent that the building needs to earn its keep, the Union has seen a 25% increase in membership subscriptions coupled with a 23% increase in loan advances in the first six months after opening. Now that’s the power of good architecture.”
In the photo is Declan McCabe, McCabe Architects and Daniel McMonagle, McMonagle Stone being presented with the award from Tim Yates (left) President of Stone Federation Great Britan and the Right Honourable Michael Portillo (right).
