reimagine

reimaginemaking place better

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ForewordTaniaBanotti

The Fourth Strand NathalieWeadick

Things Could Always Be Otherwise: The Value Of Community-Centred Design DaisyFroud

Reimagine Dundrum

Reimagine Tallaght

Reimagine Mohill

Reimagine Letterkenny

Reimagine Kells

Reimagine Kilrush

Reimagine Loughrea

Masterclasses in Placemaking BláithínQuinn

Acknowledgements

contents

tania banotti foreword

architecture benefits everyone

SupportingthecreativeinvolvementoflocalcommunitiesiscentraltobothReimagineandtheCreativeIrelandProgramme.Wecouldimmediatelyseerealvalueandlongtermimpactintheblendingofarchitecture,communityengagementandconsultation,helpingtoensurebetteroutcomesforcommunities.Nowthechallengeistospreadtheword!

Weareproudtohavesupportedsuchanimportantandtimelyproject.Therelationshipbetweenpeopleandthebuiltenvironmenthasastronginfluenceonhealthandwellbeing.Wemustmakethecaseforthisagainandagainwithpolicymakers.Aswefaceanuncertainfuture,duetoCOVID-19andtheeverworseningclimatecrisis,itisourdutytoharnessthepowerofcreativitytosparkinnovationandbuildresilience.Webelievethatcommunities,workingtogetherwitharchitects,cancomeupwithbrilliantsolutionstoimprovetheirtownsandvillages,andtheworldaroundthem.

Tania Banotti Director,CreativeIrelandProgrammecreativeireland.gov.ie

No matter where you work, live, or play, everyone should have access to well designed environments. Good design captures our imagination, changes thinking and behaviour and sets a standard for others to follow. It instills a sense of pride and ownership and simply improves our quality of life.

Howdowemeaningfullylistento,involveandcollaboratewiththosemostconnectedtodesignprojects?ThisiswhatexcitedusabouttheReimagineproject.Weareinterestedinhowplacesandpeoplecanbetransformedusingcreativityandcreativepracticesasacollectivewithinthecommunity.ReimaginewassupportedbytheCreativeIrelandProgrammeundertheNationalCreativityFundforthelasteighteenmonths.Acornerstoneofourworkis‘CreativeCommunities’.We’reshowinghowcultureandcreativitycontributetowell-being,socialcohesionandeconomicdevelopment.Everysingleprojectwedoisacollaboration.Weemphasisehowdifferentpartsofcentralandlocalgovernmentcanworkbettertogetherandalsowithoutsideorganisations.

the fourth strand Nathalie Weadick, Director

In 2005, the Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF) was convened by a consortium of like-minded people from culture, politics and architecture, to address a range of needs to do with public engagement with architecture. The intention was that this new cultural organisation would be independent, formative and, above all else, ensure that architecture served the people.

So the journey beganWedeliveredourfirstOpenHouseDublinin2005toanaudienceof3,500visitsandwehavesinceexpandedthisfestivalto33,000visitsandtoursofbuildings.Ourlearningprogrammehascontinuedtogrowstrong.OurArchitectsinSchoolsInitiativethatreaches30schoolsannuallyacrossthisislandwillextendto70schoolseachyearfrom2021.Wecurateeventsinnationalandinternationalculturalspacesanddeliveranannualinternationaltalksprogramme.1

Ourlesser-knownprogrammestrand–Placemaking–hasbeenactiveinthebackgroundfrominception.IthasjourneyedalongsideOpenHouseDublin,ourlearninginitiativesandthecuratedeventsprogramme,totakeitsrightfulplaceasourFourthStrand.Inresponsetotherecurrentquestion‘WhatdoestheIAFdo?’Weseparateouteachstrandforclarity.

Thestrandsdefineactivityandpurpose.Inrealityandinpractice,thestrandsarefluid;theyintersect,mergeandsupporteachother.Allfourtakencollectivelydescribeanorganisationthatisfullyformedandequippedtoservethepublic.IfPlacemakingistheIAF’sFourthStrand,thentheReimagineinitiative,thesubjectofthisbookandourmostambitiousplacemakinginitiativetodate,willbecentraltothedeliveryofthisstrand.

TheFourthStrandischargedbyourimperativetoexpandouractivitiesbeyondsolelypresentingandcommunicatingthevalueofarchitectureinthebuiltenvironmentthrougheventsandconversationsalone.Wealsowantedtophysicallytransformapieceofthebuiltenvironment.How?Bycreatingtheconditionswherepeopleworkingwithdesignteamscanshapetheirownenvironmentactivelyandnotreactively.

ThisapproachopensupthepotentialoftheIAF,thecapabilityofarchitectureandtheagencyofcommunities.TheFourthStrandrespondstoaneedstimulatedbyusandovertheyearsbyourcreativeencounterswiththepublic,andbythegrowingrecognitionofarchitecture,globally,asanexpansivepracticeembeddedinsocialnetworks.Thefourstrandsfosteraholisticapproachthatwillbenefittheadvancementofthefoundation’svision.

1 The IAF has had the honour of commissioning the Irish Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale on three occasions: SubUrban to SuperRural 2006;The Lives of Spaces 2008; Of deBlacam and Meagher 2010. The IAF’s outward promotion of Irish architecture includes a programme of talks called Irish Architecture Now that toured to six cities in the USA in 2013, and We Built This City, an initiative to celebrate the Irish diaspora’s contribution to London, New York and Chicago, curated as part of Irish Design 2015. The IAF inward promotion of international architecture has attracted speakers such as Tatiana Bilbao, Jeanne Gang, Bjarke Ingles and David Adjaye to Dublin through the New Now Next lecture series sponsored by Arup. 2 Statement from ‘Shaping our Future’, the Irish Architecture Foundation Strategy 2019–2023

‘We see a future where architecture is a civic right, fundamental to the fabric of life, culture and history, and a confident expression of who we are and who we might become’.2

1OpenHouseDublin2CuratedEvents3Learning4Placemaking

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nathalie weadick the fourth strand

AprojectwhichdemonstratestheFourthStrandislocatedinanurbanvillage7kmoutsideofDublincitycentre.AprecursertoReimagine,thisprojectemergedwhenBallyfermotYouthServicesandtheBMXClubwantedtocreateaBMXSkatePark.TheirvisionwasthattheparkwouldbesoaccomplishedinitsaestheticandfunctionthatitwouldattractpeoplefromalloverIreland.BallyfermotYouthServiceshadbeenlobbyingforthefacilityintheareasince2011andasiteinLeFanuParkwasproposedbyDublinCityCouncil.Thentheprojectstalled.

Wejoinedtheconversationin2016tohelpgettheprojectbackontrack.Ourmainprioritywastocreateaprocesswheredesignplayedacentralrole.WeinvitedtheMathesonFoundationtosupportthe‘project-based’communityfacilitation.Wedeliveredaninternationaldesigncompetition;wonbyLondonbasedinterdisciplinaryarchitecturepracticeRelational Urbanism.SubsequentlyDublinCityCouncilprovidedthefundingforittobebuilt.

Weplayedtheroleof‘independentbroker’betweenthecommunity,localgovernmentandthearchitects.Werecognisedandutilisedtheskillsthearchitectshadtooffer,andcombinedthisexpertisewiththelocal,generational,historicalwisdomofthecommunity.Exchange,cooperationandcommunicationwereessentialtoensurethebestpossibleoutcome.TheBMXSkateandPlayParkopenedin2020.

TheIAFbegantoestablishitselfasaneffectiveagentinadvocatingforbetterplacesforpeople.TheFourthStrandwasprovingeverytimethatdesignhasapositiveeffectoncommunitiesbybringingpeopletogethertomaketransformativecreativedecisions.Ourplacemakingprojectsuptothatpointweremostlyachievedthroughimpromptuinvitationsfromacommunityoralocalauthority.

Ourgoalwastoconsolidatethisexperiencegainedovertenyearsintoastructuredframeworkfordelivery,tobuildcapacityintheIAFtoenablemorecommunitiesanddesignteamsjointheprogramme.WedesignedtheReimagineprogramme,whichsuccessfullyachievedsupportfromCreativeIreland’sNationalCreativityFund.ThiswastheimpetusweneededtopositiontheIAFasacentreofexcellenceforplacemakinginIreland.

ReimagineisanationalcampaignthatfacilitatescommunitiesacrossIrelandtoco-createandco-designsolutionstochallengesorproblemsthey’veidentifiedintheirlocality.ReimagineplaysakeyroleintheIAF’sStrategicplan‘ShapingourFuture’2019–2023.InthisstrategytheIAFidentifiedfivestrategicgoalswewishtofocuson;Consolidation,Advocacy,Empowerment,InnovationandConnection.Reimaginestrikesallthegoals.

ReimaginemarksthemomentwhentheIAFcancentraliseyearsofexperience,collaborationandactivityworkingwithcommunitiesandarchitects,anddistilthisintoanewdigitalplatform,whichhastheambitiontobecomeadigitallocusoflearning,researchanddevelopmentofplacemaking.Itwillbeaplaceofactivityandcontaintoolkits,resources,andadirectoryoflikemindedpeople,andwillpromoteopportunitiesforcommunitiesandteamstomeetandworkonfutureprojects.Thewebsitesupportsourfieldwork.Inthisbookyouwillreadabouttheseventownsandvillagesthathaveparticipatedintheprogrammesofar.Reimagineinitsphysicalformwillcontinuetodeliverprojects‘inthefield’withourdesignmentors,whoareprofessionalsinthebuiltenvironmentsector.

The time is nowWeareatapivotaljunctureofmountingissuesaroundpublichealth,climate,smalltownrejuvenationandecologicalresilience;designonceagaincanproveitsvalue.Reimaginefromitsinceptionhasexpresseditsfaithinthepowerofdesigntocontributeto,andbeacatalystofpositivechange.Itisessentialnowtooptimiseourtools;todefineandcommunicatetherolearchitecturewillplayinthenewworld,whenourprioritydramaticallyshiftsfromahealthcrisistoasocialandeconomicone,Reimaginewillbealreadyembeddedinandworkingwithcommunities.

members of ballyfermot youth services, ballyfermot bmx & play park, 2020 image: ste murray

2009 ASpaceforLearning:Ayear-longprojectwhere120architectsworkedwith1500studentsinninetyschools.Thearchitectsenabledthestudentsanalyseandre-thinktheirschoolandtownenvironment.Anexhibitionof10shortlistedconceptco-designsbythestudentsandarchitectstouredIrelandin2010.Thisexhibitionalsoraisedtheneedtoaddressnewthinkingaroundschooldesign.

2011 KillybegsPlayspace:TheIAFworkedwithDonegalCountyCouncilandthelocalcommunity.PeterTanseyfromLotusArchitectsdesignedaninnovativeandadventurousnewplayspaceforthetown,andlocalchildrenwereinvolvedinearlystagesofdesigndevelopment.

2013PlaceShapers:TheprojectprovidedyoungpeopleinFingalwiththeopportunitytoteamupwitharchitectsRobertBourkeandKateDowlingtoinvestigatethearchitectureandurbandesignoftheirownneighbourhoods.Theydesignedandbuilttemporarystructuresthatprovokedadiscussiononabetterwayofdoingthings.ThisprojectwontheParticipatoryPlanningAwardattheNationalPlanningAwards2013–2014.

2016 BMXSkateandPlayPark:TheIAFdeliveredworkshopswithlocalcommunitygroupsandschools.TheIAFlaunchedacompetitionandcommunity-leddesignprojecttobuildaSkateandPlayParkinBallyfermot,throughaninnovativeandcollaborativeprocesswithDublinCityCouncilandBallyfermotYouthServices.

IAF Placemaking Initiatives conceived or delivered in partnership. Some were opportunistic, tactical, once-off participatory activities between architects, community groups and stakeholders; others were permanent interventions, but all driven by pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

a space for learning exhibition, ncad 2009 image: alice clancy

place shapers image: jonny savage

killybegs play park 2011

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nathalie weadick the fourth strand

2019 TheIAFpublishes‘ShapingourFuture’2019–2023whichprioritisesplacemakingthroughthefollowingobjectives:

– Toembedandresourcecommunityengagementandcommunity-leddesigninitiativesintheIAF’sannualprogramme.

– Tocreateopportunitiesforincreasedpublicparticipationinshapingthebuiltenvironmentespeciallyforcommunitiesofinterestandcommunitiesofplace.

– Acommunity-leddesignunitwillbeoperatingfromtheIAF,whichwillencourageopportunitiesforarchitectsworkingassociallyengagedpractitionersonplace-makinginitiatives.

Reimagine:TheIAFreceivedtheCreativeIrelandNationalCreativityFundforacommunity-leddesigninitiativecalledReimagine,toberolledoutacrossseventownsin2019and2020.ThisprojectistenyearsinthemakingandmarksasignificantdevelopmentintheIAF’sPlaceMakingprogramme.

2020Reimagine:TheIAFlaunchesavirtualone-stop-shopcalledReimagine,awebsitefundedbyCreativeIreland,forpeoplewhoarepassionateaboutplacemaking.

2017PublicAge:TheDecorators,aLondon-basedmultidisciplinarydesignstudio,incollaborationwiththeDublin-basedartistJoeCoveneyexploredhowpublicspacecouldbe,andshouldbe,designedwiththeparticipationofolderpeople.CollaborationbetweenIAFandDunLaoighaireRathdownArtsOffice.

BMXSkateandPlayParkopens.ThisparkwasfeaturedintheOpenHouseDublinfilmprogrammeSITESPECIFICandscreenedinMeetingHouseSquare,TempleBarDublinonthe9thandthe10thofOctober.

melt the walls, public vote image: ste murray

public age workshop in dun laoighaire image: the decorators

through thinning landscapes image: bothand group

bonnie dempsey, dyehouse making site specific image: ste murray

Ofcoursesomeareasaredesirableandcostmoretolivein,andsomeareseenasgrottyandcheap.Ofcoursenoteveryonecanhaveadecent-sizedhome.Ofcoursewhentimesaretough,wecannotnecessarilyhavethecommunityspaceswewouldlike.Butactually,ofcourse,thisisnotthecase.‘Things’aspoliticalscientistChantalMouffestresses‘couldalwaysbeotherwise’.1Whenwelookoutofourwindows,ordownourstreets,everythingweseeistheresultofdecisionsthathavebeentakenabouthowtheworldshouldbeorganised.Theoriginsofsomemaybelost,takensolongago,andre-enactedsomanytimes,thattheynowseemsomehownatural;Mouffecallsthese‘sedimentedpractices’.Somemaybetakenunconsciously.Butnone‘justhappen’oraresomehowobjectivelypre-destined.Good,community-centreddesignpracticecanhelpusbecomemoreawareofthosedecisions,andtheworldviewsthatunderpinthem,andthen,ifnecessary,tochallengethem.‘Everyorderispredicatedontheexclusionofotherpossibilities,’Mouffegoesontosay.Whenwe,ascitizensandpractitioners,workconsciouslyandcarefullytore-imaginetogether,westarttonotonlyseethoseotherpossibilities,buttobeabletotestthem,andtotakethem,together.Andultimatelytostarttoorderthingsdifferently.

Thisallsoundsgreat.Termslike‘co-production’and‘community-centreddesign’areinvogue.Butwhatdotheymeaninpractice?Workingtodesignorchangethebuiltenvironmentcollectivelyrequiresmorethangoodintentionsandwarmfeelings,particularlywhenresourcesaretightandparticipantsmayhavedifferentideasorneeds.Therearesituationswhereacommunitycomeswithaunifiedvision–aconsensus–andtheroleofarchitectsissimplytohelpgiveformtothat.Orwhereaprojectishands-onandspontaneous,evolvingthroughnon-confrontationalcollaboration.Butthisisrare.Andmaybenotthatinteresting,orevenhealthy?Arguablythejoyofhowhumanssharespace,andmakemeaning,oncegiventherealopportunitytodoso,isthatofworkingouthowtodoittogether,ofencounteringandengagingwithdifference.Changingtheworld,andbeingchangedourselvesintheprocess?

Ifindithelpful,asbothparticipantandfacilitator,tothinkofcommunity-centreddesignasaformofpolitics;aprocessofcreativelydetermining‘whogetswhat,when,how’–touseaclassicdefinitionfromanothertheorist,HaroldLaswell.2Decisionsabouttheformoftheworldarestructuredthroughpowerrelations.Thatisagiven.Inevitably,thosewhoholdmoreestablishedandtraditionalformsofpower–land,money,orformalisedroles–endupwithmoreinfluenceoverhowtheworldisdesignedandorganised.Inturn,thatorganised,designedformhelpssustainthestatusquo.Community-centreddesignoffersanopportunitytodrawattentiontopowerrelations;tobeconsciousof–inthewayinwhichwedeliverprojects–whoisholdingpower,ofwhobenefitsandinwhatway,fromdifferentdecisions;andhavingmadethosedecisions,andpowerrelations,morevisible,toinvestcriticalcreativethinkingaboutthebestandmostequitablewaytoaddressthem.

Incommunity-centreddesign,thedesignoftheprocessisthereforejustasimportantasthedesignofthefinishedbuilding,spaceorobject.WhenIsupportcommunitygroupsintheselectionofarchitectsforprojects,Ialwaysencouragethemnotjusttolookattheirdesignvisionandpracticeportfolio,butalsotointerrogatehowthearchitectsproposeworkingwiththem.Andnotjusttotickoffbuzzwords,like‘collaboration’or‘workshop’,buttodemandspecificexamplesoftoolsandtechniques.Similarly,whenfacilitatingaproject,oneofthefirstthingsIdoismapoutthedecision-makingprocess,simplyandtransparently.Whatneedstobedecidedwhen,howandbywhom?Wherearethekeydecisions,thecatalyticmoments?Andwherearetheones,that,ifwedon’tpayattention,mightgettakenbyaccident,orbydesign‘magic’,butthatactuallyresidentsmightwanttobeconsciouslypartof?Thatway,fromthestartparticipantsaremadeawareofthepotentialagencytheyholdand,perhaps,canchallengepower-holdersformore.

things could always be otherwise: the value of community-centred designDaisy Froud

There is a way of thinking about the world, one we seem often encouraged to take, that suggests that things can really only be the way that they are. That there is an inevitability about the way in which spaces and buildings around us are produced and sustained; about who gets to live in them; to do whatever in them; and to change them.

1 Chantal Mouffe (2006) ‘Which Public Space for Critical Artistic Practices?’ In Cork Caucus: On Art, Possibility and Democracy, ed. Tara Byrne, Dublin: National Sculpture Factory, pp.151–170 2 Harold D. Lasswell (1936) Politics: Who Gets What, When, How (New York: Whittlesey House)

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daisy froud community centred design

Thenyoucanhavefundesigningthecreative,enjoyablewaysinwhichthosedecisionswillbetaken.

Becausecommunity-centreddesignisnotjustaboutdecisions:thatmeta-levelofnegotiationandprocess.(Andindeed,decision-makingisnotjustaconceptualexercise;sometimeswetakedecisionslive,bypickingupmaterialandconsciouslyconstructingthingstogether.)Itisalso,vitally,about–withtheassistanceofanarchitect–imaginingthingsintoaform,andthenintroducingthoseformsintotheworld:askatepark,apublicsquare,abuildingforcommunityactivity.

Thiscanrequireadifferentapproachfromarchitectstotheonetheymayhavebeenschooledin;architecturaleducationoftenreliesonanimaginedclientandahypotheticalsite,pushingthearchitectstoputtheirownsubjectivity,andtheirownreadingofasiteoraproblemattheheartoftheprocess.Community-centreddesignnotonlyrequiresprofessionalstode-centreourselves,butalsoofferstheopportunitytopositivelyde-discipline:toconsiderhowtheprocessesbywhichwegoaboutarchitectureandcontributetoplacemakingcouldbedonedifferently:moreinclusively,morecollaboratively,morefruitfully–inflectedbyotherknowledgesandexperiences.

ResearcherAnnVanHerzele,inherarticleLocal knowledge in actionentertaininglynarratesthetaleofarchitectsco-designinganewparkinAntwerpwithlocalresidents.3Repeatedly,theinterpretativeframesofthebewilderedarchitectscollidewiththoseofcommunitymembers.‘Thearchitectsstartedfromthepointofviewoftheplaceasa‘void’…whiletheparticipantsstartedfromtheconceptofaplacethatwasfullofmemoriesandexpectationsforthefuture’,VanHerzelereflects.Similarly,thedesignteamareforcedtorethinkthe‘orderofthings’–thenormsofthedesignprocess‘Theystartthinkingingreatdetailofthingswhicharenotonorderyet,forexampleaboutfencesandlittlegates.Theyzoominonbitsandpieceswhileyoumustthinkonbiglines,’reportsanarchitectwithfrustration.

ThearchitecturalpracticesIenjoyworkingalongsiderelishthosechallengestoprocess:that‘disorder’.Collaborativepracticemuf,forexample,ononehousingproject,respondedtosimilartendenciesbycarefullydrawingallthesmalldetailsofpeople’shomelifethatmatteredtothematthestart.Thesefragments,combined,thenhelpedtoshapethebigmoves,ratherthanbeingputonthebackburneruntiltheywerereadyforthemattheappropriateRIBA(RoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects)Stage.

AnarchistGustavLandauerfamouslysaid:‘Thestateisnotsomethingwhichcanbedestroyedbyarevolution,butisacondition,acertainrelationshipbetweenhumanbeings,amodeofhumanbehaviour;wedestroyitbycontractingotherrelationships,bybehavingdifferently.’4Asnappierwayofsayingthatmightbe:‘Bethechangeyouwanttoseeintheworld.’

Community-centreddesign,withthespotlightitthrowsondecision-makingandthechallengesitposestopowerdynamics,isonelocationwherenewrelationshipsandbehavioursareforged.Thepresentpandemichashighlightedhowmuchsocietyneedstodothingsdifferently.Itisnowimpossibletoignorehowinequitableandinadequatesomanyenvironmentsare,frompoorqualityhousing,toaccesstogoodcommunityandopenspace.Inlockdown,wearedeniedmanyofournormalrelationships.Yetsimultaneously,impressivenetworksofmutualsupportandcommunityinteractionhaveformedorstrengthened.As–fingerscrossed–wemoveonandoutintotheworldexpansivelyagain,Ihopetherewillbemanymoreprojectscentredoncommunityvalues,needsandknowledge.Andthatthe‘otherwise’willcontinuetorevealitself.

About DaisyDaisyFrouddesignstoolsandprocessestosupportcollectivedecision-makingaboutfuturebuildingsandthefutureofexistingplaces.ShehasanMAinCulturalMemory,andisaTeachingFellowatTheBartlettSchoolofArchitecture,whereshespecialisesinspatialpoliticsandtheroleofnon-professionalsinarchitectureandplanning.SheisaMayoralDesignAdvocatetoTheMayorofLondon,advisingoncommunityengagement.

3 Ann Van Herzele (2004) ‘Local Knowledge in Action: Valuing Nonprofessional Reasoning in the Planning Process’, in Journal of Planning Education and Research, Vol. 24, No.2, pp. 197 –212 4 Gustav Landauer, cited in Colin WARD (1973) Anarchy In Action, 2nd edition (London: Freedom Press), pp.11, 19

daisy froud masterclass, december 2019 image: ste murray

TheplanwastoincreasecollaborationandengagementbetweensomekeyculturalorganisationsthroughactivationofChamberSquare,withtheaimofbringingakeyspaceintheneighbourhoodtolife.

ChamberSquarewastheapexofavibrantculturalcommunityinTallaght,connectingorganisationsincludingbutnotlimitedtotheCivicTheatre,TallaghtLibrary&CountyHallandTallaghtCommunityArts(TCA).Howevermorecouldbedonetowelcomethecommunitiesresidentnearbyintothispublicspaceandintotheseculturalspaces.Themissionwasto‘meltthewalls’betweentheinstitutionsthemselves,andbetweentheinstitutionsandtheirneighbours.

FieldworkIn 2018 a process of stakeholder consultation, community consultation and engagement began. Through a series of light-touch engagement activities, anchored to existing events, festivals and activities in Tallaght’s cultural calendar, the IAF began investigating in small ways how local people could engage better with these institutes and spaces.

The first task was to establish how Chamber Square was currently being used, and by whom. These insights would also establish what prevented or discouraged people from using this space. The IAF took a number of approaches when engaging with different stakeholders and communities, including regular stakeholder meetings, in-depth interviews, surveys, observations, self-directed activities, facilitated workshops, facilitated drop-in sessions and events.

StakeholdermeetingswereheldwiththeArtsOffice,TallaghtCommunityArts,TallaghtLibrary,CivicTheatreTallaght,RuaRed,aswellaslinkinginwithkeyLocalAuthoritystaffandlocalindependentpractitioners.Consultationslinkedinwithmanylocalworkshopsandevents,includingTallaghtCommunityArtslanternworkshops;BooksforBabiesworkshop;Dance2Connectfestival;and#Councils4ClimateActionPublicInfoEvent.ArchitectureworkshopswereheldwiththreelanguagecommunitiesthroughMotherTonguesFestival,aswellasengagementworkshopsinChamberSquare,TallaghtLibraryandTallaghtCreativeCampus.

Legowasusedtovisualiseandrebuildthespace,collaborativemapswerecreated,andagamewasdevelopedbytheIAFtouseinparentandchildworkshops.Oftenwhiletheseactivitieswerehappening,adialogicalapproachwasusedtoexploremoredetailandpersonalfeelingsconnectedtothespace,whichenrichedthedetailandqualityofthecontributions.

Fromtheobservationsandinterviewsitisclearthatpeopledoinfactspenddwelltimeinthespace,asanalternativetotheparksnearby.Asitwascloserforlocalresidentsthansomeoftheparks,familiescameheretoallowchildrentoplayinanopenspace.

Peoplealsouseditfor:parkingbikes/pushingprams(toysandreal)/walking/gymnastics/twirling/dogwalking/chalkdrawing/readingsittinglistening/watchingphone/scooting/cycling/reading/smoking/takingabreak,sittingonsteps/football/hurling/eatinglunch/meetingpeople/runninguprampsanddownsteps/scootingdownramps/coffeebreak/training/filming/climbingthewalls

reimagine tallaghtmelt the wallsIn 2018 and 2019, the IAF worked in partnership with South Dublin County Council (SDCC) Arts Office and Tallaght Community Arts (TCA) to use creative strategies and architectural interventions to find a way to better connect people, place and institutions in Tallaght town.

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Peoplewantedthespacetobemorewelcomingorinvitingbutalsowantedittoremainasanopenspace,notbefullyorpermanentlyoccupiedbysomething.ApopularideawasofChamberSquarebeingusedasaspilloutareafromthecivicspaces,suchasforshowsorchoirstorehearse,orareadingspacefortheLibrary.

ConsultationRespondant:‘Maybealittlemarketorsomethingtocatchattentionandmakeyoustop.Forkids,anextensionoftheactivitiesthathappeninthelibraryhappeningintheSquare…Getsomeofthetheatrepeopleouthereongooddays,rehearsingetc.Musicsessionsorachoirwouldbenice.’

Fromthechildrenconsulted,greenspaceswerementioned,aswellasawaterfeatureandspacesforyoga,reading,dramaandplay.Peoplewanttoseethespacebecomemoreinviting,whilestillallowingtheeverydayactivitiesthathappentheretocontinue,andforittocontinuetobeawalkthroughspace.

Fromthisfieldworkperiod,itwasrecommendedthattherebeanopencallforaninterventioninChamberSquare,partneredwithacuratedprogrammetoactivatethespace,complementingtheprogrammesinthesurroundingcivicspaces.

The Project 16–28 September 2019Followingacreativeprocessofpublicconsultation,theIAFrananationwidecompetitionforarchitects,designersandmultidisciplinaryteamstocreateaninstallationtoactivateChamberSquare.Aspartofcompetition,localTallaghtresidentswereinvitedtoadjudicateontheentries.

TheprojectbriefwastocreateawelcomingenvironmentinChamberSquarethatconnectedthesquaretoitscivicneighboursaswellasthosefurtherafield,respondingtothepublicrequeststoseetheactivitiesinthesurroundingbuildingsspilloutintothespace,andintroducegreeneryandplacestositinLibrarySquare.

DesignedbyOBFAArchitects,andconstructedbyABProjects,thiswinninginstallationwaslaunchedinSeptember2019.Designedtobeaconversationstartingpointforusersofthesquare,userswereencouragedtositandoccupythespace,engagewiththeinstallation,andchangetheirperspectiveofLibrarySquare.Itwasalsoaspacefordiscussionaboutthefutureofthesquare,amongpartneringorganisations,andlocalcommunityparticipants.

Abroadandengagingprogrammeofworkshopsandeventswascreatedforthisnewspace,includingdrummingworkshops,theatrepieces,creativedrawingsessions,poetry,singing,gardening,andasocialdrop-ineventforCultureNight.Theprogrammingofthespaceconnectedwiththeprogrammesoftheneighbouringculturalinstitutions,whilealsoreflectingthemanyvariedexistingusesofthesquare.

OneoftheconclusionsofthefieldworksstagewasthattherewasalreadyactivecommunityengagementinChamberSquare,butthattherecouldbemoreopportunitiesforlingeringandactivities.Whiletheprogrammedeventsprovidedaconduittotheworkbeingdeliveredbythecreativeandculturalorganisationsinthearea,theinstallationalsowaskeytosupporttheunprogrammedusesofthesquare–thepost-librarymoments;toddlingchildrenlookingforspacetoroam;anewrouteforscooters;areststopbeforegoinghome;andaspacetomeetandhaveachatwithanoldfriend.

About the Architects OBFAisaprogressivearchitecturalpracticeprovidingprofessionalarchitecturalandprojectmanagementservicesthroughoutIrelandandtheUK.

community vote for winning installation & melt the walls, culture night 2019 image: ste murray

‘The space is pretty good as it is; the kids come to scoot and run around before/after trips to the library. It’s a more convenient open space than the park close to home, shops library.’ consultation respondant

reimagine dundrumIn the summer and autumn of 2018 the IAF worked with the community group Imagine Dundrum in their efforts to influence the future development of Dundrum Village, and in particular the Dundrum Local Area Plan (LAP) as being prepared by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

ImagineDundrumisagroupofconcernedlocalresidentsofDundrumandsurroundingareas,activelyinterestedandengagedinthechangesanddevelopmentsintheircommunity.Theyareworkingforacommunity-focusedvisionfortherenewalofDundrum’scorebuiltenvironment,incollaborationwiththeCountyCouncilDunLaoghaireRathdown,withlocaldevelopersandwithallinterestedlocalorganisations,businessesandindividuals.ThecontextforImagineDundrumwastheimminentredevelopmentoftheextensive1960sShoppingCentresite,includingmostofthewestsideoftheMainStreet.ThegrouphasambitionsforDundrumvillagetobedevelopedsensitivelyandsustainably,withconsiderationofitsexistingbuiltheritage,provisionforpedestriansandcyclists,supportofsmall,local,independentbusinesses,sufficientaffordablehousingandadequateprovisionofculturalandcivicamenities.

ImagineDundrumengagedtheIrishArchitectureFoundationtodeviseanddeliveraseriesofworkshopswith,andfor,childrenandyoungpeopletohearandincludetheirvoices,theirlivedexperienceandtheiraspirationsandideasforDundrum’sbuiltenvironmentanditsfuture.Thechildren’sideasandworkweretoinfluencetheDunLaoghaireRathdownCountyCouncilLocalAreaPlan,withsubsequentimpactonaspecificsitedevelopmentinthelocalityofDundrum.

ImagineDundrumwantedyoungpeopletoengageinimaginativeexercisestovisualisetheiraspirationsforDundrumwhileconsideringthefollowingissues:

– Opportunitiesforcyclingandwalking

– Connectivity,easymovementbetweengreen,cycle,walkingandreducetrafficroutes

– Placestoplay

– MakingDundrumgreen–howtoimprovetheenvironment

– Alitter-freeDundrum

– Thelibrary–whatitshouldofferforyoungpeople

– Musicandthearts,leisure

– Publicart

– Accessibility–makingDundrumagoodplaceforpeoplewithdisabilities,olderpeopleandlittlepeopleinbuggies

– Whatmakesahealthyvillage

– UglyplacesandniceplacesinDundrum–whattokeepandwhattochange

– ReflectthehistoryandheritageofDundrum

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RicardoRicorelational urbanism

JohnLennonhistorianPatrickDunnearchitect

community partners

ImagineDundrum

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Fieldwork/WorkshopsThe IAF and Imagine Dundrum worked with the two closest primary schools to the site, Taney Parish Primary School and Holy Cross Primary School, as well as fifth year students of St. Benildus College and children and families in attendance at Open House Dublin 2018. Each group took part in two sessions — one walking tour with local historian John Lennon and a design workshop with urbanist Eduardo Rico, of the architecture practice Relational Urbanism.

EverysessioninvolvedawalkingtourwithJohnLennon,givingadetailedinsightintotheheritageofthevillage.ThewalkingtourgavestudentsarichhistoryandbackgroundtoDundrummainstreetandthesiteoftheoldshoppingcentre,helpingsetthecontextoftheirbigtask:reimaginingDundrum’sfuturebuiltenvironment.JohnhighlightedmanyinterestingfeaturesrelatedtoDundrum’sbuiltenvironment,includingtheuniquedesignofchimneystacksandmouldedfacesonthegutterofDundrumHousePub.Hesharedhistoricalfactsaboutchangingbuildinguseanddetailedthemassivedecreaseinpeoplelivingonthemainstreet,whichdroppedfromhundredstojustsixpeople.Beforethetour,thechildrenundertookadrawingtasktodescribewhattheyseeandfeelaboutDundrum,whichwassubsequentlycomparedtothenewdrawingstheycreatedafterwards.Thisnewknowledgethenguidedtheirvisionforthefuture.

Thesecondsessionswitheverygroupofchildrenandyoungpeopleinvolvedcreativeactivities,designedtoelicitideasaroundthefutureofDundrum,encouragingthemtoimaginenotonlywhattheywouldliketoseeintheirvillagebutwhatothersmightwantandneedtoo.Theydrewandtheymapped;theyconsideredmovementbywalking,crawlinganddancingonheatsensitivesurfacestotracktheirmovements.Theymulledoverbigideasandsmalldetails,andtheydiscussedthematerials,characterandqualitiestheywouldliketoseeinfuturedesigns.

Withtheolderstudents,thearchitectPatrickDunneexplainedthebasicframeworkofLocalAreaPlansandCountyDevelopmentPlans,andhowtheyareusedbyplanningauthoritiestodirectfuturedevelopmentofanarea.Thestudentsdiscussedtherolesofdevelopers,constructionprofessionals,plannersandthegeneralpublicinpolicymakinganddesignoffuturetowns.

ThedrawingsthatweremadeoverthetwosessionscreatedarichpictureofhowthechildrenseethedevelopmentofDundrumintothefuture.Wishlistsweregeneratedbythechildrenofwhattheywanttoseeimplementedforthem,including:Ahealthcentreforolderpeople/hurlingwall/Teslaelectriccargarage/skatepark/playground/park/museum/parking/swimmingpool/musiccentre

TherewasasensethattheyoungpeoplewantedtoseetheoldcharacterofDundrummaintainedasmuchaspossible,witharealpreferencefora‘squigglyaesthetic’—spacesthatareorganicorcurvy,meanderingandrelaxed.

ImagineDundrum’ssubmissionwasoneofaremarkable153submissionsmadebymembersoftheDundrumcommunityinthepre-draftconsultationphaseofthedevelopmentoftheDundrumLocalAreaPlan.

‘Imagine Dundrum believes that engaging children in the urban design and planning process has value that goes well beyond the learning and insights that it delivers for children and young people, though these insights are crucial. It helps to create a sense of place and a pride in that place. It lays the roots of community engagement and belonging, that can last a lifetime…’ imagine dundrum submission to dlr local action plan

tour with historian john lennon image: iaf

In2019,theIAFworkedwiththelocalcommunityinMohillandLeitrimCountyCounciltocarryoutlocalresearchandanengagementreport.GivenitscloseproximitytotheverypopularLoughRynn,thelocalcommunityhadidentifiedthepotentialofwater-basedactivitiestobringmoreeconomicactivityinthetown.However,whilethenearesthotelwasthefour-starLoughRynnCastleEstate&Garden,therewasadearthoflowtomid-rangeaccommodationintheareatosupportthisindustry.TwovacantpropertieshadbeenidentifiedbytheTownteamaspotentialsitestoberepurposedasaccommodation–aformerVECschool,andAshbrookHouse,locallyknownastheoldFeverHospital.

Fieldwork The IAF were asked to work with the town team to assess what the accommodation these groups would need. The resulting report would then be used as part of a feasibility study to apply for funding to begin work on that project or building. The IAF spent three months producing a community engagement report indicating which amenities were most needed. This involved working with the local school and wider community, as well as rowers at the Lough Rynn Regatta other users of the Lake. There was a lack of data on the specific needs of this visiting community, so the brief was to engage with them as well as the local community to explore opportunities and ideas. What amenities should be available in a new accommodation project? Which building would be most suitable? How would the community feel if these buildings were repurposed for this purpose? The IAF were also asked to investigate how local residents in Mohill would feel about this project, if they had any preference or aversion to which building was used or if the wider community would prefer another project entirely to occupy these spaces.

reimagine mohillMohill is a small town in County Leitrim, situated in the Rinn Valley, above the Rinn River. It is only a few kilometers from Lough Rynn, which attracts a large range of visitors for tourist and recreational activities, in particular rowing and canoeing.

architect

CiaraReynolds

community partners

MohillBusinessAssociationMohillCommunityDevelopmentAssociationCLGLeitrimCountyCouncil

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reimagine mohill

InanefforttogetfeedbackfromthewidercommunitytheIAFtookastandattheMohillAgriculturalShowonthe18thAugust.Theaimwastomakepeopleawareoftheproject,gatherinputandideasonfeasibilityoramendments,butalsotoconsiderifeitherbuildinghadparticularemotionalmemoriesforpeoplewhichmightresultinstrongobjectionstoeitherbeingrepurposed.OthergroupsengagedwithincludedTourismIreland,Rynn-ShannonAnglingClub,andlocalGAArepresentatives.

Inordertofurtherincludethevoiceofyoungpeople,weworkedwiththearchitectCiaraReynoldstoestablishwhichbuildingwouldbethemostpreferredamongyoungpeopleforthisproject.Reynoldsransessionswithsecondaryschoolstudents,askingwhatactivitiestheythoughtweremissinginMohill,howtheywouldfeelabouttheproposedproject,theirthoughtsonbuildingsbeingrepurposedandtheirgeneralideasaboutarchitectureinthetown.Whiletheyfelttheirtownwasfriendlyandwelcoming,theyoungpeoplefelttherewasadisconnectbetweenthetownandthemajorregattaonLoughRynn,withitsannualinfluxofpeopletothetown.Theydislikedthatbuildingsweredisused,andfeltexcitedabouttheideaofbuildingsbeingupdatedinacontemporaryordifferentway.Theywerehappytoconsiderdifferenttypesofdesign,aslongasthebuildingwaslookedafter.Morebroadly,theyidentifiedaneedformorelocalrestaurantsandsocialspaces.

AttheLoughRynnRegatta,rowersandcanoerswereconsultedaboutwhattheyneeded,intermsofaccommodationandservices.Thesocialandgroupaspectwasimportantinthefeedback,reflectingthegroupandcollectivenatureofthesports.Toaddtothesefindings,awidersurveywassharedonlinewithCanoeingIrelandandRowingIreland.

Basedontheengagementreportproducedinthetown,LeitrimCountyCouncilthencommissionedtheIAFtocreateanarchitecturalbriefforthisproject.Thiswastosupportfutureplansandfundingapplicationsrelatedtotourismdevelopmentinthecommunity.ThisfinalisedreportandbriefwerethensubmittedtotheMohilltownteamandLeitrimCountyCouncil.

About The Architect CiaraReynoldsisadesignerandarchitectwithextensiveexperienceacrossvariousfields,includingMasterplanningandUrbanDesign.

community consultation, lough rynn regatta mage: anne kearns

TheIrishArchitectureFoundationworkedwithDonegalCountyMuseum,AnGriananTheatre,RegionalCultureCentreandDonegalCountyCounciltoexplorecreativelywiththelocalcommunityhowanunder-utilisedinterconnectingwalkwayconnectingthePortRoadandtheHighRoadcouldbeusedmoreoftenbythetownspeople.Recentdevelopmentintheareahaddisruptedpreviousroutesbetweenthethreebuildings,resultinginmanypeoplenotrealisingthatapathbetweenthethreeexisted.Theaimwastoexplorehowthispathcouldbecomeanattractivepedestrianasset,therebyreconnectingthethreebuildingsinthepublicimagination,whilealsosupportingthecreationofaculturalidentityinthisareaofLetterkennytown.Thisprojectwasdeliveredinthreestages.

Stage1Fieldwork:ThiswasledbytheIAFteam,workingtodevelopabriefwithwhichtobetterunderstandtheissuesbeingaddressed,feedingintothedesignbriefandthecommissioningprocess.Thisstageculminatedinthecommissioningofanarchitecturalteamtorespondtothebrief.

Stage2ReimaginePhase:Thecommissionedteambegantheircommunityconsultations,andworkedcloselywiththekeypartnersandbrandingconsultantLisaGildeatodevelopabrandidentity.Theidentitywasrolledout,andawayfindingroutecreated,in2020.Thiswaspairedwithcontinuedcommunityfeedbackontheresponsetothisroute.

Stage3:Thearchitectscontinuedtheirrelationshipwiththeculturalpartners,creatingmoredetailedplansandvisionsforfutureredesignopportunitiesforthearea.

reimagine letterkennycultural district letterkenny The Reimagine Letterkenny project focused on developing a pedestrian ‘cultural corridor’ to better link three existing, cultural buildings in Letterkenny, County Donegal.

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PasparakisFrielarchitectsLisaGildeagraphic designer

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DonegalMuseumRegionalCulturalCentreAnGrianan

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community engagement session, culture night, 2020 image: paul mcguckin

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reimagine letterkenny

Fieldwork PhaseFrom Spring 2019 to Autumn 2019, the IAF performed space-use studies and explorations in the area connecting the Port Road to the High Road. The aim was to better understand how local people already use, or don’t use, this space, as well as to gauge what other potential uses people might envision. Activities undertaken included observations, interviews and questionnaires gathering data on space use and community opinions. Additionally, creative way-finding prototypes were trialled to gauge the impact of these interventions on space usage. This took the form of chalked and cardboard signage, detailing distances in minutes between the three buildings, paired with observations on public responses to the signs.

The IAF interviewed people using the path to a) see if they were regular users, b) if the way finding indicators had had any impact and c) if they could think of anything to improve the experience of using the path. A session of in-depth interviews was undertaken in the Donegal Museum, asking respondents a series of questions relating to the use of the interconnecting path and wider accessibility in the area.

Letterkenny Cultural District Stage 1FollowingtheFieldworkstage,apubliccompetitionwasannouncedtocommissionanarchitect/teamtorespondtoadetailedbrief.DonegalarchitectsPasparakisFrielwerethesuccessfulteam,withaproposalthatwoveintheimportanceofincludingclearpubliccommunicationaswellasbrandingasakeyelementoftheproject.InMarch2020,afterworkingwiththecommunitypartnerstoexploreconceptsforanidentityfortheproject,thefirstpublicconsultationeventwassettolaunch.Whatcouldnothavebeenexpectedwasthecountrygoingintofulllockdownduetoaglobalpandemic.

COVID-19notonlyscupperedplansforthisevent,butalsocreatedchallengesforanyin-personformsofconsultation.TheIrishArchitectureFoundationpausedallin-personengagementforaninitialperiodofthreemonths,toensurethesafetyofeveryoneinvolved,butalsotoallowforthetoughandtraumaticprocessofadaptingtonewwaysofliving,creatingandconnecting.Withthesenewparameters,PasparakisFrielwereabletorefocusontheonlineconsultationworktheyhadbeendeveloping,includingawebsite,socialmedia,andonlinesurvey,fromwhichtheyreceived180responses.Theseresponseswerethenturnedintocreative,cleargraphicsandre-communicatedviasocialmediatothepublictore-engagewith.Throughthisprocess,theywereabletobuildacommunityconversationregardingwhatroleaCulturalDistrictcouldplayforLetterkennyandfurtherafield.

Sixmonthslater,amuchdifferenton-siteconsultationwasheldinaverydifferentworld.PasparakisFrielheldapublicconsultationinAnGrianánTheatreForecourtaspartofCultureNightonFriday,18thSeptember.TheaimwastohearfromlocalsastohowthisprojectcouldbeacatalystforthegrowthofcultureandartsintheregionwhilstalsoimprovingLetterkenny’spublicrealm.OutsideAnGrianan,anewadditiontotheopenplazaannounceditselfinaswathofcolour.Colourfulsignagewasconstructedfromflagmaterialwrappedaroundasteelstructure,takingonaplayful,sculpturalform.FromthispointonthePortRoad,atrailofchromaticdotsleduptothestepstotheRegionalCulturalCentre,AnGrianan’snearbynext-doorneighbour,whereanothercolourfulstructurestoodcommandingly.Followingthispatharoundtheperimeterwallsofthenewlybuiltcourthouse,afewminuteslateryouwerewalkingalongtheHighRoadtowardstheDonegalMuseum.Athirdinstallationtherecompletedtheroute,playfullycontrastingwiththehistoricstonefacadeoftheformerLetterkennyWorkhouse.

CultureNightwouldnormallyseethousandsofpeopleenterthedoorsofthesethreeculturalbuildings,whileinstead,manyprecautionsweretakentoreducethenumbersofvisitorsandtolimitinteractions.ThisreflectedthenewchallengesfacingtheCulturalandHeritagesectors,withthepublicnotabletohavetheexperiencestheyoncehad.However,perhapsthiscreatedanewvaluearoundthepublicsharedspacethatacreative,innovativeandwell-designedCulturalDistrictcouldbe.

Letterkenny Cultural District Stage 2Thecreativeinstallationonsignageandwayfindingroutestiedinwiththecommunityengagementelementstofeedintoafurther,morelongtermvision,whichwastoconsiderhowtheurbanrealmcouldberedesignedtocreateLetterkennyCulturalDistrict.ThisstrandoftheprojectprogressedalongsideandaswellasdevelopedfromStage1,allowingtheteamtoadaptandexplorevariousavenuesandopportunitieswiththespace.

About the ArchitectsDonegalbasedPasparakisFrielseektoutiliseadetailedhistoricalknowledgeofplaceandpeopletoinformanddevelopconceptsfortheplacesandspacesthattheydesign.Asastudiothearchitectsenjoyengagingwith,unravellingandreimaginingbriefstofindthemostlastingandeffectivesolutions.

community engagement session, culture night, 2020 image: paul mcguckin

Theprojectisconsideringhowthepublicrealmintheareamightbeimprovedtoanswerthewidercommunitiesneedsandtoconnectwithbuildingsthathavebeenrenewedaspartofregenerationwork.

Aheritage-ledregenerationscheme,KellsCreativePlacemaking;theBiggerPicture,intendsadaptivelyreusingaselectionofprotectedstructuresforcreativeendeavour,thisschemeaimstoreconcilethesustainablemanagementandconservationofKells’builtheritagewiththecultural,economicandsocialrequirementsofitscontemporaryenvironment.

FieldworkIn June 2019 the IAF ran a community workshop as part of Hinterland Festival of Literature. The location was a disused Church of Ireland building that is part of the Kells Creative Placemaking project. This day-long participatory engagement invited the public to share their vision, ideas and concerns for the future of buildings involved in the programme. Participants were able to explore a charette of the building designs, as well as play creative games to stimulate their imagination on the topic. The feedback from this session was rich and creative, as well as practical and thorough. People raised concerns, such as financial sustainability, venue management, and how to link public access with privately owned property.

There were also visionary ideas, such the creation of a calm place to come and sit without having to buy anything and opportunities for artist residencies. Throughout it all, there was a sense of pride in the fantastic heritage offerings in the town, and a desire to share it with more people. Ideas were gathered and shared for public consideration and discussion, as well as to feed into a brief that would be issued to a design team.

reimagine kellsReimagine Kells is a project which was developed between the IAF, Kells Creative Placemaking – The Bigger Picture and Meath County Council. The aim was to think strategically about the development of Kells in the future, with a focus on the regeneration work already being carried out by Kells Creative Placemaking Group.

partners

KellsCreativePlacemaking–TheBiggerPictureMeathCountyCouncil.

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reimagine kells

ProjectRespondingtoabriefdevelopedthroughpublicconsultation,LiDArchitectswereselectedtoconnectthethreeregenerativeprojectsinKells.Theobjectivewastoengagewiththecommunity,bringingthemintothedesignprocess.ThebrieffocusedonthetaskofcreatinganidentitytoconnectsomekeylocationsthatwerethefocusofKellsCreativePlacemaking.

LiDArchitectscreatedaprojectbuiltaroundaprogrammeofcommunityengagementworkshops,supportingpubliccontributiontotheirpublicrealm.Theseworkshopswouldbetailoredtospecificgroupsinthecommunity;gatheringfeedbackonhowKellsisdeveloping;getopinionsontheregenerationprojectcurrentlyunderway;andconsidertheneedforotheramenities.ThisprocesswouldthengeneratehighlyusefulinsightsandinformationthatwouldinformspatialplansforKells,highlightingtheconnectionsbetweenthesenewdevelopmentsandfeedingintolargerdevelopmentplansforthearea.ThisprojectwasduetokickoffinSpring2020.

Asplanswerebeingfinalisedforthedeliveryofthisproject,theCOVID-19pandemicarrivedinthecountry.Allplanswerehalted.TheIrishArchitectureFoundationpausedallin-personprojectsforthreemonths,toallowcommunitiesandarchitectstoadapttothechanginglandscape.Therewasnoclearpathforthedeliveryofthiskindofproject,andasthehealthcrisisgrew,itbecameclearthattherewouldbenew,morepressing,concernsintermsofourpublicrealm.Evenascommunitiespulledtogether,fissuresinsocietywereexposed.The2kmtravellimitscreatedmicro-studiesofspatialinequalities,withsomepeopleenjoyinggardens,parksandbeaches,andotherslimitedtotheirhomesandisolatedfromsociety.Aswellasprovidingalenswithwhichtorediscoverthebeautyinourlocaltowns,theimposedlockdownalsoforcedustoconsiderwhatwasnotworking,andwhatweshouldbeaspiringtowards.

Newwaysofcommunityengagementwouldneedtobedeveloped,whichwoulddivergefromthepreviousstagesandmomentsintheReimagineprogramme,especiallyinKells,wherecommunitygatheringsformedavitalpartofthesocialfabricofthetown.Pairedwithaneedtospeedilyadapttonewmethodsofengagement,itwasalsoimportanttotakethetimetoreflectonandlearntoacceptthedramaticanddrasticchangestocommunitylife.Itbecameclearthat,whilethekeybriefremainedthesame,thewaysofworkingwouldneedtobemoreagile,lightoftouch,andresponsivetothecommunityinKells.LiDarchitectsengagedinaprocesswhichtappedintothevibrantgroupsandinitiativesthathavebeenactiveinplacemakinginthetown,connectingwiththemonlineandremotely.Thismethodallowedformorediscursiveengagement,withconversationsandthemesemergingwhichformedaninteractiveprocessofco-design.Alongsidethis,ideasandplansweredevelopedwhichfedinto,andoutof,thesedialogues.WhileCOVID-19hasrestrictedhowgroupsmeet,itopenedupnewwaysofsharing,discussingandrespondingtoideas,anditwasclearthathavingwelldesignedspacestowalk,sit,liveandplayaremoreimportantthaneverbefore.

About the ArchitectsLiDArchitectureisanawardwinningpracticethatincorporatesplayfulandinnovativetoolsforengagementintotheirresearch,designanddeliveryprocesses.

community workshop, hinterland festival 2019 image: anne kearns

KilrushTownTeamisarepresentativebodyforthewidercommunitywhichwassetupundertheClareMarketTownsprojectsupportedbyCLDC.Althougharelativelynewentity,theteamhasalreadybeensuccessfulindevelopingnewinitiativesforthetown,andsoughtsomesupportindevelopingaspatialvisionforitspublicrealm,withafocusontowncentreliving.

SupportsIAFsupportrangedfromidentifyingandadvisingonpracticalresources;sign-postingtoexistingsupports;andhelpingtoidentifywhattheircoreneedswouldbe.Theaimwastoprovidesupportthatcouldhelpimprovetheliveabilityofthetowntoday,anchoredaroundFrancisSt,MarketSquare,whilelinkingintoprojectsinCappaPier,theVandeleurGardensandnewlyrestoredTerretLodge.Astheteamplayedaveryactiveroleinidentifyingandapplyingforfundingtoimprovetheirtown,thisprojectwouldneedtosupporttheseprocesses,includingbuildinglocalcapacityandknowledgeofplacemakingandurbandesign.Duringthisprocess,itbecamecrucialtofindwaystoworkwiththewidercommunity,gatheringasmuchinformationandinputaspossibletosupportthiscommunity-ledinitiative.Akeychallengetothisprojectwasthevolatilepublichealthcrisis,andtheever-changingrestrictionstomovement,eventsandcommunitylife.Whilethisinitiallydelayedtheproject,itbecameclearthatthisnewcontextwaspartofasharedexperiencewhichneededtobeaccountedforandabsorbedintotheprocess.Howcouldacommunitycometogethertoshareideas?Whatkindofspacesdotheynowneedtofeelsafeandconnected?Howcanwefuture-proofcommunityandpubliclife?

reimagine kilrushThe IAF has been working with Kilrush Town Team to support their capacity to lead changes and improvements in their town core, making it an attractive place to live in.

architect team

SchoolofArchitectureattheUniversityofLimerick(SAUL)IntelligenceUnit

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KilrushTownTeam

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ProjectGiventheopenandexploratorynatureofthisproject,theIAFbroughtintheIntelligenceUnitthathadbeenestablishedbytheSchoolofArchitecturetheUniversityofLimerick.TheyworkedwiththeTownTeamtofurtherexploretheirtownandgenerateideasforimprovingliveabilityandprovidepracticalcontributionstosupporttheTownTeamintheirfutureprojects.TheIntelligenceUnit(IU)runbytheSchoolofArchitectureattheUniversityofLimerick(SAUL)isathinktankwhichworksonsolutionsforrealworldproblems.Inthepasttheyhaveworkedonurban,community,construction,fiscal,physical,policy,artsandenvironmentalissuesinavarietyofdomains.Theserangefromsingleschoolbuildings;toawholeairport(Shannon);orawholecounty(Mayo,Limerick,Fingal).Theirmethodusesthebestintelligenceavailableinablendedteamofacademicexpertsandcommunity/industry/localauthorityexpertise.ThemethodusedbytheIUistoplugintheneededexpertisefromwithintheUniversitydisciplines(architects,engineers,economists,marketing,arts,historiansandothers),linkedtoresearchandoutputworkpreparedbystudentsofarchitectureresearchers.Thisallowstheresearcherstolead,whiletappingintoawholecommunityofexpertise.Inturnthisispairedwithaprogrammeofcommunityengagement,creatingadynamicconversationbetweentheIU,thelocalcommunityandtheuniversity.

InKilrush,theIUwasabletoconnectwiththecommunityusingmultipleonlineandofflinetools.Bycreatingasitespecificproject,afreespaceisopenedupforcollaborativeexplorationandsharingofresearch..Unencumberedbytheconstraintsofconsultancyoratime-boundprocessandoperatinginaniterativeway,itusesdesignmethodologytospotsolutionsandjointhedots.

Withaformatthatinvitedinputsfromabroadrangeofpeopleandcommunities,theIUhelpedcrystallisesomeideas.Byprovidingpracticalandtechnicalskillsinmappingandvisualisations,theunitwasabletorespondtoinformation,stories,research,ideasandplansgatheredby,andwith,thecommunity.Thiswasthensharedwiththecommunity,togenerateabroaderdiscussionandunderstandingofsomeofthelongtermvisionsthattheTownTeamhadforthespaces.Aswellasfeedingnewperspectives,researchandideasintothetown,theIUwasmoreimportantlyabletorefine,buildonandreflectbacksomeoftheamazingworkandideasalreadyinmotioninKilrush.

About the School of Architecture at ULTheIntelligenceUnit(IU)runbytheSchoolofArchitectureattheUniversityofLimerick(SAUL)isathinktankthatworksonsolutionsforrealworldproblems.KilrushIUResearchersareBritneyRyan,LorcanWhelan,SéamusBairéad,andGráinneHassett.

kilrush site research imagery image: school of architecture, ul intelligence unit

team

BothAndGroupJarekAdamczuk/AliceClarkeAndrewÓMurchú/KateRushe

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TheWalksSteeringGroupGalway2020–SmallTowns,BigIdeasGalwayCountyCouncil.

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reimagine loughreathrough thinning landscapesThe IAF was asked by The Walks Steering Group in Loughrea to help build community engagement and ownership over this important space in the town.

TheWalksisacruciblewalkwayinLoughrea,CountyGalwaywhichservesasapublicamenityaswellasapedestrianrouterunningparalleltothemainstreet.Ithasnationalmonumentsstatus,withconsiderableworkdoneinrecentyearstorestorethebridgesoverthemoate,theonlyoneofitskindinIreland,andtoreinstatethehistoricwalls.TheWalkswasoriginallylaidoutasapublicspacebyClonRichardin1791asawalkway/promenadealongthismoat.Sincethen,thespacehasplayedaspecialroleinpubliclifeinLoughrea,peoplewalkthere,theboxingclubtrainthereinsummer,andschoolchildrenuseitforsurveyingnature.

FieldworkIn 2019, The IAF spent a number of months researching how people use The Walks, how they feel about them and how they feel about a project happening there, using methodologies ranging from movement surveys, community workshops to consultations at local events. During this process, it was recognised that young people needed to be important voices in this project; they would be future users, residents, and potentially returning visitors to the area. A design workshop was run with local secondary school students, and a youth focused workshop was set up on-site in The Walks as part of the Architecture At The Edge festival.

Based on this fieldwork, the IAF compiled a research report on Attitudes to Creating an Architectural Intervention on The Walks, Loughrea. Responding to this research, it was proposed to create a temporary architectural intervention to frame conversations and activities along The Walks. The aim was to activate the space, to shine a light on its history and its use, and to create a sense of ownership of The Walks with the local community. This brief would also link in with future landscaping plans for the area. In 2019, the IAF put out a call that would see the winning team collaboratively engage with groups from Loughrea in order to develop a public outcome, installation, temporary intervention and/or happening in the The Walks, Loughrea in 2020. After an open call, the architectural research collective BothAnd Group were selected as the winning bid to undertake this project.

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community biodiversity talk with éanna ní lamhna, october 2020 image: bothand group

Through Thinning LandscapesFrom18thofSeptemberto10thofOctober2020,TheWalksinLoughrea,Galway,becamethelocationofauniquesite-specificinstallation‘ThroughThinningLandscapes’.IfyouhappenedtobetakingalunchtimestrollthroughTheWalksinLoughreainthemiddleofSeptember,youmighthavenoticedsomethingnewandintriguing,alongnarrowstructurehadappearedinthelandscape.Walkingtotheendofthistunnel,youwouldcontemplateatyourgrass-framedreflectioninaloomingmirror.Hemmedinbetweenslopingbanksofintensegreenlawn,thereflectiontrimmedouttheoverhangingtrees,cuttingyouofffromthediversityofsurroundingnature,providingaspaceforcontemplation.Whatisthelinkbetweenourimpossibleexpectationsoftidygreenspaces,madeofgrassmonocultures,andthecriticallossofbiodiversitywearenowfacing?

Thisprojectaimedtocreateanawareness-shiftingexperiencefortheindividual:toprovideamandateforempathywithallstakeholders,includingplantsandanimals,withwhomweshareourenvironment.Throughexperiencingtheinstallation,thearchitectswishedtodrawattentiontothelossoftherichnessoflifeintheIrishlandscape,andtoinspirepeopletotakeactiontoresolveurgentbiosphericalissues.InhisbookWhittledAway,ecologistPádraicFogartydescribesIrishwildlifeashaving‘beensqueezedinto…thinribbonsoftree-linesandhedgerows’.Inthisinstallation,grassmonoculturesdominateandloomoveranarrowcorridorthroughwhichthereisjustenoughspacetomove.TheindividualmovesthroughthesethinningcorridorsforIrishwildlife,confrontedbytheirloss.Atthefarendoftheinstallationstoodamirror,positioningtheindividualasaresponsibleagentwithinthecomplexsystemsofanenvironmentalcrisis

Thisarchitecturalinstallationformedthebackdroptoaseriesofcommunityengagementactivities,includingtalksandworkshops,gearedtowardsincreasingawarenessofthebiodiversitycrisisandsupportingaPollinatorPlanforthelocality.

OnFriday,18thSeptember,aspartofCultureNight2020,aconversationtookplacewiththeBothAndGroupandFogarty,hostedbyFrankMonahan.Theconversationwasrecordedasapodcastandexploredissuesoflandscapedesign,biodiversityloss,individualresponsibilityandarchitecture’sroleasagency.OnSaturday,26thSeptember,biologist,conservationistandbroadcasterÉannaNíLamhnadeliveredatalktothelocalcommunityonthesubjectofbiodiversity,ecologyandsupportingpollinatorsincommunityspaces.FinallyonSaturday,3rdOctober,ashortfilm,documentingtheproject,wasbroadcastinpublicspacesinGalwaycity,aspartofafilmscreeningprojectwiththeArchitectureattheEdgeFestival.

Withafocusonthecirculareconomy,thearchitectsmadetheinstallationmaterialsavailabletolocalpartnerssuchasLoughreaMensShed,tofacilitatea‘pollinatorroute’inthetown.Thiswaspartofanongoingseriesofrelationshipsandconversationsthatemergedduringthatproject,regardingtheroletheBothAndGroupcouldplayinsupportingbiodiversityprojectsinLoughrea,aswellasdevelopingecologicalimperativesintheirownwork.

MáirínDoddy,ArchitecturalConservationOfficeratGalwayCountyCouncil,stated:‘TheinstallationandtheseriesofeventsinauniquewayforthepeopleofLoughreatoengagewiththeirlocalnaturalenvironment,andwelookforwardtoopeningtheinstallationon18thSeptember.Thisprojectsupportsoneofourmainstrategicobjectives–Placesandspaces:torevitaliseandregenerateourtowns,villages,townlandsandislands,andtoimprovetheconnectivityofcommunitiestothebuiltenvironmentandpublicspaces’.

About the ArchitectsBothAndGroupisaresearchandspatialdesignpracticethataimstounderstandthebehaviouroflivingsystems;todesignamoreequalenvironmentforallformsoflife.

placemaking nationwideReimagine is nationwide programme for co-design and placemaking. We work with communities across Ireland to co-create solutions to challenges or opportunities they’ve identified in their locality.

TofindmoreinformationaboutReimaginevisitreimagineplace.ie

Loughreapage 22

team

BothAndGroupJarekAdamczuk/AliceClarkeAndrewÓMurchú/KateRushe

community partners

TheWalksSteeringGroupGalway2020–SmallTowns,BigIdeasGalwayCountyCouncil.

Mohillpage 14

architect

CiaraReynolds

community partners

MohillBusinessAssociationMohillCommunityDevelopmentAssociationCLGLeitrimCountyCouncil

Killrushpage 20

team

SchoolofArchitectureattheUniversityofLimerick(SAUL)IntelligenceUnit

partner

KilrushTownTeam

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Tallaghtpage 10

architects

OBFA

partners

SouthDublinCountyCouncilTallaghtCommunityArts

Letterkennypage 16

team

PasparakisFrielarchitectsLisaGildeagraphic designer

community partners

DonegalMuseumRegionalCulturalCentreAnGrianan

Dundrumpage 12

team

RicardoRicorelational

urbanism

JohnLennonhistorianPatrickDunnearchitect

community partners

ImagineDundrum

Kellspage 18

partners

KellsCreativePlacemaking–TheBiggerPictureMeathCountyCouncil.

reimagine locations

Context and RationaleReimaginesupportsprojectswithdiversemethodsofpublicengagement,tofacilitateauthenticcreativeexpressionwithincommunities,inresponsetodesignchallengesinthebuiltenvironment.Inparticipatoryplacemakingprojectsitisvitalthatlocalinsightandtacitknowledgeareintegraltoevolvingdesignsolutions,fosteringasenseofagency,ownershipandprideamongcommunities.Durationalprojectscanbemoresuccessfulthanone-offengagementevents,asarelationshipoftrustisbuiltupbetweenthecommunityandafacilitator.Howcancommunitiesunlocktheirknow-howandinnatecreativitytoreimaginetheirlocalareas?Todothissuccessfully,thereisaneedforspecialisedarchitect-facilitators,withtheabilitytomediateandexplorearchitecturewithawidepublicaudience.TheReimagineMasterclassesaimtoaddressthisgap.

Overview of the Reimagine MasterclassesTheIAFdeliveredaseriesofthreevirtualMasterclassesinPlacemakinginSeptember2020.Participantsincludedarchitects,localcommunityrepresentatives,localauthoritystaff,councillors,stakeholders,communityengagementpractitioners,representativesfromculturalorganisationsandothersactivelyengagedinplacemaking.Betweenseventyandninetyparticipantsattendedeachsession.Acoregroupattendedallthreesessions,whichensuredacontinuityofconversationthroughouttheseries.Theterm‘masterclass’isused,nottopromoteonewayofpractice,butrathertocreateaforumfordiscussionandanexplorationof‘placemaking’asadynamicandresponsivesetofpracticesandprocesses,drawingontheknowledgeandexperienceofthespeakers,facilitatorsandparticipantspresent.

FormatTheReimagineMasterclassseriesfeatureddiversemodesofvirtuallearningandengagement,includingcasestudies,presentations,breakoutgroupsandmoderateddiscussions.Eachtwo-houreventhadthreedistinctparts.Thefirst,Part1:Place in Focus,showcasedcurrentandrecentIAFplacemakingprojects,linkingpeopleandplace.Thesecasestudiesillustratedcommunityengagementprocessesinarangeofspatialandsocialcontexts.Thesecond,Part2: Topics in Focus, wasacorepartofthelearningexperience,providingawiderframeworkforplacemakingasapracticeofpublicspaceimprovement,largelybasedontheground-breakingworkoforganisationssuchasProjectforPublicSpacesinNewYorkandvariousprojectsintheEUURBACT’sProgramme.‘Break-outrooms’offeredsmallgroupsofparticipantstheopportunitytodiscusstopicssetbythefacilitators.Thefinalsection,Part3:Theme in Focus,featuredpresentationsbythreearchitectsonthreedistinctthemes,followedbyakeyquestionandamoderateddiscussion,invitingcontributionsfromthefloor.ThecontentdevelopedbythearchitectsinformedtheReimaginePocketGuidestoPlacemaking.

masterclasses in placemaking september 2020BláithínQuinn,CuratorofLearning

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Reimagine Masterclass 1 How Play Makes Place Wednesday9thSeptember2020

Thenarrativerunningthroughoutthissessionwaslinkedtoplayandplace;fromtheimportanceofplayfulnessduringthecommunityconsultationprocess,tothetransformativepotentialofaplayfulactivationofplace.

Place in Focus‘BMXSkateandPlayPark,Dublin’withRebeccaBlake,IAFandGerO’Reilly,BallyfermotYouthService

RebeccaBlakedescribedthecommunityconsultationprocessasplayful,engagingandcreative,directlyinformingthefinishedarchitecturalintervention.GerO’Reillyspokeinsightfullyaboutthisprocessbeingkeytothesuccessofthisplacemakingproject,asitledtoarealunderstandingoftheneedsofthe‘communityasclient’bythearchitects.ItisevidentthatthePlayParkhaschangedBallyfermotasaplaceasitisnowahubofactivityinthearea.Thereisanincreasedsenseofbelonging,ownershipandpride,evidencedinthecaretakenbyBallyfermotCommunityActionGroupandthedailyenjoymentoftheskateparkbytheyoungBMXbikers.Startingwithaliveandengagingcasestudy,thespeakerssetthesceneforthismasterclassbybringingplacemakingtolife.

Topics in Focus‘PrinciplesofPlacemakingI’withWesselBadenhorst,DirectorofUrbanMode

Thissessionprovidedacomprehensiveoverviewoftopicsincluding:‘Anintroductiontopublicspacechallenges’;‘Theelevenprinciplesofparticipatoryplacemakingasdefinedby‘ProjectforPublicSpaces’,and‘PlaymakingandPlacemaking:LearningsfromthePlayfulParadigmProject’.Groupbreak-outsessionswerefacilitatedandthefollowingquestionswereputtotheparticipants:Whatisplacemaking?Howdoweharnessstakeholderandcommunityparticipationindesignprocesses?Howdoesplayenhancepublicspaces?Thenarrativeofplayfulplacemakingcontinuedduringthegroupdiscussions.

Theme in Focus‘BuildingCapacityforPlacemaking’withAlanMee,Architect,UrbanDesignerandLecturer

AlanMee’sintroductionsituatedplacemakinginanIrishcontext,referencingastrong,historicallinktoplace.Todaythereisa‘hyper-awareness’ofplaceinrelationtospatialopportunitiesandrestrictions;placemakinghasbecomemoreimmediateandresponsiveduringthispandemic.Hispresentationhighlightedtheimportanceof‘knowingtheground’(anunderstandingofthelocal,globalandin-betweenwebofknowledgeaboutplace);usingresearchcollectively(researchneedstobemoredirectly‘usefulonthestreet’,inotherwordsbeyondtheacademicsphere);and‘iteration’(consideringhowtheuseandactivityinaplaceevolvesovertime).

Thediscussionopenedtothefloorwithaquestion–‘Whatplacemakingcapacitydowe(andcouldwe)have?’Thediversity,knowledgeandnationalreachoftheparticipantsinthevirtualroomledtoalivelydiscussion.Itwasevidentthattherealnationallevelchallengesarenotalwaysabout‘play’butmoreaboutpotentialconflict.Issuesarisingintheinteractive‘chat-box’includedPublicParticipationNetworks(PPN),people’srightstobepartofconsultationsaboutlarge-scaledevelopmentsandthefactthatthereisnorealroadmapforcommunity-centreddesigninIreland.TheIAFwasdescribedasaspecialist‘broker’withanunderstandingoftheprocessesofplacemakingandcommunityconsultationandtheabilitytocommunicateandmediatebetweencommunities,architects,stakeholdersandcouncils.AforumsuchastheReimagineMasterclassseriesisakeypartofbuildingcapacityforplacemaking;itisimportantnotonlytocapturetheconversation,buttokeeptheconversationgoing.

Reimagine Masterclass 2 What makes a great place? 16thSeptember2020

Whatarethefactorsthatmakeaplace‘great’tospendtimein,toenjoyandtoreturnto?TheProjectforPublicSpaces(USA)producedthePlaceDiagram,adiagnostictooltomeasurethesuccessofaplace.Thisradialdiagramprovidesaframeworkforthequalitativeassessmentofaplace,thequadrantsreferringtothekeyattributesofusesandactivities,comfortandimage,accessandlinkages,andsociability.Toolssuchasthis,introducedinthismasterclass,offerastructurefortheanalysis,observationandunderstandingofplace,providingafoundationforgreatplacemaking.

Place in Focus‘TheIAFReimagineProgramme’,withNathalieWeadick,IAFDirectorandBernardineCarroll,IAFEngagement

NathalieWeadick’spresentationsetthecontextforReimaginebyoutliningtheIAF’svisionandmissionandbyprovidinganoverviewoftheIAF’smanyplacemakingprojects.TheextensiveknowledgeandexperienceoftheIAFasanorganisation,workingonplacemakingprojectswithcommunitiesandarchitects,isconsolidatedinthecentreoflearning,developmentandresearchthatisReimagine.

BernardineCarrolldescribedthestronghistoryofcommunitydevelopmentinIrelandwithexamplesofactivisminthe1960sand1970s,whenempoweredcommunitieswereinvolvedintheprotectionofbuiltheritageandpubliclandforusesincludingpublichousing.Thisexpertiseandembodiedknowledgewasformalisedbyorganisations(familyresourcecentres;communitydevelopmentinitiatives)adecadelater,inrecognitionofthegroundworkdonebycommunities.Thesemodelsofsocialprovisionhaveopeneduppossibilitiesofworkingwithincommunitiestoday.CarrolloutlinedtheapproachtotheReimagineprogramme;theprocesshasanumberofstagestofacilitateengagement.AcallfortownstobecomeinvolvedisfollowedbytheIAFco-creatingabriefwithacommunity,involvingmultipleworkshopsandsitevisitstoidentifyandunderstandtheirspecificneeds.Anarchitectteamisthenengagedtoworkwiththecommunityandtodeveloptheproject.Astheneedsofacommunitycanradicallychangeduringthisprocess,thereisaneedforflexibility,resilienceandtheabilitytoadapt.CarrollalsogaveanoverviewoftheReimagineprogrammeatthevariousstages,fromworkinprogress,tocompletionintownsalloverIreland.

Topics in Focus ‘PrinciplesofPlacemakingII’,withWesselBadenhorst,DirectorofUrbanMode

Themainfocusinthissessionwasonunderstanding–whatmakesaplacegreat–throughtheobservationandanalysisofplace,andkeytothiswasanintroductiontothePlaceDiagramdevelopedbyProjectforPublicSpacesasoutlinedabove.Observationofplaceincludesnotinghowpeoplebehaveinaspace,andhowandwhenandifaspaceisused.Thisleadstoanunderstandingofthechallengesandopportunitiesofaplace.Abespokeplancanbedevisedbycommunitiesandstakeholdersworkingtogether.Generatingandtestingideasforplacemaking–tappingintolocalknowledgeandcreativity,wasalsoexploredasatopic.Abreakoutsessionwasfacilitatedtoaskparticipants:‘Whatarepracticalwaystoobserveusesinpublicspaces?’–bringingthePlaceDiagramtolife.

Theme in Focus‘PlacemakingandtheIrishTown’withOrlaMurphy,ArchitectandLecturer

OrlaMurphy’spresentationaddressedtheadaptability,distinctiveness,connectivityandsociabilityofIrishtowns.Herpointswereillustratedbyexamplesincludingherwork(aspartofateam)asco-curator/co-commissionerfortheIrishPavilion,FreeMarket(VeniceBiennale,2018),anexhibitionandongoingresearchprojectexploringtheuniqueidentityoftheIrishruraltown.Murphy(withPhilipCrowe)alsoleadstheCentreforIrishTowns(CfIT),anemergenttrans-disciplinarycentreforresearchandcollaborationinUniversityCollegeDublinfocusedonthetownsoftheislandofIreland.

Agroupdiscussionwasinitiatedwiththequestion‘Whataretownsfor?’withspecificreferencetoIrishtownsasplacesthatwerehistoricallylinkedwithcultural,economicandsocialexchange.Participant’sresponsesexploredthepotentialforIrishtowncentrestobereimaginedasvaluableplacestoliveandwork,astheyofferarangeoffacilitiesandamenitiesincloseproximity.Thesocialfunctionoftowns,asplaceswhereweexperienceculturecollectivelyandinteractwithourfellowcitizens,wasalsodiscussed.Thewell-designedtownwitha‘great’senseofplacecanofferuniqueandirreplaceableexperiences,evenifwemustrethinkitsidentityandvalue.Theconversationaboutplacemakingisevenmoreimportantandurgentnowduetothecurrentpandemic;thisemergencyispromptingustotakemoreimmediateactioninpublicspace.

‘Placemaking is about strengthening the connections-physical, social, economic and cultural-between people and the places they share’ emma geoghegan, reimagine pocket guide

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Reimagine Masterclass 3 How can we activate and take responsibility for public places?23rdSeptember2020

Thesuccessfulactivationofpublicspacecanbesupportedbyinclusiveandresponsiveprogrammingofaccessibleculturalandsocialactivities,basedonanunderstandingofthechallengesandopportunitiesofaplace,onmultiplelevels.Bydrawingonlocalcommunityinsightgainedduringcommunityconsultationprocesses,stewardshipandcareofplaceevolvesfromasenseofcitizenownershipandagency,nurturinganauthenticsenseofresponsibilityandprideinplace.

Place in Focus‘ThroughThinningLandscapes,Loughrea,CountyGalway’withMáirínDoddy,ConservationOfficer,GalwayCountyCouncil;JarekAdamczukandAndrewÓMurchú,BothAndGroup

MáirínDoddygaveanoverviewofthemanylocalcommunitygroupsinvolvedinthecare,conservation,fundraisingandprogrammingoffestivalsandeventsthatactivatethetownofLoughrea.Significantgroundworkintheformofcommunityengagementhastakenplaceoveraperiodoftime,whichhasledtoprojectsandinitiativesincludingthetemporaryinstallationbyBothAndGroup‘ThroughThinningLandscapes’atTheWalks.

Followingthenarrativeofcareandstewardshipofplace,JarekAdamczukspokeoftheresponsibilityofarchitectureasadisciplineinaclimateandbiodiversitycrisis.BothAndGroupseekalternativesolutions:oftenproposingthere-activation,re-useandimprovementofexistingplacesratherthantheadditionofanewarchitecturalobject.Theiroriginalresearch-basedcompetitionentryforIAFReimagineLoughreaisstrikingasnodesignedobjectispresent;instead,theydemonstratedanunderstandingofplacefromanecologicalperspective.Adetailed,carefullydrawnanalysisandobservationoftheecologyofTheWalkswascreatedincollaborationwithecologistJaniceFuller.This,intandemwithanunderstandingofthelocalcommunitydemonstratesaresponsiveapproachtotheprocessofplacemaking.AndrewÓMurchúspokeabouthowtemporaryarchitecturalinterventionscanactivateaplaceandcreatemomentumwhilesimultaneouslyactingasatestinggroundforpractice.Heconcludedbyaskinghowwecanmitigatethenegativeconsequencesofdevelopmentbyactivelybringingecologistsintothedesignprocess,embeddingthelogicoflivingsystemsintospatialpractice?Eachofushasanindividualroletoplaywhenitcomestotakingresponsibilityforplace.

Topics in Focus‘PrinciplesofPlacemakingIII’withWesselBadenhorst,DirectorofUrbanMode

Continuingwithafocusontheactivationandstewardshipofplace,theplacemakingtopicsexploredinthissectionincluded:‘Howcanwebestcreatesharedvisionsforimprovementstoplace?’and‘Programmingeventsandactivitiesinpublicspace:howdowegetbuy-inofstakeholdersinplacemakingprojects?’

Therecanbeatendencytoover-plan,howeverinformalprogrammingcanbeverysuccessful.Importantconsiderationsincludeahonedsensitivitytowardstheend-user’sneeds;thediversityofpeopleusingaplace;andtherangeofusesovertime.Thefoundationofsuccessfulprogrammingisadeepunderstandingofplacethroughobservationandanalysis,followedbyplanningwithpartners,stakeholdersandthelocalcommunity,andatestingandtweakingofideasovertime.Break-outgroupsgaveparticipantstimetoreflectonactivitiesinpublicspacesnationallyandinternationally.Withreferencetoprogrammingasplacemaking,BadenhorstquotedactivistJaneJacobs:‘Themainresponsibilityofcityplanningshouldbetodevelopcitiesascongenialplacesforagreatrangeofunofficialplans,ideasandopportunititiestoflourish.’(JaneJacobs.TheDeathandLifeofGreatAmericanCities,1961)

Theme in Focus ‘InclusionandAccessibilityinPlacemaking’withEmmaGeoghegan,ArchitectandLecturer

Inclusioninplacemakingisbroaderthanphysicalaccesstobuildingsandspaces,italsoincludessocialandculturalaccessibility.Activecitizenshipcanonlyhappenifonefeelsincluded,howevertherecanbeimpedimentsandchallengestothis.EmmaGeoghegan’spresentationhighlightedtheimportanceofrecognisingthatcommunitiesareattheheartofgreatplaces.Inordertoreachdiversedemographicgroups,programmingforinclusionisvital.Itisimportanttoidentifythepeoplewhomaynotalwaysparticipate,merelyinvitingthemisnotenough;communityfacilitatorsmustconsideralternativetoolsandstrategiestoencourageengagement.Greatplaceswelcomedifferenceanddiversity,soparticipatoryprocessesmustbedesignedtoaccommodateawiderangeofneedsandabilitiestoencourageactivecitizenship.Toillustrateherpoints,GeoghegangaveexamplesoftheNimbleSpacesProjectinCallan,CountyKilkenny(inconsultationwiththeCamphillcommunity,throughinteractiveactivitiesdesignedbyLIDArchitects);StreetFeast,Clonakilty,CountyCork(eatingtogetherasaneasywayforcitizenstoparticipateandengage);andMyCarlow(workshopsforteenagersandyoungpeopleatVisualCentreforContemporaryArt).Thediscussionopenedtothefloorwiththequestion‘WhatarethechallengestoinclusiveplacemakinginIreland?’Participant’sresponsesidentifiedchallengesincludingpowerdynamics,authorityandownership,andpracticalissuessuchaslegislation,funding,insurance,healthandsafety.Theresponsibilityofalargeworkloadforcommunityvolunteerswasalsonotedasachallenge,especiallyforprojectsofalongerduration.Itcanalsobedifficulttohearthe‘silentvoices’inacommunity–whoisleftoutoftheconversation,andwhy?Successfulplacemakingisiterativeandinclusive,withaninherentflexibilityandresponsivenessinthedesignofbothplaceandprogramming.

Reimagine is a Creative Ireland supported, national campaign that works with communities across Ireland to co-create and co-design solutions to challenges or problems they have identified in their locality.

Aswellasfunders,CreativeIrelandhavebeengenerousandconsideredadvisors,connectors,andsupporters.ThankyoutoTaniaBanotti,DairneO’Sullivan,SheilaDeegan,EamonKelly,alltheCreativeIrelandteamandCreativeIrelandCoordinators.In2020,welearnedthatthesearethepeopleyouwantonyoursidewhentheworldgetsturnedupsidedown.ThispublicationisdedicatedtoourcollaboratorsallaroundIrelandwhopickedupapencil,leftapost-itnote,askedatoughquestion,challengedpreconceptionsanddemandedmorefortheircommunity.Wewereoverwhelmedwiththegenerosityshownbythosewhowelcomedusandourarchitectsintotheirneighbourhoods,parks,festivalsandschools.Itisthey,wholedthecharge,withtheirideas,optimism,frustrationandsheerprideintheircommunities.Wehavebeenlisteningandweareinspired.

Reimagine would not be possible without our key partners

ClareCountyCouncil,KilrushTownTeam,KilrushHistoricalSociety.

MeathCountyCouncil,KellsCreativePlacemaking.

ImagineDundrum,TaneyParishPrimarySchool,HolyCrossPrimarySchool,St.BenildusCollege.

Galway2020,SmallTownsBigIdeas,GalwayCountyCouncilHeritageOffice,TheWalksSteeringGroup,LoughreaTidyTowns,LoughreaScouts,StRaphael’sCollege.

LeitrimCountyCouncil,MohillTownTeam,MohillCommunityCollege,MohillTownShow,MohillGAA,CanoeingIreland.

DonegalCountyCouncil,DonegalMuseum,AnGriananTheatre,RegionalCulturalCentre

SouthDublinCountyCouncil,TallaghtCommunityArts,TallaghtLibrary,RuaRed,CivicTheatre,SouthDublinCountyCouncilConservationOffice.

Thankstoeachofourarchitects,architectureteamsandspecialistsfortheirhardworkandpassion:ULIntelligenceUnit,LiDArchitects,RicardoRico(RelationalUrbanism),JohnLennon,PatrickDunne,BothAndGroup,CiaraReynolds,PasperakisFriel,OBFAArchitects.

OurReimagineMasterclasseshelpedsetthefoundationformoreexcitingandimportantworktocome.Thankyoutoourcontributors:WesselBadenhorst,RebeccaBlake,BothAndGroup,BernardineCarroll,MáirínDoddy,DaisyFroud,EmmaGeoghegan,AlanMee,OrlaMurphy,GerO’Reilly,NathalieWeadick.AspecialthankstoCuratorofLearning,BláithínQuinn,andProduction&OfficeManager,Ann-MarieAhearne,forcuratinganddeliveringafantasticprogrammethatbroughtsomanypeopletogetherinatimewhenweallhadtostayapart.

Thank you to the IAF and the Reimagine teams DirectorIAF,NathalieWeadickIAFProductionandOfficeManager,Ann-MarieAhearneIAFCuratorofLearning,BláithínQuinn,RebeccaBlake,AideenMcColeIAFCommunication&Membership,AilbheMacEoinIAFEngagementOfficer,AnneKearns&BernardineCarrollOpenHouseDublinManager,KarenLeeWalpoleEditorial,LiviaHurleyPublication&GraphicDesign,UnthinkPhotography,SteMurray,PaulMcGurkin,BothAndGroupPR,AlicePR

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Copyright © 2020 by the Irish Architecture Foundation

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in Dublin, Ireland First Printing, 2020 ISBN: 978-0-9567249-6-0

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