Jerry Buttimer TD opened an Architecture Exhibition by students of Coláiste Choilm, a school participating in the IAF’s National Architects in Schools Initiative, at Ballincollig Shopping Centre, Cork.

The exhibition of architectural designs by twenty five Transition Year students is the outcome of a project with architect Seán Antóin Ó Muirí, part of the Irish Architecture Foundation’s National Architects in Schools Initiative.

Each student created a scale model of a design for a personal room in the back garden of a semi-detached house. All are highly original, with designs catering for a variety of personal interests including an art studio, a cinema, a dance room and a chill out room. Field trips to see the architecture of Cork also helped to inspire the students.

“The students’ work is of a standard you’d expect from third level student projects, they demonstrated exceptional ability and commitment to the project. Support from the teacher, Danny Moynihan who has an incredible passion and interest in architecture also made it this project a great experience.” Seán Antóin Ó Muirí, Architect.

The Irish Architecture Foundation launched the National Architects in Schools Initiative in April 2013 to provide students with first-hand experience of the design process under the guidance of architects. By connecting local architects directly with schools the initiative aims to bring architecture to life for Transition Year students through hands-on projects. This groundbreaking initiative, which supports the curriculum and emphasises the importance of design thinking and innovation, is funded by the Department of Education and Skills, the Arts Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the Government Policy on Architecture implementation programme 2013.

The Irish Architecture Foundation is working in partnership with members of the national network of the Association of Teachers’ Education Centre’s (ATECI) to implement the initiative in twenty-five schools across five areas: Cork, Galway, Donegal, Dublin and Wexford.