Better cheaper housing
Hugo Lamonte (IRL)
Andrew Griffin (IRL)
architects
Europan 9 Dublin
winner
The project proposes a scheme that takes a new stance on the issue of densification of Dublin. It proposes to interject new housing into underdeveloped parks in Dublin.
Dublin has a massive problem today as the only truly affordable housing for families is actually located outside of Dublin in commuter towns 2 hours away. The proposal is to densify the city in an entirely new way and by using methods like prefabrication it should make housing which is not only affordable -and 15 minutes from the city centre- but sustainable and environmentally friendly.
The average Dublin family earns a living of 32,000 euros a year. The average house price in Dublin is 400,000 Euros. This leaves the average family with a mortgage for 42 years. What the proposal is trying to do is to create better; cheaper housing which can offset this crippling mortgage. Using off-site prefabrication methods that can decrease costs and increase quality we want to make each house an average of 200,000 Euros!
The scheme proposes that the underused edges of the park become a ribbon of double-fronted apartments; this ribbon oscillates in response to the context, allowing access to the park from the surrounding neighbourhoods, as well as providing framed views of the Dublin Mountains. The accessible roof of the scheme is heavily planted, effectively replacing the area lost to the scheme’s footprint with a lush green canopy.
This project is connected to the following themes
Housing - Community
Multiple spaces are allocated for resident comfort – from sports amenities to children’s playgrounds, the project explores community through outdoor greenery.
Shared spaces - A Frame for social life
Better cheaper housing: this is the challenge of the project. To achieve it, the team has incorporated a system of prefabricated houses into a curved morphology.
Nature - Topography / ground
The ribbon of buildings can be seen from the roof as an artificial ground with a continuous promenade, notably compensating for the impact of the building on the natural ground.