The Brian Patrick Keirnan Prize is open to NSW student SONA members of architecture and is based on the theme of ‘Reimagining, Reinventing and Reinterpreting Public Space’. The prize is for overseas travel and research and/or overseas study to enrich professional development.

Brian was a Sydney based designer who passed away in 2018. Through a career spanning more than 40 years, Brian’s body of work encompassed both the private and public domains. His work was characterised by a profound and intuitive understanding of how spaces defined interiors and exteriors and how that influenced the ways people experienced those places.

His approach to design reflected a deep generosity which extended to those he encountered professionally, not least student and emerging practitioners of design and architecture whom he was passionate to support. Brian was himself a lifelong student and encouraged those he mentored never to lose the fascination with learning and to challenge convention and the ordinary as central tenets of good design. He was generous in his advice and time, taking reward from seeing new careers flourish. This prize seeks to capture that generous spirit.

Prize

Following review by the jury, only one winning proposal will be selected each year. The winning individual or group will receive funding of $10,000 expressly for overseas travel and overseas research and/or overseas study for professional development that is aligned with the prize theme. In addition to selecting a winner for the Prize, it is also open to the jury to award a commendation/s for an entry/ entries which expresses strongly the themes of the Prize.

Prize money will be released when overseas travel is booked.

Partners

The Institute thanks the donors of the Brian Patrick Keirnan Prize and their support of both students of architecture and architecture more broadly in Brian’s memory. 

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