The RIAI Scott Tallon Walker Student Excellence Award for Architecture 2025 is open to fifth/ final thesis year students of Architecture, and is sponsored by STW in memory of the firm’s three founding partners, Dr. Michael Scott, Dr. Ronald Tallon, and Robin Walker.

As the deadline for registration for this year’s Award approaches (this Friday, 12th September), we reflect on last year’s recipients:

• Kevin Barry from University College Dublin for his project 'The Department of Husbandry'

• Rachel Murphy from Queen's University Belfast for her project 'Playful Minds - School as a Neighbourhood, Neighbourhood as a School'

Kevin has since joined STW and said of the Award: “The RIAI student awards are a great platform to showcase student work in architecture, particularly to highlight innovative solutions to tackle problems that occur in practice. I was delighted to present my thesis alongside friends and colleagues from the schools of architecture in Ireland, and would recommend all to participate. I'm very grateful to both the RIAI and STW for hosting the student awards, which no doubt will continue to exhibit new architectural ideas in future.”

Kevin also shared with us an explanation of his winning project, which was a proposal for a new national Department of Husbandry on Werburgh Street in Dublin city centre:
“The thesis looks to integrate regenerative agriculture with construction, two industries which now account for the majority of the nation’s carbon emissions. A seasonal approach to harvesting materials and their subsequent processing challenges current extractive methods of procuring buildings. To research these methods, a new national Department of Husbandry is proposed on Werburgh St, site of a historic mill and sheep market in Dublin’s historic core. By exposing the river Poddle and allocating vacant land bordering Dublin Castle for cultivation, land use is prioritised for its productivity. Harvested material such as hemp, straw and wool is processed on site as the mill is rebuilt, and large assembly spaces along the street host CPDs to allow people to learn new ways to build. After processing, staff at the department utilise the material to build their own accommodation in the vacant roof space of adjacent St Werburgh’s church, preserving available land. By serving as an exemplar for future husbandry, the Department branches out to form co-operatives across Ireland, restoring river mills to link farmers and builders in their communities. Whereas historically the castle was where Ireland’s land was measured and divided for its economic value, the project urges its reclassification nationally by integrating permaculture in the heart of its capital.”

The Jury said of the project:

“The student has shown the kind of radical thinking vital to the re-education and re-interpretation of the way we construct buildings and use our lands in the future. The wider ambition of the project is clear, with the creation of a new governmental department which promotes regenerative land use, integrating material harvesting with construction. The proposal, adjacent to Dublin Castle demonstrates how this future vision can be achieved. This is a clearly presented idea, communicated beautifully in its presentation.”
The RIAI Scott Tallon Walker Student Excellence in Architecture Award aims to encourage the study of contemporary architecture, foster architectural excellence, facilitate communication between the schools of architecture, and promote awareness of architecture in society through exhibitions and publications supported by the RIAI.

Registration will close at 12pm this Friday, 12th September. Information on the award and how you can register is available at https://www.riai.ie/careers-in-architecture/student-awards/riai-scott-tallon-walker-excellence-award-for-students-of-architecture...

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