Earlier this week, the Irish Architecture Foundation launched an open call for communities across Ireland to apply to their Reimagine placemaking project.

Placemaking is not a new term, however, it is rapidly becoming shorthand to describe best practice in urban design and development. In design-speak, ‘placemaking’ refers to the building of communities rather than merely buildings. While there are many professional definitions, at its core, placemaking is about the holistic design of homes and commercial spaces, public realms and open spaces, all acting cohesively to deliver a place where people want to live, work, socialise and spend time. A number of large-scale regeneration projects are currently underway in cities around Ireland, under the Land Development Agency and/or private entities, for example, St. James’s Gate in Dublin 8. Over a period of time, this regeneration will lead to the establishment of dynamic new city quarters. By improving the place, everything within it is improved. In addition to providing new facilities, successful regeneration upgrades existing amenities for existing residents and local businesses. While regeneration has gotten a bad rap over recent decades and has attracted criticism from established communities, in practice, when communities, planners, designers and developers all work together, the result is a better place. And better places are more desirable places, which makes them inherently more valuable places. Done well, placemaking is a win for the people, the city and the project delivery partners, a win-win-win so to speak!

In this context, the launch of the Irish Architecture Foundation Reimagine placemaking project is exciting news. Four successful projects nationwide will receive support from the IAF and its Reimagine Professional Panel – a multidisciplinary group of architectural, placemaking and design professionals – to develop projects that will improve the built environment of their local community. Reimagine is supported by the Creative Ireland Programme. In collaboration with the IAF, communities across Ireland will be supported as they co-create and co-design solutions to local problems and/or opportunities.

This open call is a wonderful opportunity for four communities in Ireland to reimagine their local town, village, suburb or city quarter. In the past, Reimagine has worked with seven towns around Ireland on projects ranging from creative community consultation, right through to multi-agency collaborations that resulted in temporary outdoor cultural space.

This is an open call, which means that communities are invited to propose a theme most relevant to their local area. With that in mind, the IAF are particularly focused on a number of key themes, namely: enhancing town centre living; targeting climate change and the biodiversity crisis; ensuring access and inclusion; promoting reuse and renovation; and improving public realm for every member of the community.

Full details of this placemaking opportunity for communities can be found at www.reimagineplace.ie.