Foreword
Leap, a village in County Cork, is located near the southern tip of Ireland. The town’s full name of “O’Donovans Leap” is adopted from the story of an Irish chieftain who, pursued by British soldiers, escaped by jumping on horseback across a deep ravine located here. The village is home to a collection of bars and the beloved music venue Connolly’s of Leap. The venue’s building is historic to the region, having functioned as a pub since 1810, and it has championed providing live music through three family generations - the current owners and operators of the Connolly’s of Leap, were both born and raised in the building. The venue was closed to the public from 2006 until 2015, when it was reopened with a renewed enthusiasm to support musicians.
This competition tasked participants with envisioning a concept for a renovation and programmatic extension of the Connolly’s of Leap venue. The site, located on a steep hill next to the storied ravine and a waterfall, contains the existing music venue building and family quarters, as well as a collection of outbuildings today used for storage. Participants were challenged to re-think the site and its ability to offer a unique setting for musical performance in two ways: first the refurbishment of the existing venue with the possibility of altering it with design interventions; and second, an expansion within the site to include the following recommended programs: an external performance zone with a bar, a cafe or restaurant, external seating area, a recording lab, management offices, a creative workshop and studio spaces, exhibition spaces, a waterfall viewing deck, parking, guest quarters for visiting artists, and a sound engineering booth for stage. This list of programs was left open to interpretation and modification by each participant.
Several factors were considered by the jury while reviewing the submissions. Those which were considerate of the landscape, as well as the integrity and spirit of the existing venue, were reviewed favorably. The jury also gave importance to design which acknowledged the ravine, waterfall, and neighborhood context. The winning proposals offer flexible building plans, and programs which test new ideas for viewing and performing. Bee Breeders would like to thank all participants for their submissions, and looks forward to further development of Connolly’s of Leap’s site and venue.
1st Prize Winner
The Leap
We participated in this competition because it gave us a chance to exercise our muscles on a different project type and in a different context. Cultural venues are a building typology that interests us deeply because of the clear connection between people, place, events history and identity. It’s a tremendously exciting thing to be a part of and the competition gave us just that opportunity.
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United KingdomJury feedback summary
The jury found this submission to be buildable, well-suited for its site, and respectful of the existing building. It intelligently reorganizes the music venue, and it’s primary modification is the insertion of a raised glass skylight, allowing natural light to penetrate the event space. Using materials of timber, local stone, and charred oak, the submission introduces four new buildings, well-situated on the hillside and housing band accommodations, a workshop, a studio, and an exhibition space. The jury applauds the clarity and unique hand-drawn quality of the participant’s illustrations, and it encourages the designer to further develop the interior experience of these smaller structures.
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2nd Prize Winner
Connolly's of Leap: Shaping the Sound
In our project work, we always strive to surprise with new, unexpected ideas while meeting the functional needs of the project. Participating in architecture design competitions affords the opportunity to keep our creative minds fresh by temporarily removing some of the constraints of day-to-day work and reminding us to keep our imaginations fresh. We also love the team-building aspect of architecture design competitions – bringing together a small group within the office, different for each competition, builds connections between team members and fosters a team spirit and enthusiasm that spills over into other projects.
Read full interviewJury feedback summary
In the submission that most challenged the existing site, “Shaping the Sound” carved from the hillside to compose a series of semi-underground spaces with curved shapes that take cues from instrument design. It proposes a number of viewing points from which to observe the site, and both internal and outdoor events. In the submission’s street elevation drawing it highlights the only interventions visible from the neighborhood to be two timber structures, which anchor the site and give it the potential to become a landmark. The submission’s sectional drawings are especially provocative. The jury questions the total removal of trees from the site and suggests the designer to consider the site’s existing vegetation.
3rd Prize Winner
Rooted|Rootless
Most of the time we are working with so many demands; it can be a wonderfully collaborative experience, but it can pull us away from our original intentions as architects. Competitions are an opportunity to step away from external demands and rediscover what is important to us. Ideally this resonates with others, and we see how others responded to the exact same parameters.
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United StatesJury feedback summary
“Rooted/Rootless” focuses the design of the expanded music venue around a central tree. A series of gardens connected by ramps brings visitors from the existing preserved building to a waterfall viewing zone and large new music arena set on the hillside. The arena is covered by a faceted canopy, the submission’s principle design move. The canopy appears to float above the existing venue, infusing it with a dynamic new form and material. The designer’s hillside section represents well the relationship of spaces and the importance of the existing natural elements in the proposal. The jury questions the function of the mobile armatures structuring the canopy and supports the designer to expand on this idea in other elements of the project.
BB STUDENT AWARD +
BB GREEN AWARD
BB GREEN AWARD
Bring the Artist and the Audience will follow
It’s a challenge and only by challenging yourself can you find something special and broaden your own mind. For this particular competition, it was also the theme that got me interested in it, because I’m deeply in love with music and finding place like Connolly’s of Leap just blew my mind, so I simply couldn't resist. Also, with this project I was defending my Bachelor’s degree and after four years in university I wanted to end it with a project that I’m passionate about and I think that this was the best path I could take to do that.
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LithuaniaHonorable Mentions
Shortlisted projects
Sheds Of Leap
Ireland 
Irish Cult Music Venue
Australia 
THE VILLAGE
United Arab Emirates Beyond the Leap, Beyond the Law. History repeats itself.
Studio flex
Netherlands Bring the Artist and the Audience will follow
Vilnius academy of arts
+124 points Buildner University Rankings!
Lithuania Rhetoric of a piece of music
Chile Connolly's of Leap: Shaping the Sound
Kga architecture
United States Low-Def
United States 
The Leap
United Kingdom From Venue to Center
Germany 
Connolly's Yard
United States Rooted|Rootless
United States 