Curators of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2018, with the theme Freespace, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara will receive RIBA’s 2020 Royal Gold Medal at the beginning of next year. The Irish duo co-founded Dublin-based studio Grafton Architects in 1978.

“From designing houses in wind-swept rural landscapes to substantial inner-city university projects, from curating and contributing to world class exhibitions to teaching within some of the world’s leading schools of architecture, the scale and scope of Grafton Architects’ influence is extraordinary,” stated RIBA President, Alan Jones. “Their extensive talent and generosity of spirit are an inspiration, not only to me and my fellow architects but to all those who have had the pleasure of engaging directly with them and their work.”

Grafton are currently working on The Marshall Building for the London School of Economics (LSE), the Town House building for Kingston University London, the School of Economics for the University Toulouse 1 Capitole, the Institute Mines Telecom University Building in Paris Saclay, the City Library & Parnell Square Cultural Quarter project in Dublin, with Shaffery Architects and the new HQ for the Electricity Supply Board in Dublin, with O'Mahony Pike architects, all won by international competitions.

Opening image: Grafton Architects, Bocconi University, Milan, 2008. Photo Maxime Galati-Fourcade