Further info & dates will follow about next years festival to be held in mid October 2016

Now in its 14th year, Waterford Festival of Architecture works towards enhancing the understanding and appreciation of architecture among the wider community, including creative practitioners of other artistic disciplines. This year’s Festival is taking place in association with ID2015, Waterford City and County Council and The Dept. of Architecture WIT. The theme of this year’s festival is “Origins” and will encourage the public to engage with the city and catchment area on a more intimate level, with visits to houses, public buildings, lectures, events, tours and walks all the while exploring different aspects of the theme in city and county. Highlights of the 2015 Programme include The Mies Van Der Rohe International Exhibition 2015 running from 13-21 October at The Garden Room in The Medieval Museum. This year, five Irish based architects were included in the shortlist of 40 projects for the prestigious European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies Van Der Rohe Award and are included in this international exhibition. It is a great honor to have Waterford City and County Council Department of Architecture recognised and shortlisted for their stunning design of The Medieval Museum.

The show platforms design excellence to the design, construction and educational sectors, promotes dialogue and awareness in the local community, and endeavors to increase appreciation of, and demand for, exemplary architecture, interior and landscape design. This is a unique opportunity to see all of these 40 shortlisted projects here in Waterford. Sometimes you think you know a place but Waterford has many surprises ! This year the WFA in association with Waterford City and County Council launch a new event Behind Closed Doors. The aim of this event is to celebrate Waterford’s rich and varied architecture by giving you the rare opportunity to visit properties, not normally open to the public.  There will be a range of styles and locations which will include recently completed examples of contemporary design and historic buildings. As it is nearly Halloween there will be an opportunity for an after dark visit to the stunning Undercroft’s by candlelight.... our friendly guides will be on site to share their knowledge on the buildings.   There will be talks and interviews with various practitioners, including James Howley, Conservation Architect, who will give an insight into the prestigious Pevsner Architectural Guides and discuss the potential for a Waterford/Tipperary version. Michael Kelly of Grow It Yourself (GIY), together with and Mike Haslam, Solearth Architecture, will introduce the new GIY headquarters in Ardkeen.

Waterford Festival of Architecture would like to extend a special thanks to Aoife Grogan, Event Coordinator, Behind Closed Doors, Architects Office, and Rosemary Ryall Conservation Officer, Waterford City and County Council, for all their hard work in establishing this new event.