Timberyard Social Housing

This project in the historic Liberties area of Dublin arose from the need to relocate the residents of the existing pockets of social housing that had been demolished in order to make way for a new road.

The client brief, which was set out in consultation with the local and new residents, called for an exemplar social housing development and in response, this 47-unit project provides compact city living adjacent to schools and services. Built to the latest environmental standards including fuel and energy conservation, the concrete structure enabled a greater flexibility with apartment layouts by stepping the internal party walls vertically. 

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The triangular courtyard provides a secure social space with passive surveillance from the adjacent apartments. This space is animated by window seats at ground level with recessed balconies and projecting winter gardens above. Brick and timber echo the existing housing and industrial buildings, and the former use of the site as a timberyard. 

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Name of work in English 

Timberyard Social Housing 

Name of work in original language 

Timberyard Social Housing 

Placement 

Shortlisted 

Prize year 

2011 

Location 

Dublin, Ireland 

Year completed 

2009 (Year began 2007) 

Studios 

O’Donnell + Tuomey 

Authors 

  • Sheila O Donnell (1953 Ireland); John Tuomey (1954 Ireland) 

Collaborators 

  • Structural engineering: Downes Associates 
  • Mechanical: Buro Happold 
  • Electrical: Buro Happold 
  • Construction company: Townlink Construction Ltd. 

Program 

Collective housing 

Map 

LatLng: (53.339055, -6.278583) 

 

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