The proposed Duke St / Anne St South Public Realm Improvement Scheme reached a significant milestone recently as it was granted Part 8 planning approval at the April meeting of the Dublin City Council. Reimagining Dublin’s primary retail core as a more welcoming, modern and beautiful space was the design intent. The design, developed by […]

Dublin City Council recently launched the results of a new digital twin project, examining different ways to future-proof its social housing stock. A digital twin is a virtual representation using real-time data, which can be used to simulate relationships between factors such as people, buildings and the environment. These virtual models have become a staple in […]

As part of the EPA Climate Change Lecture Series, City Architects were invited to present examples of our Climate Resilient Design Work at The Round Room at The Mansion House, Dublin on 19th April 2023. A lecture entitled ‘Ocean Circulation, Tipping Points and the Public Climate Debate’ by Professor Stefan Rahmstorf, Professor of Physics of the Oceans […]

  Dublin City Council is seeking applicants for the post of Deputy City Architect and for Senior Executive Architect posts to join the team in City Architects Division in designing and managing construction of new and retrofitted homes, civic and historic buildings, public realm and urban design projects. The application process is being managed through […]

All of the City Architects team were deeply saddened at the untimely passing of our colleague and friend, architect Dearbhla McClean, just before Christmas after a short illness. Dearbhla was a compassionate and talented designer and a wonderfully positive presence in City Architects.  She worked on the Council’s libraries and other cultural buildings and was […]

Dublin City Council’s Environment & Transportation Dept has recently established an Active Travel Network Office to deliver a programme of improved walking and cycle infrastructure across the city. City Architects are excited to be a part of this multi-disciplinary team and look forward to collaborating with engineers, landscape architects and planners to help facilitate the modal shift from […]

The proposed redevelopment of the existing Constitution Hill Flats has reached a major mile stone as the Part 8 planning application for 124 homes has been lodged and can be viewed on: https://consultation.dublincity.ie/central-area/part-8-redevelopment-of-constitution-hill-flats-du/ Design Team Project Managers/Feasibility Masterplan City Architects Division, Dublin City Council Architects Grafton Architects Landscaping Brady Shipman Martin Structural & Civil Engineers ARUP M&E Services Engineers ARUP […]

This year’s annual architectural festival Open House will take place across the city from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th October.  It is a unique opportunity for citizens to explore, understand and re-discover the architecture of their city through over 150 free events and tours, including buildings not generally accessible to the public. This year Dublin […]

As we approach the halfway point in 2022, we thought we would give a brief update on a selection of the projects we have been working on this year. We will cover some of these projects in more detail once they reach completion but in the meantime here are some highlights showing the range of […]

High quality and well-designed living environments can bring economic, social and environmental benefits to cities, towns, and rural communities across Ireland The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan T.D launched the Government’s new National Policy on Architecture,  “Places for People”, on […]

  The Dublin Region Climate Action Challenge seeks innovative ideas and applications that use open data to drive and support climate action. Entry is open to individuals and groups of all ages and backgrounds through completing a short application form for a top prize of €5,000 with a €1,000 award available for each shortlisted entry. This challenge is organised […]

City Architects is hiring! Dublin City Council has advertised for the post of Executive Architect to join the team in City Architects Division working on our diverse range of projects across designing and managing construction of new and retrofitted homes, civic buildings, architectural conservation, public realm projects and urban design. Applicants must have at least […]

Corban Walker’s exploration of minimal home sizes opened on 24th June 2021 at Diamond Park, Dublin 1.  A public discussion was held to mark the exhibition’s launch.  Panellists were the artist Walker, Orla Hegarty (UCD), John O’Connor (Housing Agency), Sinead O’Carroll (The Journal), Amy Donohoe (Dublin Live) and Ruairí Ó Cuív (DCC Public Art Officer).  […]

  An exhibition of artist Corban Walker’s new art work ‘What do you need?’ will explore the impact of minimal home sizes and housing policies on the lives of communities and artists. The exhibition will will take place in Diamond Square, 7 Gardiner Street Lower, Dublin 1, from 24th June to 15th July 2021. The opening of the […]

On 8th January 2021, all but essential construction sites in Ireland were instructed to close by Government direction under national Level 5 restrictions to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19. A number of DCC sites including St. Teresa’s Gardens (54 homes), which reached substantial completion on 16th February 2021, were permitted to continue. Throughout the […]

Following on from our series of Blog posts in early 2020, this is the sixth of eight posts reviewing progress made in 2020 and outlining our project targets for this year. This post covers work on the public realm for the Council’s Environment & Transportation Department. Other public realm work in the North East Inner City […]

This is the second of seven posts reviewing progress made in 2020 and outlining our project targets for this year. This post covers new-build public housing delivered via Design & Build contracts, and incorporating traditional or modern methods of construction; sometimes referred to as ‘rapid delivery, system build’ or ‘volumetric’ construction. System build or projects […]

Following on from our series of Blog posts in early 2020, this is the first of seven posts reviewing progress made in 2020 and outlining our project targets for this year. This post covers new-build public housing using ‘traditional’ building contracts. This area of work is delivered by Dublin City Council’s City Architect Division, who […]

Dublin City Council is progressing an ambitious plan to rediscover and reinvent the historic College Green as the major public space at the heart of the city. Following the unsuccessful application to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) in 2018,  Dublin City Council held a series of trial traffic-free events in College Green including Summer Sundays, Culture […]

As we approach the end of 2019, we thought we’d look back at events across our work on new housing developments, public housing regeneration, public realm projects, conservation works, and civic projects such as public libraries. So below is a snapshot of some of the project milestones achieved in 2019 and some of those planned […]

The new housing project at Cornamona Court, which recently commenced on site, is being constructed as part of Dublin City Council’s ongoing programme of delivery of new homes. Introduction The redevelopment of Cornamona Court in Ballyfermot was identified by Dublin City Council as part of our delivery of new housing under the Housing Strategy 2020. […]

The Structural Engineering section were asked to examine the structural integrity of a retaining wall that was tilting out onto a public footpath on Kilshane Drive. It was brought to the attention of the Structural Engineering section by the housing department during a routine inspection. The retaining wall is located between a housing development at […]

Dublin City Council has launched a competition to procure architect led integrated design teams to work on a broad range of projects. Potential commissions include feasibility studies, masterplanning, area regeneration, housing & civic projects, retro-fit & refurbishment, conservation, small works and public realm & precinct improvement works. Design Team frameworks will be created under two […]

St Bricin’s Park, Arbour Hill is a mid 1960’s development comprising of 68 bedsit units. There are three blocks of bedsits each two-storey high.  The Structural Engineering section is providing design services in conjunction with internal and external consultants led by Architect James Walsh of Low Energy Design (Blocks 2 and 3). Block 2, Load Testing […]

Pigeon House Power Station has recently featured in Open House Dublin on Saturday the 13th of October. City Architects would like to thank all of you who participated in Open House Dublin and braved the elements in what was a very wet day that failed to dampen the enthusiasm for the 13th annual event. City Architect’s and […]

Dublin City Council and the O’Devaney Gardens Community Consultative Forum will be hosting a workshop regarding the regeneration of O’Devaney Gardens.

Who are we? The Structural Engineering Section forms part of the City Architect’s Division. The Section sits within Housing and Community Services and provides Structural and Civil design on a cross departmental basis. 

  “Open House Dublin (OHD) is Ireland’s largest architecture festival, inviting all citizens to explore their city. It works through a simple but powerful idea: showcasing outstanding architecture for everyone to experience.”  – Open House Dublin 2017 –

  Above: Paving – Palace Street Image: City Architects   post updated 06/10/17: image credit for O’Connell St & Kilmainham Dublin City Council is the principal custodian of the city’s public realm; ‘it co-ordinates and permits development by others’ and this is guided through policy documents such as the 2012 Public Realm Strategy (Your City Your […]

  Above: McKee Park; City Architects, 37 homes, completed Sept 2011. Image Credit: Donal Murphy Photography     Last week we gave you a general overview of the City Architects Division and the work that we do. This week we’re focusing on Housing, the area which makes up the lion’s share of our current programme.

The bio on the @dubcityarc Twitter handle puts it succinctly: “Dublin City Architects promotes design and provides architectural, urban design and conservation design services to Dublin City Council”. Over the next few weeks we’ll be posting information on recent and current projects. But first, an overview.

This report presents the key outcomes, findings and recommendations from the delivery of DCC Beta over 3.5 years.

Following on from the successful launch of the 5Cube Energy Pavilion in June at Hanover Quay at the Grand Canal Dock, the infographic below outlines the level of oil consumption in Ireland in 5 minutes.

Alongside Hidden Rooms, November also saw two presentations from City Architect Ali Grehan on design in the city.  The first took place in Shanghai at the Pc-House Modern Design Awards, where she presented an outline of house typologies in Dublin, from the earliest ‘Dutch Billies’ right through to contemporary schemes such as Thornton Heights and […]

Hidden Rooms on the 25th and 26th November 2014 was a terrific success and a big thanks to everyone who participated. It was clear from energy levels at Tuesday’s post workshop gathering in Powerscourt and the Wednesday public Plenary in City Hall that every group had enjoyed an intense and productive day.

Dublin City Council Culture, Recreation & Amenity Department and City Architects have recently completed successfully the refurbishment of three swimming pools in the city.

Last weekend’s Open House event may be regarded as a high point in the on-going awareness raising initiative that the City Architects Conservation team have guided on Aungier Street – the first planned-suburb of the modern city commenced in 1660 outside the precinct of the medieval Castle.

The Lord Mayor, Christy Burke and the City Architect, Ali Grehan launching the Dublin House project on the site of 29-30 Fishamble St., Dublin 8 on July 21st 2014 for more, see dublinhouse.ie

A multi-disciplinary team led by Grafton Architects and Shaffrey Associates have been chosen for the redevelopment of the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter.  The announcement was made today by Dublin City Council and the Parnell Square Foundation.  

Ensuring staff knowledge is kept up to date, City Architects staff regularly attend continuing professional development (CPD) events or talks.

Congratulations from all at Dublin City Architects to our former colleague Giulia Vallone on her success in the 2014 RIAI Awards.   The Clonakilty 400, Urban Design Masterplan by Cork County Council Architects beat off stiff competition to secure the Public Choice Award.

We’re looking forward to hearing about the potential of Green Roofs in our city on May 28th at the latest talk presented by the Irish Landscape Institute.

Beyond Noise and Silence – Listening for the City Part III – Environment 14.00 -17.00pm Thursday May 8 2014 Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Council Civic Offices, Dublin 8

These pictures show the finishing touches being applied to the new homes at Thornton Heights, Inchicore.

 Beyond Noise and Silence is a programme run by the Council’s Arts Office, and their most recent event in the LAB on Foley Street gave fascinating insights into how the city can be understood through sound. 

The Wood Quay venue was packed to capacity on Thursday 13th February for the City Limits conference. 

Dolphin House is the largest single flat complex in the Dublin City Council area. It was built in the 1950s.

Recently the ground floor reception rooms and the Lord Mayor’s apartment at the Mansion House have been re-lamped with LED bulbs – one of a number of energy saving measures completed at the house over the past 12 months, initiated by City Architects and supported by SEAI

T.P Nolan, Ushers Quay, photo by Come here to me! Continuing with talking about questions put on the pivotdublin.com blog by recent guest curators le cool Dublin, we come to the question of dealing with neglected or under-used buildings and respecting urban character by preserving old signage.

DMC ‘Her Redundant Heart’ St Andrews Lane, Dublin 2 We’re answering questions put on the pivotdublin.com blog by recent guest curators le cool Dublin which you can see here. One topic they asked about is street art in the city.

The Dangerous Buildings section has been dealing with the danger posed by two buildings, Nos. 5 and 6 Benburb Street, following a fire which broke out on St. Patrick’s Day.

Quality of design and architecture in the public procurement system is a major issue for the public sector in getting the quality of facilities needed to deliver the best public services.

Welcome to the Dublin City Architects blog. This will be a place where you can find out about issues affecting Dublin’s urban form