A2 Architects was established by Peter Carroll and Caomhán Murphy in 2005 and is based in Great Strand Street in Dublin, Ireland.

The practice is founded on a shared interest in both the continuing development of architectural practice as well as the unchanging, essential nature of architecture. A constant excitement and spirit in architecture is sought out, be it in a modest house or in the realm of spaces found in a school.

In 2009 they received an RIAI Irish Architecture Award and a Special Mention in the Architectural Association of Ireland Awards for the new French School at 'Eurocampus' Dublin. In 2008 they received an AAI Award and an RIAI Irish Architecture Award for a residential project entitled 'One up, One down, One deep' in Portobello, Dublin. In 2007 they received a Special Mention for 'Brick Thickness' in the Architectural Association of Ireland Awards.

Along with several Irish practices A2 represented Ireland at the inaugural Lisbon Architecture Triennale in Portugal in 2007 with four residential projects and were participants in the 'Four under forty' exhibition and book about emerging Dublin-based practices.

The practice was appointed as architects for the new French School on the Eurocampus in south Dublin in 2006. The new school was officially opened by the French and German Ambassadors to Ireland on the anniversary of the signing of the Franco German Élysée Treaty on 22 January 2009.

Since graduating from University College Dublin in 1995, both partners have gained extensive Irish and international experience on a broad range of building types and sizes.

Peter Carroll

Born in 1971 in Limerick (Ireland). Peter graduated from University College Dublin in 1995 and worked with O'Donnell + Tuomey in Dublin and Rafael Moneo in Madrid until 2005. From 2000-2002 he edited the Architectural Association of Ireland's quarterly journal 'Building Material'. Peter is currently second year studio tutor at the School of Architecture, University of Limerick. He is a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland and the Architectural Association of Ireland.

Caomhán Murphy

Born in 1971 in Dublin (Ireland). Caomhán grew up in Cologne, Germany and graduated from University College Dublin in 1995. He has been practicing in Dublin and Sydney since 1995. He previously served on the RIAI Sustainability Taskforce and is a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, Architectural Association of Ireland and the Australian Architecture Association.

Joan McElligott

Born in Listowel (Ireland). Joan graduated from University College Dublin in 2003 and is a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. She previously worked in Toronto, New York and Sydney and became an associate director of A2 Architects in 2009. She is currently project architect on the Tuam House and Lucky Lane Housing, due for completion in 2009.

Current projects

Competitions

Kyrl's Quay Redevelopment, Cork City, 2005

Giant's Causeway Visitors Centre, 2005

Scalaheen Housing, Tipperary, 2006 (selected for exhibition)

Wexford Civic Offices, 2006

Europan 8, 2007

Henrietta Street, 2008

Collaborators

Julia Garcia Gonzales

Amanda Buckley

Miriam Dunn

Tom O'Brien

Suzy O'Leary

Open Office Architects

Stephen Mulhall

Joan McElligott

Rebecca Howard

Danny Holland

Briain Moriarty

Sinéad O'Shaughnessy

Seosamh O'Muircheartaigh

Legal personality and practice details

Practice established 2005, Limited Company backed by Professional Indemnity Insurance

Address: 3 Great Strand Street, Dublin 1, Ireland

Directors: Peter Carroll and Caomhán Murphy

Telephone: + 353 1 8727393 / 8726831

Fax: + 353 1 8727394

Email: office@a2.ie

Bankers: Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin

Accountants: DLS Partners, Dublin

Technical equipment and systems

At A2 we operate a networked Apple Macintosh G5 and Dell PC computer platform with off-site server back up, firewall, high speed internet and email.

Our model making is done in-house and provides the basis for our ongoing design dialogue with clients, local authorities and other consultants. We use the latest computer aided design and imaging software and provide large format high resolution in-house colour and black and white output up to A0 size.

We subscribe to the UK National Building Specification and ArchInfo at University College Dublin to provide continually updated access to leading technical specification and information sources. Quality of the design and construction process is ensured by using the RIAI Plan of Work and the RIBA Job Book, to identify clients' expectations and control the outcome in their interest.

Scope of service

- architectural design from concept to completion

- feasibility studies, site investigation

- energy conscious and sustainable design strategies

- building energy rating certificates (BER)

- model making

- conservation and protected structure works

- overall development budgets and costing

- project programming

- delivery of projects on programme and on budget

- coordinating structural, services, energy, cost, planning, conservation and fire consultant input

- RIAI Building contract administration

- project management

- collaboration with international offices

- furniture and interior design

- inspection and certification of work during and after construction

- dealing with client's statutory duties under Safety and Health and other relevant legislation

Technical equipment and systems

At A2 we operate a networked Apple Macintosh G5 and Dell PC computer platform with off-site server back up, firewall, high speed internet and email.

Our model making is done in-house and provides the basis for our ongoing design dialogue with clients, local authorities and other consultants. We use the latest computer aided design and imaging software and provide large format high resolution in-house colour and black and white output up to A0 size.

We subscribe to the UK National Building Specification and ArchInfo at University College Dublin to provide continually updated access to leading technical specification and information sources. Quality of the design and construction process is ensured by using the RIAI Plan of Work and the RIBA Job Book, to identify clients' expectations and control the outcome in their interest.

Awards

2009

RIAI Irish Architecture Awards
Winner of the 'Best Educational Building' category for 'Eurocampus/ Lycee Francais d'Irlande', Dublin and shortlisted for the 'Public Choice Award'

Architectural Association of Ireland
Special Mention for the French School, Eurocampus, Dublin

2008

RIAI Irish Architecture Awards
Winner of the 'Best House Extension' category for 'One up One down One deep' in Portobello, Dublin and shortlisted for the 'Public Choice Award'

Architectural Association of Ireland
Award for the residential project 'One up One down One deep' in Portobello, Dublin

2007

Architectural Association of Ireland
Special Mention for the residential project 'Brick Thickness' in Ranelagh, Dublin

Lectures

2009

A2 Architects
RIAI Southern Region Lecture Series

2008

 'Private to Public'
Multi-story Lecture Series
Canterbury School of Architecture, UK

 '4 Years on ...'
AAI Events / Autumn 2008
Trinity College, Dublin

 'How does your work begin?'
Society of Architecture Lecture Series
School of Architecture, University of Limerick

Exhibitions

2009

AAI Awards Touring Exhibition 2009
Irish Architectural Archive, Merrion Square, Dublin 2

2008

AAI Awards Touring Exhibition 2008
Irish Architectural Archive, Merrion Square, Dublin 2

Ireland at the Lisbon Architecture Triennale 2007
'Line to Surface: Urban Void _ Extended City'
Office of Public Works Exhibition Space, Dublin

2007

Inaugural Lisbon Architecture Triennale , Portugal
'Line to Surface: Urban Void _ Extended City'

AAI Awards Touring Exhibition 2007
Irish Architectural Archive, Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Filmbase, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Four Under Forty: 'Grafts, interventions and additions'
Exhibition of domestic extensions by young Dublin-based practices
Gordon Street, Ringsend, Dublin

2006

RIAI Scalaheen Housing Competition
Excel Gallery, Tipperary Town

Books

Media