A family home located on the outskirts of Belfast has been named Northern Ireland's Building of the Year.

Hill House, which overlooks the Lagan Valley, took home the Liam McCormick Prize at the 2023 RSUA Design Awards, which were held at Parliament Buildings at Stormont.

The McGonigle McGrath designed house joins a list of the finest buildings in Northern Ireland to have won the prize including the Lyric Theatre and Giant's Causeway visitor centre. The project was also named as Northern Ireland's House of the Year 2023 with the Belfast-based practice now receiving that accolade three times since 2019.

Hill House was one of five projects to secure a RSUA Design Award, all of which will now be in the running for a UK-wide RIBA award for architecture.

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Consarc Design won an award for its conservation of the Grand Opera House and the reworking of its modern extension. James Grieve who worked on the project was named Project Architect of the Year.

St James Farm by MMAS Architects won the Living Places Award for its contribution to the community, while Avanti Architects with Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects won the Sustainability Award for the £118m Ulster Hospital Acute Services Block in Dundonald.

The final winner was Studio idir for its Ballyhackamore House Extension in East Belfast. Aisling Shannon Rusk was both client and architect on this project.

Speaking about the 2023 awards, Ciarán Fox, RSUA Director, said: "The quality of architecture in a region has a very direct impact on the health, wealth and environmental wellbeing of its communities. Whether that be through our hospitals, homes, community facilities or theatres, the common thread should be a drive for thoughtful, creative and intelligent design. These awards highlight the best and will hopefully inspire clients, architects and policy makers to strive for more.

"Our winners and shortlisted projects demonstrate that when clients make an investment in good design the benefits are both tangible and long-lasting. Architects can help deliver buildings which are both functional and beautiful and which enrich the lives of those who use them.

"I commend the clients and architects involved in all ten shortlisted projects and extend my particular congratulations to the five winners."