Environment Minister John Gormley has officially opened an event celebrating Irish architecture and building design.

He encouraged citizens to avail of the unique opportunity Open House provides to visit a wide range of buildings of architectural merit.

The Minister highlighted that Galway is the first location outside Dublin to host the event, a "significant development" with further potential in the coming years.

Minister Gormley referred to the imminent publication of the Government Policy on Architecture 2009-2015, which places a strong emphasis on sustainable development of the environment and good design.

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"The policy is supportive of the incorporation of our architectural heritage in a holistic and integrated manner," he said.

"Since the idea of Open House was conceived 16 years ago in London by founder Victoria Thornton the idea of opening buildings of architectural quality to the public and providing them with an educational and enjoyable experience has grown ever more popular with both the property owners and the public alike."

He added: "Whether it is through designing the next generation of sustainable buildings or developing expert retrofit solutions - architects are constantly engaged in creative problem solving and Open House showcases their innovation."

(PR/GK)