Architecture is in a self-congratulatory mood. The best new buildings in Britain and Ireland have been unveiled and although this year's bumper crop is a vintage one, there is a sense that some of the harvest may not age all that well. Still, as with Beaujolais Nouveau, we should not put off our enjoyment. The Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) has named an unprecedented 70 UK regional and European buildings, including six projects in Ireland, on the long list for the Stirling Prize, which will be announced on October 12.
