People want buildings to be meaningful says Royal Gold Medal winner Niall McLaughlin

Irish architect Niall McLaughlin, who was announced as the recipient of the 2026 RIBA Royal Gold Medal today, explains his focus on creating meaningful architecture in this interview.

Reflecting on winning the prestigious RIBA Royal Gold Medal, McLaughlin explained that he believes the award is an acknowledgement of architects' growing rejection of flashy architecture.

"It seems to me that architects are interested in a quieter, more purposeful understanding of architecture that is based on the way that buildings are made...