Emma Curley
Architecture
Urban design
Facilitation

Cromcastle District Centre Framework Plan & PPP Feasibility Study

Emma Curley headed up the Murray Ó Laoire Architects team in collaboration with Urban Capital in the preparation of a Public Private Partnership Feasibility Study for the Urban Regeneration of the Cromcastle area commissioned by Dublin City Council. The study area encompasses the Northside Shopping Centre, the social housing of Cromcastle Estate, a post primary education campus, health board properties and open spaces along the Santry river valley.

The architectural feasibility study was modelled on an outline urban design scheme, which was presented to the local authorities, stakeholders and community groups. The Cromcastle project centred on a process of urban remediation. Cromcastle had all the critical elements of a vibrant and sustainable urban village; housing, work, education, culture, recreation and retail. But unfortunately, these elements were physically displaced, separated by surface car parking, traffic and windswept left over spaces. The result is an urban centre without a liveable and inviting public urban domain. The urban scheme views the present surface car-parking surrounding the shopping centre as an opportunity to build new street edges and to form public spaces that will interlock with new and rejuvenated housing areas.