Artist’s Impression of proposed public realm improvements to Anne Street South. Image: Sketchrender. / Léaráid ealaíontóra de na feabhsúcháin bheartaithe ríochta poiblí ar Shráid Anna Theas. Íomhá: Sketchrender.

The proposed Duke St / Anne St South Public Realm Improvement Scheme reached a significant milestone recently as it was granted Part 8 planning approval at the April meeting of the Dublin City Council.

Reimagining Dublin’s primary retail core as a more welcoming, modern and beautiful space was the design intent. The design, developed by an in-house Dublin City Council design team led by City Architects, was guided by a people-centred design approach developed through immersive consultation with stakeholders which has played a significant role in achieving this milestone.

Universal design and social inclusion have been a critical considerations in developing the design. Close consultation with Disabled Persons Organisations and representative groups was undertaken as part of an inclusive approach to inform the design. As a result of these consultations, City Architects prepared a suite of accessible design documentation as well as building a tactile model to assist people with disabilities to assess the proposals.

Our design focuses on creating a place that enhances people’s everyday interactions, creates more space for pedestrians and promotes inclusion and a vibrant street life. The pedestrian experience is enriched through the design by widening footpaths, reducing traffic noise and bespoke granite, oak and bronze elements. Footpaths will be upgraded to high quality granite paving with areas of historic kerbs and paving retained. The proposals also involve landscaping works, including new trees and low-level planting, as well as new public seating, feature lighting and play installations. Rest spaces are framed by swamp oaks, Chinese silver birches and holly planting.

The design team intend for this project to be an exemplar in universal design, urban conservation, place making, greening and sustainability.

The project has now progressed into detail design stage before a contractor will be procured to carry out the works.

Architectural Tactile Model built following consultations as an alternative to assist people with visual impairments in understanding proposals. Model/Image: City Architects / An Mhionsamhail Thadhlach Ailtireachta a tógadh sna sála ar chomhairliúcháin, mar bhealach malartach chun cabhrú le daoine a mbeadh lagú radhairc acu na tograí a thuiscint. Mionsamhail/íomhá: Ailtirí na Cathrach

Bhain Scéim bheartaithe Feabhsúcháin Ríochta Poiblí Shráid an Diúic / Sráid Anna Theas cloch mhíle shuntasach amach ar na mallaibh nuair a ceadaíodh faomhadh pleanála Chuid 8 di ag cruinniú mhí an Aibreáin de Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath.

Is é ba chuspóir leis an dearadh ná croílár miondíola Bhaile Átha Cliath a athshamhlú ina spás níos fáiltí nua-aimseartha áille. Ba í foireann deartha inmheánach de chuid Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath, á treorú ag Ailtirí na Cathrach a d’fhorbair an dearadh agus bhí cur chuige deartha daoine-láraithe, a forbraíodh trí chomhairliúchán tumthach le páirtithe leasmhara mar threoir acu, rud a chuir go suntasach le baint amach na cloiche míle seo.

Bhí ról ríthábhachtach ag an dearadh uilíoch agus ag an ionchuimsiú sóisialta i bhforbairt an deartha. Tugadh faoi dhlúthchomhairliúchán le hEagraíochtaí agus grúpaí a dhéanann ionadaíocht do Dhaoine atá faoi Mhíchumas mar chuid de chur chuige ionchuimsitheach chun bonn eolais a chur faoin dearadh. Mar thoradh ar na comhairliúcháin seo, d’ullmhaigh Ailtirí na Cathrach tacar de cháipéisí deartha inrochtana agus thóg siad mionsamhail thadhlach chun cabhrú le daoine atá faoi mhíchumas measúnú a dhéanamh ar na tograí.

Tá an dearadh seo againn dírithe ar áit a chruthú lena bhfeabhsófar idirghníomhuithe laethúla daoine, ina gcruthófar níos mó spáis do choisithe agus ina gcuirfear chun cinn an ionchuimsitheacht agus saol bríomhar sráide. Déantar eispéireas an choisí a shaibhriú tríd an dearadh le leathnú na gcosán, maolú an challáin ón trácht agus leis na gnéithe saincheaptha eibhir, darach agus cré-umha. Déanfar cosáin a uasghrádú go dtí pábháil ardchaighdeáin eibhir ach coinneofar na limistéir ina bhfuil colbhaí agus pábháil stairiúil. Cuimsíonn na tograí freisin oibreacha tírdhreachaithe, lena n-áirítear crainn úra agus plandaí íseal-leibhéil, mar aon le suíocháin úr poiblí, gné-shoilsiú agus suiteálacha súgartha. Cóireofar spásanna scíthe le daracha seascainn, beitheanna geala Síneacha agus plandú cuilinn.

Tá sé de rún ag an bhfoireann deartha gurb é a bheidh sa tionscadal seo ná eiseamláir sa dearadh uilíoch, sa chaomhnú uirbeach, sa déanamh áite, sa ghlasú agus san inbhuanaitheacht.

Táthar tar éis an tionscadal a chur chun cinn anois go dtí céim deartha na mionsonraí, sula ndéanfar conraitheoir a fhostú chun na hoibreacha a dhéanamh.