This document provides a history of planning in Ireland and discusses the relationship between planning and culture. It traces planning from the 19th century public health crisis through various acts and developments. More recently, there is a focus on localism and placemaking through cultural initiatives and public spaces. The key ideas are that community engagement is important in planning and culture, and that cultural projects can help activate and connect public spaces.

1. Presentation to Association of Local Authority Arts Officers
Tyrone Guthrie Centre – November 2011
/ Planning / Culture /
David O’Connor
davidoconnor@ireland.com

2. Planning & A short
culture on history of
the street planning
Localism and Culture &
the “civic planning on
economy” the street

6. The History of Planning
• public health crisis led to garden city movement,
which led to municipal housing,
and the 1963 Planning Act.
• But then along came CARS
and SUBURBANISATION,
which ruined EVERYTHING.
• But we got the 2000 act,
which wasn’t perfect so we changed it.
• But they still won’t listen to us!!!

7. Ceide Fields, County Mayo
– 6000 year old managed landscape

9. Anglo-Norman Waterford

10. Georgian Dublin
Between 1700 and 1800 Dublin grew
from 60,000 to 180,000 people

11. Victorian Residential Suburbs
Elites moved to the suburbs, where open
space, albeit privatised, was an integral
part of the residential form

12. Garden Suburbs
Ellen Rowley, Architectural Historian:
“Catholic Parish as gesamtkunstwerk”

13. Post-’63
Post – ’63: The Zoning Era
Zoning Plans

14. The end of the compact city…nearly
Copenhagen Plan
everywhere Plan”
Copenhagen “Finger
– 1940’s strategy
– Radial and orbital transit
corridors
– Interspersed by green spaces
– Scalable solution

15. Development Agencies
Temple Bar and Docklands: heralded
the return of public space planning in
Dublin with strong cultural agendas

16. Back to the City
Between 1990 and 2000 45,000 more people were
living in Dublin’s city centre

17. 2000 Planning & Development Act

18. 2010 Planningthese
So where to locate & Development Act
neighbourhoods?
• “Network Effect” for Dublin
– Core strategies?
Part of core vision?
The Elected Member and the City Development Plan
Workshop - Dublin City Council - 8th May 2010

19. The next BIG idea…
…localism…
…and the civic economy!

21. Arcola Theatre, Dalston
– 25 year lease

22. Arcola Theatre, Dalston
– Fuel tech and drama

23. The Hub, Islington
– First in a global network of creative hubs

24. East London Green Network

25. The Art of “Place-making”
– End of the Lea Valley Fat Walk

26. The Art of “Place-making”
– End of the Lea Valley Fat Walk

27. Cultural Coalition
– For Amsterdam Olympic Stadium

28. Cultural Coalition
– For Amsterdam Olympic Stadium

29. Project for Public Spaces
– Pittsburgh’s Market Square
Placemaking Rule #1:
The community is the expert

30. Project for Public Spaces
– Bryant Park
Placemaking Rule #2:
90% of the success is due to the programme

32. Breaking Barriers, Creating Connections
– Smithfield Square

33. Breaking Barriers, Creating Connections
– King’s Inns

34. Breaking Barriers, Creating Connections
– Saint Michan’s Park

35. Breaking Barriers, Creating Connections
– Ormonde Square

36. Social spaces
• Courtyards

37. Social spaces
• Courtyards

38. Social spaces
• Courtyards

39. Social spaces
• Courtyards

40. Social spaces
• Courtyards

41. LifeLine Hub
Healthy Neighbourhood Programme for
Smithfield / Grangegorman
The LifeLine Project

47. Planning &
culture on
the street
Which came first, the culture
or the planning?

49. Planning & A short
culture on history of
the street planning
“THANK YOU”
Culture &
The power
planning on
of ideas
the street