40TH PIRAN DAYS OF ARCHITECTURE
NOVEMBER 2023
On the 25th November Níall will be giving a lecture at the 40th Piran Days of Architecture in Slovenia. The theme for the event was Context. Concept. Consensus. The weekend conference is also tied in with the Piranesi International Architecture Award of which Níall will also be judging. National and student selectors will nominate 55 completed architectural projects from 11 Central European countries and 38 student projects from 19 architectural faculties, which will be presented at a joint exhibition.
AUCKLAND CASTLE COMPETITION WIN
FEBRUARY 2014
Niall McLaughlin Architects and Purcell have won the competition to transform Auckland Castle in County Durham into a national museum of religion and religious art. The former historic home of the bishops of Durham, the castle is considered to be the third most historically significant ecclesiastical complex in Europe, after the Vatican and Avignon. Auckland Castle was bought by businessman and philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer who aims to turn it into a major visitor attraction and heritage site in the North East. The client hopes to receive funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund in support of the project and set up the Auckland Castle Trust to oversee the restoration and development of the castle and grounds. The central attraction will be the rare paintings by Spanish artist Francisco de Zurbarán, considered to be some of the most significant religious treasures in Europe and part of the castle’s history for more than 250 years.
Auckland Castle Website