Irish architect Niall McLaughlin, who was announced as the recipient of the 2026 RIBA Royal Gold Medal today, explains his focus on creating meaningful architecture in this interview. Reflecting on winning the prestigious RIBA Royal Gold Medal, McLaughlin explained that he believes the award is an acknowledgement of architects' growing rejection of flashy architecture. For McLaughlin, a focus on creating meaningful architecture is the thread that ties all of his projects together. "And I think architecture has a big role to play in that." The photography is courtesy of Niall McLaughlin Architects, unless otherwise stated.