Last weekend's Venice Biennale was a resounding tribute to Ireland's architects, who have taken on the challenge of predicting the near future of modern architecture. Ireland's boat came in at the Venice Biennale last weekend, more than once. While The Magdalene Sisters — Scottish actor Peter Mullan's film about a Magdalene laundry in 1960s' Ireland — was winning a coveted Leon d'oro, or golden lion, at the film festival, there was also much to celebrate at Next, the 8th international architecture exhibition, curated by Deyan Sudjic.

