16.2.1 Design Principles

Design Principles

All development will be expected to incorporate exemplary standards of highquality sustainable and inclusive urban design and architecture befitting the city’s environment and heritage and its diverse range of locally distinctive neighbourhoods.

In the appropriate context, imaginative contemporary architecture is encouraged, provided that it respects Dublin’s heritage and local distinctiveness and enriches its city environment. Through its design, use of materials and finishes, development will make a positive contribution to the townscape and urban realm, and to its environmental performance. In particular, development will respond creatively to and respect and enhance its context, and have regard to:

1. The character of adjacent buildings, the spaces around and between them and the character and appearance of the local area and the need to provide appropriate enclosure to streets

2. The character, scale and pattern of historic streets, squares, lanes, mewses and passageways

3. Existing materials, detailing, building lines, scale, orientation, height and massing, and plot width

4. The form, character and ecological value of parks, gardens and open spaces, and

5. Dublin’s riverside and canal-side settings.

All development proposals should contribute to the creation of attractive, active, functional and publicly accessible streets and spaces (between buildings), promoting connectivity, walking and resisting the gating of streets. Gated developments will be discouraged as they prevent permeability.

Development must incorporate design measures for:

1. Maintaining a clear distinction between public and private spaces

2. Promoting safety, visibility and facilitating the natural surveillance of adjoining routes and spaces.

Development must be designed to meet the needs and convenience of all, in particular:

1. Incorporating inclusive design principles in new places and spaces and not introducing barriers to access, and

2. Wherever practicable, removing barriers to access and use of existing buildings and spaces by all users.

Development proposals will be expected to minimise energy use and emissions that contribute to climate change during the lifecycle of the development with an aspiration towards zero carbon, and ensure the reduction, re-use or recycling of resources and materials, including water, waste and aggregates. The re-use of existing buildings should always be considered as a first option in preference to demolition and newbuild. New public spaces must incorporate proposals for sustainable urban drainage (SUDS) in their design, where appropriate.

All of the above will include provision for an extended life-time of the buildings and spaces through excellence in design quality, high-quality durable materials and detail, efficient operation, and the provision of capacity to incorporate future services and high-quality floorspace that can adapt to changing circumstances over time, including the risks and consequences of future climate change, and how it may alter the way buildings and the wider urban environment are used and experienced.

This section on design principles has four elements: ­

  • Design that respects and enhances character and context ­
  • Sustainable design ­
  • Inclusive design ­
  • Design for a safer environment.