Established in 1976 by Edward McParland and Nicholas Robinson,  the Irish Architectural Archive collects and preserves the records of Irish architecture – from the earliest structures to contemporary buildings – and makes these freely available to all who wish to consult them.

To achieve its core objectives, the IAA acquires records relating to Irish architecture, architects and buildings, preserves those records by housing and storing them securely, catalogues the records to facilitate public access and use, and provides that public access directly in its Reading Room in 45 Merrion Square, online via its catalogue, and through its exhibitions programme and related activities.

Vision

The IAA seeks to be an authoritative and comprehensive repository of primary evidence relating to Ireland’s architecture, architects, and buildings. Through the holdings of the IAA, freely accessible to all, that architecture and built environment can be celebrated, interrogated, understood and reimagined.

Values

The IAA is open, inclusive, inquisitive, grounded in the past yet forward thinking.

The IAA is a non-contentious body which does not involve itself in the planning process or matters of conservation controversy.