TY Architecture – Guest Workshop with Aileen Boylan
Ryan Lamb Architects | 3.5 Hour Workshop (9:10–12:40)
Recently, we welcomed architect Aileen Boylan from Ryan Lamb Architects for a fantastic workshop exploring Future Heritage — how buildings capture people, culture and time.
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Phase 1 – What Will Still Exist in 100 Years?
We opened with a challenge:
What everyday objects will still be in use in 100 years?
This led into a discussion about heritage and how architecture records different periods in time. We looked at famous buildings around the world, including:
The Eiffel Tower – originally meant to be temporary!
Sydney Opera House – took 10 years longer than planned to build!
We then explored Irish architectural heritage, including:
Newgrange, Skellig Michael, Casino Marino, Martello Towers and Newbridge House — learning how each reflects the lives of the people of its time.
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Sketching Across Time – Past / Present / Future
Students were asked to imagine a general building — school, church, library or community space — and sketch it in three different eras: 
100 years ago
Present day
100 years into the future
Phase 2 – Paper Construction Engineering Challenge
Using only paper, tape and scissors, students were given four structural challenges:
1. Build a 10cm form /structure
2. Create a double-twist form/structure, at least 15cm high
3. Build a structure to support a 300g bottle
4. Final challenge: Using only 3 A3 sheets, build the tallest structure possible — no glue, no tape… just scissors!
We ended by placing all structures on the ground and measuring to find the tallest — great competition and teamwork to finish the session.
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Huge thanks to Aileen Boylan and Ryan Lamb Architects for inspiring our TY group.
Architecture is more than buildings — it’s a way of capturing time and imagination.
