Waterford SETU students showcase resilient design at world-first exhibition in RDS

Students from South East Technological University (SETU) in Waterford, showcased their work in the area of resilient design and sustainable construction at the world-first exhibition in Dublin's, RDS.

The students highlighted their work as part of the ‘Building Change’ project during the Royal Institute of Architects’ (RIAI) Annual Conference.

The Waterford delegation presented work as part of the ‘Constructive Interference’ exhibition and focused on a range of topics including architecture’s relationship to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and resilient design for local neighbourhoods.

A unique global initiative, Building Change is a national, collaborative project between all six Irish schools of architecture and is aimed at empowering future graduates to meet the ongoing challenges of the housing and climate crises. 

Since 2022, the schools have been working together to radically transform the professional curricula by embedding the UN's Sustainable Development Goals alongside Ireland’s, Housing for All and Climate Action plans.

The exhibition was curated by Rubble, a collective of architecture graduates from Waterford, Wicklow, Carlow, Westmeath, and Dublin. 

It featured a wide range of Building Change projects and studies encompassing designs, models and films.

Speaking about the event, Hugh Campbell, Professor of Architecture at UCD, said: “The exhibition draws together the thoughtful, inventive and optimistic ideas of students from all six schools, including UCD and TU Dublin, whose working lives will be spent meeting the fundamental challenge which the climate emergency poses to architects and to the construction sector generally: how do we continue to provide environments to serve human needs and activities without further endangering the future of the planet?"

“We see a real appetite for change amongst our students,He said, before expressing delight at the support from members of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - Secretary General Colm O'Reardon, and Principal Officer of the Construction and Green Skills Policy Unit, Sarah Miley - who were shown around the exhibition by students and lecturers of the six partner universities.

Curator Nicolas Howden, from Rubble said: “The work of students and young designers from Waterford and across the country sent a resounding message to the building industry; change is needed."

"Through their individual projects, presentations of their works, or from the questions they were asking to guests, there was a clear desire to re-invent, re-think, and re-imagine ways we can produce buildings and space going forward," he said.

"They were not afraid to confront more established architects with their issues and concerns, and to challenge industry standards of manufacturing and demolition.”

For more information visit: www.buildingchange.ie.