Materials, meaning, and the sacred: Níall McLaughlin in conversation

Join us for a keynote lecture with award-winning architect Níall McLaughlin, as he shares the ideas, commitment to care, and the sense of wonder that drives his approach to architecture.

This year, Níall has been awarded RIBA’s prestigious Royal Gold Medal in recognition of his lifetime contribution to architecture. As part of the celebrations, we are presenting a new exhibition, Immersion, at RIBA North. The exhibition features a specially commissioned installation responding to the practice’s recently awarded project: the Museum of Jesus’ Baptism in Jordan. Next to a UNESCO‑designated site, the design draws on Jordan’s local building traditions and materials including rammed earth and stone. The crafted model at RIBA North captures the museum project’s architectural vision, its sacred narratives, and rich landscape. It is accompanied by a new film exploring how Níall’s practice challenges conventional notions of architecture.

In this lecture, Níall will share insights from the exhibition at RIBA North alongside related projects from across his career. He will reflect on his path into working with heritage and sacred sites, and on how contemporary architecture can hold and carry histories, meaning, and memory forward in remarkable ways.

This event for anyone interested in architecture, memory, cultural projects, and heritage sites. It forms part of our public programmes, bringing conversations about architecture and the built environment to all.

This event is delivered in partnership with the Centre for Architecture and Visual Arts, University of Liverpool

Event format

The event will be opened by Dr Marco Iuliano, Research Director, Centre for Architecture and Visual Art. Dr Iuliano will introduce the lecture and RIBA's ongoing partnership with the Centre for Architecture and Visual Arts, including our longstanding collaboration for the Colin Rowe Lecture series.

Níall will then deliver his keynote lecture, before being joined in conversation by Professor Soumyen Bandyopadhyay, Sir James Stirling Chair in Architecture at the Liverpool School of Architecture.

You’ll then have a chance to ask your questions during an audience Q&A. After this, stay for a drink and further conversation downstairs in the Waterhouse Cafe, Victoria Gallery & Museum.

Lead Image: Auckland Castle Faith Museum. Credit: Nick Kane

Venue, ticket and accessibility information

• doors open at 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start

• the event will take place in the Leggate Theatre, Victoria Gallery & Museum, Liverpool

• a bar will be available after the talk, offering alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options. Please note, Victoria Gallery & Museum operates a Challenge 25 policy

Ticket information

• we offer concession tickets for students, those on lower incomes, those with disabilities, and those over 65. Please choose the 'Concession' ticket at the checkout

• we aim to make our events open and accessible to all. If cost is a barrier, we offer an additional discounted option via a discount code. Please contact [email protected] in confidence for the code
• by accepting an invitation or purchasing a ticket you have consented to being photographed, filmed or recorded as a visitor attending the event for all general purposes in relation to the event including without limitation, publicity and promotional purposes. You consent to us using your voice, name and/or likeness, without compensation, for exploitation in promotional and publicity materials, online, books, newspapers, newsletters, magazine articles and social marketing whenever we choose to do so, in perpetuity

Venue access and travel information

• there is step-free access to the building. Inside, you can access the Leggate theatre via lift or stairs

• you can find more information about the Victoria Gallery & Museum on the AccessAble guide

• the Victoria Gallery & Museum is at the top of Brownlow Hill, a 15-minute walk from Lime Street and Liverpool Central rail stations

• you can also reach Victoria Gallery & Museum by bus. From the city centre, buses 14 and 79 go up Brownlow Hill around every 5 minutes. The buses leave from the side of the Adelphi Hotel at the bottom of Brownlow Hill and stop outside the Victoria Gallery & Museum at the top of Brownlow Hill

• there is no on-site parking. Nearby Pay and Display car parks include the University of Liverpool Visitor car park on Mount Pleasant, 200m away from the Museum

• British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation can be provided throughout the event. For BSL priority seating, please select the 'BSL Seating' add-on at the checkout. Please note this ticketing will close 3 weeks in advance due to Interpreter availability

• if you would like to discuss your attendance and inclusion and/or access needs to attend the event comfortably, please contact [email protected]

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