June 2017

BUILD / June 2017 135 , 2016 BUILD Awards Architect of the Year, UK recipient is Cummins + Voortman’s director Robert Cummins. Following the firm’s undoubted success, we took the chance to profile their impressive work as an acclaimed RIAI & RIBA sustainable ecological architecture, urban design & advanced BIM (Building InformationModelling) practice based in Ireland. A New Standard in Design While the firm Cummins + Voortman is based in Ireland, they are involved with projects of all types throughout the UK and internationally. Cummins + Voortman was founded in 2005 to meet the changing needs of the market and to set a new standard in design and client service for projects of all scales, including both domestic and commercial clients. The practice uses the very latest technology at all stages of the design/production process, to allow maximum focus on the most important architectural and/ or social aspects of each specific project, within an economically efficient framework. For one off domestic reports, the firm generally limits their involvement to within 60km of their offices (Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, Kildare, Waterford, Dublin etc.), but this is of course something that can be discussed on a case by case basis. Robert Cummins Robert Cummins himself is an experienced artist, tennis/ sports infrastructure consultant & chartered conservation architect. He initially graduated from UCD, Dublin, Ireland in 1995 with a BSc. in Architectural Science. In 1998, he further completed a Post Graduate Degree (Bachelor of Architecture) again in UCD. Having completed his professional practice experience during 1999- 2001, he completed the RIAI (Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland) professional practice exams in 2001, and was elected a member of the RIAI in the same year. He was later elected a member of both RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) and the ARB (UK Architects Registration Board) in 2006. Having worked as a project architect from 1998 (for three years) and as a senior architect, thereafter he established an architectural practice in Ireland. He then co-founded Cummins + Voortman in 2005. Robert also has an interest and expertise in elegant sustainable & ecological design, as well as the implementation of low energy and low carbon heating systems within buildings. He has extensive experience in terms of project management and strict project cost control (through good attention to detail and knowledge of a broad range of construction systems etc.). He is not just strict in this regard in terms of the contractor and other third parties, but also with each client. This has a long-lasting benefit for almost every project he has dealt with. He is also accredited in architectural conservation (grade III) and has worked with numerous old buildings & protected structures over the years, many of which are part heritage grant aid funded. He is also a member of the Irish Georgian Society, the Architectural Association of Ireland and the Royal Hibernian Academy. His general relevant experience includes the following areas: Practice & project management: He has extensive (since 1998) postgraduate experience in the architectural business environment, with in-depth knowledge of a broad range of specific project types within the architectural sphere. This has included work on over 150 such projects (of varying scales) to date. Public funded projects: Robert has worked on a significant number of health care, educational and other state funded projects since the late 1990’s. Sports/tennis infrastructure consultant: Robert is the top expert in Ireland in terms of tennis facilities & infrastructure and he also has significant knowledge/ experience of sports & leisure facilities in general with many grant funded schemes of quality. Planning consultant: Robert has extensive experience (since 1998) of the Irish planning system and the associated legal statutes. He has acted as a planning consultant on many projects. This has included extensive experience as an expert witness in significant planning enforcement procedures / statuary licensing procedures etc. He also has appropriate experience of preparation of documents for district & high court actions related to same. Art: As a student, he won numerous awards/competitions. Since then he has created many works of art (for over 25 years now) and has a significant insight into this area which is of benefit for clients looking for something different particularly in terms of interior design. Hi specialist area is virtual and imaginary landscapes & structures. Company: CUMMINS + VOORTMAN (Sustainable, Ecological Architects & Urban Designers) SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE & URBAN DESIGN Name: Robert Cummins Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.cvltd.ie Address: Block 4, Harcourt Centre, Harcourt Road, Dublin, D02 HW77 Ireland Telephone: +353 (0)1 2966507 1702BU04