E11_Urban Masterplan, East Wall, Dublin

Housing and Urban Design Competition Cultural, Community, Educational, Leisure, & Commercial Buildings

Client: Dublin Docklands Development Authority

Site: 0.62 hectares (strategic area 526 hectares)

Competition Awarded Second Place

Competition Jury citation:

'Simple, clear and resonant this project aspires to a commonality, which underlies all good urban housing. The confident use of building profile and silhouette, the making and rhythm of opes, the deployment of elements on site and the calm formation of private and shared spaces constitutes design of a high order. The visualisations are beautifully rendered.' (2013)

Despite being located within ten minutes walk of the city centre Dublin Docklands did not until just over a decade ago constitute part of the 'mental map' of Dublin, an issue partly to do with extreme social and physical degeneration following relocation eastwards of the port activities. Dublin Dockland Authorities brief called for a high-density residential scheme providing an alternative to typical 'fenced' residential development models. 

Our project sought to regenerate the site, formerly a cement mixing works, with a meaningful mixed-use approach which focused on the integration of dedicated space for older people, child care, youth, health and recreation and mixed living.

The most positive global identity of urban Dublin living is arguably of a nostalgic Georgian Dublin characterised by tall elegant townhouses overlooking green squares. Our proposal responds to that domestic familiarity and the positive qualities of the traditional stock of Dublin while meeting the challenge of increasing the potential density of the site. Our new collection of buildings proposes a mix of residential, community (arts centre, local radio station, youth centre, day-care), educational and commercial uses (small business units), and leisure (swimming pool) which could promote and support a sustainable new community, contribute to the existing surrounding community life and re-link the site to the city.