From the youngest voices to the oldest perspectives, Dundrum by Design invites everyone to help shape the future of their town. This initiative puts the people of Dundrum at the heart of designing their local environment, because design matters. It influences how we live, connect, and experience a sense of belonging.
Over the coming months, UCD’s School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy and Dún Laoghaoire-Rathdown County Council will focus their Living Labs and Living Streets initiatives on Dundrum. Rooted in shared values such as walkability, inclusivity, climate awareness, and respect for heritage, this joint effort aims to improve daily life through thoughtful and creative design. At its core, Dundrum by Design is a partnership between people, policy, and learning. UCD offers spatial and design expertise, applying research to real-world challenges through collaboration with residents and the local authority. The community contributes knowledge and ideas that will inform every stage, from identifying challenges to co-developing future possibilities. This local knowledge will inform student design proposals and guide Council considerations, aligning with both national and local policies.
This is a truly collaborative effort, both local and international. UCD students will play an active role: Master’s students in Architecture, Urbanism, and Climate Action will tackle real community challenges, while second-year architecture students will develop design proposals based on the co-design workshop process. The programme is further strengthened by an international partnership with Università degli Studi di Napoli, offering expertise in digital mapping and collaborative urban design.
To kick off the initiative, a series of informal drop-in sessions will be held at Dundrum’s Carnegie Library this August. Individuals, families, and community groups are invited to meet the team, share stories, and contribute their visions for Dundrum.
Drop-in sessions take place at Carnegie Library on Tuesday 5 August – 10am to 7pm, Tuesday 12 August – 10am to 7pm, Saturday 23 August – 10am to 4:30pm, and Wednesday 27 August – 10am to 5pm. If you can’t attend in person, you can also share your views online through the website: www.dundrumbydesign.ie Also, in August at the Carnegie Library, UCD will host Crafting Dundrum, an engaging and hands-on Minecraft-based workshop for young people aged 8–12 and 13–18, offering them the opportunity to envision how their main street could become more playful and imaginative. This will be followed by workshops in local schools to engage primary and secondary students to share their ideas for Dundrum.
This autumn, Dundrum by Design will continue to present a vibrant programme of activities designed to engage and inspire. Two Geodesign workshops, scheduled for September and November, will apply a value-based co-design approach to reimagine sustainable neighbourhoods. Alongside this, a series of public talks and webinars will bring together architects, historians, ecologists, and landscape experts to encourage broader discussions about local culture, ecology, and design. In October, the initiative will be part of Open House Dublin, Ireland’s largest architecture festival, providing an opportunity to share the project with a wider audience. The final outcomes will be shared with the community in 2026 for feedback and reflection.
We invite everyone in Dundrum, both young and old, as well as long-time residents and new arrivals, to get involved. Share your ideas, join the conversation, and help shape the future of your town. Visit www.dundrumbydesign.ie for event dates, times, and registration details.
Boilerplate
Dundrum by Design
Dundrum by Design is a three-way collaboration between local residents, UCD School of
Architecture, and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. It is a shared learning process
where all partners benefit, supported by the EU Horizon 2020 PROBONO initiative, which
promotes sustainable and inclusive green building across Europe.
Dundrum Living Streets
Living Streets is a new initiative focused on promoting sustainable mobility and enhancing the
public realm in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County. It aims to make local streets safer and
greener, strengthen community connections, and support a vibrant local economy.
PROBONO Living Labs
PROBONO Living Labs are large-scale, iterative, open-innovation ecosystems, supported by
the EU Horizon 2020 PROBONO. They operate within a territorial context, combining real-time
research and innovation through public-private-people partnerships.
UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy (APEP)
UCD APEP integrates teaching and research across Architecture, Landscape Architecture,
Planning, and Environmental Policy. This interdisciplinary approach advances knowledge of the
built and natural environment, addressing climate change and supporting the development of
sustainable communities.
For More Information
To learn more, request materials, please contact:
Dundrum by Design
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dundrumbydesign.ie