Dublin City Council has appointed OBFA among a consortia of six companies to design a creative campus in the heart of the Liberties area of Dublin 8.
The campus feasibility is part of an Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) project that aims to deliver new workspace for artists within the city.
In total three initial council owned sites have been identified, at Bridgefoot Street and at 8 and 9 Merchants Quay. A feasibility study hopes to assess how these sites could
be transformed, developed and regenerated as workspace accommodation for artists across a broad range of artforms.
OBFA’s concept designs for both sites followed the co-design process and an extensive public consultation phase with artists and the community.
Merchant’s Quay comprises quiet artists’ workspaces on the upper floors with a new 100 seat community theatre at ground floor accessed through the courtyard at the rear, replacing the much loved former Little St. Anthony’s Theatre. Green space was requested among the workshops and the courtyard has been designed for events and access to a new roof terrace at first floor level.
The new building on Bridgefoot Street proposes a ground floor gallery and community hub, with multi-disciplinary artists’ workspaces on the upper floors, again incorporating outdoor roof terrace areas. Both buildings have public faces, and more private entrances designed for 24/7 artist access.
