Golden Lane/Bride Street Housing / Tithíochta Lána an Óir/Sráid Bhríde

We were saddened recently by the passing of our former colleague, Dr. Eugene Gribben, who designed several innovative housing schemes in Dublin City, such as Bride Street housing and Wolfe Tone Court, and then afterwards in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. We are grateful to his friends Eddie Conroy and Kieran Gallagher for this article remembering Eugene and his work. 

With the difficult problem of housing delivery at the epicentre of the media cycle and political life in recent years, it was sad to note the passing, on 13th April 2025, of Dr. Eugene Gribbin, a Public-Sector Architect who over 50 years made a significant contribution to the advancement of housing design and the delivery of high-quality housing environments in his adopted city of Dublin. Since his retirement in 2008, he was a familiar figure walking the seafront from his home in Sandycove, always happy to chat, with a ready wit and sound advice if needed.

Eugene studied Architecture initially at Queens University in his native Belfast before completing his degree in London. Having worked for a period in the GLC and Northern Ireland Housing Executive (on the contentious Craigavon New Town), he moved to Dublin City Council Architects Department in the mid-1970s. Over the following 20 years, he was central to the advancement of the urban design and architectural potential of social housing in the city centre. Qualified as both an architect and a town planner (MRUP and PhD from UCD) he approached housing from a broad base functioning as a practitioner, lecturer, commentator and mentor over his life’s work.

An early housing project by Gribbin, at the Cattle Markets site at North Circular Road followed the demolition of its yards and infamous abattoir in 1976. Dominated by access roads and inwardly focused, the scheme of 2- and 3- 3-storied terraces in a dark red brick did not fully address the significance of Hanlon’s Corner nor match the urban impact of the 19th century terraces of the adjoining North Circular Road. Public realm was hesitant, overlooked by both rear and front gardens. The scheme was hampered by the restricted municipal social-housing language then demanded by the Custom House, a problem shared with a similar scheme from this period at Champions Avenue, off Gardiner Street.

Aerial View of Golden Lane/Bride Street Housing / Amharc ón aer ar Thithíocht Lána an Óir/Sráid Bhríde

Gribbin was not to be daunted however and was committed to a higher standard of design, materials and urban design. He was aided by positive changes flowing from the arrival of John Fitzgerald as City Manager and Jim Barrett as City Architect. Gribbins scheme at Golden Lane/Bride Street was a mould-breaking project. With its 4/5 storey form, it confidently addressed the sturdy Iveagh Buildings opposite. The scheme deployed a new, flexible typology of own-door duplex units forming the well-supervised street-face and, through an archway, a handsome courtyard of terraced urban houses. Its robust, high-quality address to its corner facing St. Patricks Cathedral and gardens beyond bench-marked what public housing projects might achieve. Well-detailed with a likeable buff-coloured brick, careful use of paving, planting and railings, it has aged very well. With its stone decals of Gulliver’s Travels, the scheme is a popular landmark for Dubliners and visitors alike. (Buoyed by its success, Gribbins had the scheme extensively photographed including a helicopter view which depleted the City Architects photography budget for the whole of 1996!).

With this more expansive language, more innovative typologies and a scale more in tune with the Georgian city, a number of memorable projects – incorporating a new confidence in the making of public space from social housing – followed. Wolfe Tone Street housing won Best Brick Building UK award in 2001. Raised internal courtyard, semicircular curve, strong corners and busy commercial ground floor all contributing to city centre vitality and urban regeneration. A number of projects from this period confirm the growing capacity and skill of the Dublin City Architects team.

Wolfe Tone Court, Jervis Street

Gribbins moved to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in 1996 as Senior Architect. His skill and experience stood him in good stead. On a narrow site at Library Road Dun Laoghaire is Oratory Court. In scale and material, it sits happily in a network of Edwardian worker-housing creating an attractive new street and courtyard. The skilful use of terraces to form spaces – courts, gardens, greens – is deployed to equal effect in Davitt Park, Loughlinstown.

The formal language of both delivers a larger impact in his masterplan for the replacement of the infamous Mountwood/Fitzgerald flats scheme at Mounttown. The original buildings in this complex were poorly distributed across a sloping site with little amenity space or passive supervision resulting in a gradual growth in anti-social behaviour and environmental decline. In a number of phases, a series of spaces were formalised by new terraces resolving the site slope into a pattern of streets and squares. A range of typologies generated a diversity of accommodation options as well as visual variety.

Gribbins skill in optimising tight sites is notable in the nearby Plunkett Court at the junction of Oliver Plunkett Rad and Mounttown Road. Here, a pin-wheel plan with central staircase delivers, over three floors, 11 one-bedroom senior-citizen apartments on a tiny site. Villa-like, with balconies, terraces and large corner-windows, it remains a popular project with the public. The project was an early exemplar of “right-sizing” with its tenants returning underused houses to the Council for younger, growing families.

In Clarence Street Dun Laoghaire in 2016, a small end of terrace council house and garden accommodated the footprint of a five-storey building forming a new urban corner, strengthening the street line and facilitating an additional apartment building on its party wall. Gribbins’ Bentley House project is not traditional construction with larger window systems and copper cladding accentuating its compositional techniques. Constructed in partnership with Cross-Care, the building accommodates 13 apartments for the Homeless over five floors with an attractive roof-terrace with views over harbour and bay. It was joint winner of the Irish Social Housing Council Building of the Year in 2007, the year before his retirement.

Eugene Gribbins also worked in close cooperation with the Planning Department in DLR Co. Council over his time there. He carried out Village Improvement Plans for a number of locations (most memorably Foxrock) which formed a foundation for the public realm projects now a strong feature of this Council’s work. A thoughtful article in the Irish Examiner in 2017 on rural town regeneration using Blarney as a worked example, confirms his continued commitment and energy in the Planning sphere. He remained cheery and vigorous to the end and will be missed not only by his wife Anne and daughter Claire but his many colleagues and friends.

Eddie Conroy, Kieran Gallagher.

Leis an bhfadhb dheacair a bhaineann le seachadadh tithíochta ag croílár thimthriall na meán agus an tsaoil pholaitiúil le blianta beaga anuas, ba mhór an trua é bás an Dr Eugene Gribbin ar an 13 Aibreán 2025, ailtire san earnáil phoiblí a d’imir, thar thréimhse 50 bliain, ról suntasach ar cur chun cinn dhearadh tithíochta agus i soláthar timpeallachtaí tithíochta ardchaighdeáin sa chathair a thug sé air féin, Baile Átha Cliath. Ó chuaigh sé ar scor sa bhliain 2008, ba ghnáthdhuine é a fheiceáil ag siúl cois farraige óna theach cónaithe i gCuas an Ghainimh, i gcónaí sásta comhrá a dhéanamh, le greann réidh agus comhairle chiallmhar más gá.

Rinne Eugene staidéar ar Ailtireacht ar dtús in Ollscoil na Banríona i mBéal Feirste ó dhúchas dó sular bhain sé céim amach i Londain. Tar éis dó a bheith ag obair ar feadh tréimhse i bhFeidhmeannacht Tithíochta an GLC agus Thuaisceart Éireann (ar Bhaile Nua chonspóideach Craigavon), bhog sé go Roinn na nAiltirí Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath i lár na 1970idí. Le linn na 20 bliain ina dhiaidh sin, bhí sé lárnach i gcur chun cinn dearadh uirbeach agus acmhainneacht ailtireachta na tithíochta sóisialta i lár na cathrach. Agus é cáilithe mar ailtire agus pleanálaí baile araon (MRUP agus PhD ó UCD), chuaigh sé i dteagmháil le tithíocht ó bhonn leathan ag feidhmiú mar chleachtóir, léachtóir, tráchtaire agus meantóir ar feadh a shaoil.

Lean tionscadal tithíochta luath le Gribbin ag láithair Margaí Eallaigh ar an gCuarbhóthar Thuaidh i ndiaidh scartáil a chlóis agus a sheamlais míchlúiteach i 1976. Le bóithre rochtana agus dírithe isteach, níor thug scéim na sraith tithe 2 agus 3 stór i mbríce dorcha dearg aghaidh go hiomlán ar thábhacht Chúinne Hanlon, agus ná níor mheaitseáil sí le tionchar uirbeach na sraith tithe ón 19ú haois ar an gCuarbhóthar Thuaidh atá tadhlach leis. Bhí an fearann poiblí neamhchinnte, faoi scáth ag gairdíní cúil agus tosaigh araon. Cuireadh bac ar an scéim mar gheall ar an teanga shrianta chathrach tithíochta sóisialta a d’éiligh Teach an Chustaim ag an am – fadhb a bhí roinnte le scéim chomhchosúil ón tréimhse seo ag Ascaill na gCuradh, amach ó Shráid Ghairdinéir.

Níor cuireadh lagmhisneach ar Ghribbin, áfach, agus bhí sé tiomanta do chaighdeán níos airde de dhearadh, d’ábhair agus de dhearadh uirbeach. Fuair ​​sé cúnamh ó athruithe dearfacha a tháinig ó John Fitzgerald mar Bhainisteoir Cathrach agus Jim Barrett mar Ailtire Cathrach. Ba thionscadal ceannródaíoch é scéim Ghribbin ag Lána an Óir/Sráid Bhríde. Leis an bhfoirm 4/5 stór aige, thug sé aghaidh go muiníneach ar Fhoirgnimh láidre Uíbh Eachach os a gcomhair. D’úsáid an scéim tíopeolaíocht sholúbtha nua d’aonaid dhéphléacsacha le doras féin, ag cruthú aghaidh na sráide dea-mhaoirsithe agus, trí áirse, clós dathúil de thithe uirbeacha sraithe. Bhain sé caighdeán ard, láidir amach ina sheasamh ar an gcúinne os comhair Ardeaglais Naomh Pádraig agus gairdíní taobh amuigh de thagarmharcáil ar na tionscadail tithíochta poiblí a d’fhéadfadh a bhaint amach.

Leis na dea-mhionsonraithe le bríce donnbhuí tarraingteach, agus úsáid chúramach a bhaint as pábháil, plandáil agus ráillí, tá sé imithe in aois go han-mhaith. Leis na haistreoga cloiche de Gulliver’s Travels, is sainchomhartha aitheanta é an scéim seo do mhuintir Bhaile Átha Cliath agus do chuairteoirí araon. (Spreagtha ag a rath, rinne Gribbin an scéim a ghrianghrafadh go fairsing – lena n-áirítear radharc héileacaptair a laghdaigh buiséad grianghrafadóireachta Ailtirí Cathrach don bhliain 1996 ar fad!).

Leis an teanga níos fairsinge seo, tíopeolaíochtaí níos nuálaí agus scála níos mó ag teacht leis an gcathair Sheoirseach, lean roinnt tionscadal i gcuimhne – ag ionchorprú muinín nua ó spás poiblí a chruthú trí thithíocht shóisialta. Bhuaigh tithíocht Shráid Wolfe Tone gradam Foirgnimh Bríce is Fearr sa RA in 2001. Clós inmheánach ardaithe, cuar leathchiorclach, coirnéil láidre agus urlár talún tráchtála gnóthach go léir ag cur le beogacht lár na cathrach agus le hathghiniúint uirbeach. Deimhníonn roinnt tionscadal ón tréimhse seo cumas agus scil mhéadaithe fhoireann Ailtirí Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath.

Bhog Gribbins go Comhairle Contae Dhún Laoghaire-Ráth an Dúin in 1996 mar Ailtire Sinsearach. Bhí a scil agus a thaithí ina mbuntáiste mór dó. Ar shuíomh cúnga ar Bhóthar na Leabharlainne i nDún Laoghaire tá Cúirt an Aireagail. Ó thaobh scála agus ábhar de, suíonn sé go nádúrtha i líonra de thithíocht oibrithe ón ré Éadbhardach, agus a chruthaíonn sráid agus clós tarraingteach nua. Baintear úsáid chomh héifeachtach céanna ó sraith tithe chun spásanna a chruthú – cúirteanna, gairdíní, féaraigh – i bPáirc Mhic Dháibhéid, Baile Uí Lachnáin.

Bíonn tionchar níos mó ag teanga fhoirmiúil na beirte ina mháistirphlean chun scéim míchlúiteach árasán Coill an Chnocáin/Mhic Gearailt a athsholáthar ag Baile an Chnoic. Bhí na foirgnimh bhunaidh sa choimpléasc seo scaipthe go dona thar shuíomh fána gan mórán spáis taitneamhachta nó maoirseacht éighníomhach, rud a d’fhág gur tháinig fás de réir a chéile ar iompar frithshóisialta agus meath comhshaoil. I roinnt céimeanna, cuireadh sraith spásanna ar bhonn foirmiúil trí sraith tithe nua a réitigh fána an tsuímh i bpatrún sráideanna agus cearnóga. Chruthaigh réimse tíopeolaíochtaí éagsúlacht roghanna cóiríochta chomh maith le héagsúlacht amhairc.

Tá scil Gribbins maidir le suíomhanna daingean a bharrfheabhsú suntasach i gCúirt Phluincéid in aice láimhe ag acomhal Bhóthar Oilibhéar Pluincéid agus Bóthar Bhaile an Chnoic. Anseo, seachadann plean rothlaigh le staighre lárnach, thar thrí urlár, 11 árasán aon-seomra do sheanóirí ar shuíomh beag bídeach. Cosúil le Villa, le balcóiní, sraith tithe agus fuinneoga cúinne móra, tá sé fós ina thionscadal tóir ag an bpobal. Bá eiseamláir luath den “mhéid cheart” a bhí sa tionscadal agus na tionóntaí ag filleadh ar thithe tearcúsáidte chuig an gComhairle do theaghlaigh níos óige atá ag fás.

I Sráid Clarence i nDún Laoghaire in 2016, d’fhreastail teach comhairle agus gairdín de sraith tithe beag ar lorg foirgnimh cúig stór a bhí mar chúinne uirbeach nua, ag neartú líne na sráide agus ag cur ar chumas foirgneamh árasán breise a thógáil ar a bhalla páirtí. Ní tógáil thraidisiúnta é tionscadal Teach Bentley Gribbins le córais fuinneoige níos mó agus cumhdach copair ag cur dlús lena theicnící comhdhéanaimh. Tógtha i gcomhpháirtíocht le Cross-Care an foirgneamh, agus tá 13 árasán ann do Dhaoine gan Dídean thar chúig urlár agus sraithe tithe tarraingteach dín le radhairc thar chuan agus bá. Bhí sé ina chomhbhuaiteoir ar Fhoirgneamh na Bliana de chuid Chomhairle Tithíochta Sóisialta na hÉireann in 2007, an bhliain sular éirigh sé as.

D’oibrigh Eugene Gribbins freisin i ndlúthchomhar leis an Roinn Pleanála i gComhairle Contae DLR thar an tréimhse a chaith sé ansin. Rinne sé Pleananna Feabhsúcháin Sráidbhaile do roinnt suíomhanna (Carraig an tSionnaigh go háirithe) a bhí mar bhunsraith do thionscadail an fhearainn phoiblí atá mar ghné láidir d’obair na Comhairle anois. Deimhníonn alt tuisceanach san Irish Examiner in 2017 ar athghiniúint bailte tuaithe ag úsáid na Blarnan mar shampla oibrithe, a thiomantas agus a fhuinneamh leanúnach i réimse na Pleanála. Choinnigh sé ar a bheith gealgháireach agus láidir go deireadh a shaoil agus ní hamháin go n-aireoidh a bhean chéile Anne agus a hiníon Claire uathu é, ach aireoidh a lán comhghleacaithe agus cairde dá chuid uathu é chomh maith céanna.

Eddie Conroy, Kieran Gallagher.