The Benedictine Monastery at Kylemore Abbey in County Galway has been announced as the winner of this year's RIAI Public Choice Award.

The winner of the award is recognised as Ireland's favourite building and with 14,000 votes cast in total, the Axo Architects project emerged victorious.

We are delighted to announce that the winner of the prestigious 2025 RIAI Public Choice Award is The Benedictine Monastery at Kylemore Abbey in County Galway by Axo Architects. With 14,000 votes cast in total, the Benedictine Monastery emerged as the winner.

The new monastery is located on the edge of Pollacappul Lough, near Duchruach Mountain and Kylemore Abbey. Its design is based on traditional monastic layouts, starting from a central garth and cloister and expanding into a series of brick buildings with different heights and sizes. The structure is designed to fit well with the surrounding landscape, with careful attention to context, scale, materials, and visual integration.

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RIAI President, Seán Mahon FRIAI, said: "This year's Public Choice Award winner is a remarkable example of how thoughtful, context-sensitive architecture can enhance both place and purpose. The new monastery at Kylemore Abbey demonstrates a deep understanding of heritage, landscape, and community, creating a space that feels both grounded in tradition and relevant to the present.

"We are thrilled to see the public recognise and celebrate architecture that enriches lives and contributes meaningfully to a much loved natural landscape and environment."

The top ten projects in the RIAI Public Choice Award 2025 are:

• Benedictine Monastery at Kylemore Abbey by Axo Architects for The Kylemore Trust;

• Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant by Clancy Moore Architects in collaboration with Ayesa Engineers for Uisce Éireann / Irish Water;

• Scoil Naomh Bríd, Culleens, by SJK Architects for Board of Management, Scoil Naomh Bríd Culleens;

• The Redevelopment of Dún Laoghaire Baths by dlr architects and A2 Architects for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council;

• Lough Corrib 471 by Helena McElmeel Architects for Claran, Clydagh, Collinamuck and St. Annin's National Schools, Corrib Beo and Arts Council;

• Saint Paul's Monasterevin by de Blacam and Meagher Architects for Department of Education and Youth;

• Dublin Simon Community by O'Connell Mahon Architects for Dublin Simon Community;

• Athlone Greenway Bridge by Seán Harrington Architects for Westmeath County Council;

• Harcourt Terrace Educate Together National School by tún - architecture + design for Department of Education and Youth;

• Tolka Estuary Greenway by Darmody Architecture and TTT (thirtythreetrees) for Dublin Port Company.