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Dundalk Ireland2024-07-10T14:14:22+02:00

Dundalk, Ireland

The City

Louth County Council is the single local authority for County Louth in the Republic of Ireland. The strategic location between the capital cities Dublin and Belfast, the quality of state infrastructural services and the existence of a primed, skilled and well-educated workforce has attracted many long-running multinationals to relocate in the county. Albeit the smallest one in Ireland, County Louth is also one of the most densely populated (from the 2011 Census, the population counted 122,897 inhabitants).
Louth County Council is responsible for delivering key services such as housing provision and maintenance of social housing, road construction and maintenance, water services, land-use planning, environmental monitoring, and sustainable energy.

The Pilot: ‘The Still’

Dundalk Library and Museum Quarter

Dundalk is the administrative capital of County Louth and is the pilot town of VARCITIES. It has a population of 34,496, and growing. The town hosts a highly regarded third level educational institution, Dundalk Institution of Technology (DkIT).

The pilot proposes the “Creation of an Outdoor Learning Hub” within the courtyard area of County Library / Museum Quarter. Both structures are identified as Protected Structures which have a rating of ‘Regional importance’. The regeneration of this area will assist in the creation of a diverse, accessible, safe, inclusive and high-quality green area that will increase well-being and health, and deliver a fair and equitable distribution of the associated benefits. The design proposes a continuation of the public realm and rationalisation philosophy (to improve all crossings and junctions in favour of the pedestrian), in line with the urban regeneration scheme of the adjacent Market Square, Clanbrassil Street and Church Street.

One of the biggest changes in Dundalk’ VARCITIES Pilot will be the removal of the car parking spaces, increasing the resultant open public spaces and the benefits deriving from reduced climate risk exposure, noise and air pollution, and environmental stress.

Several co-creation events were organised:

  • June 2021: First Co-creation Workshop
  • November 2021: Second Co-creation Workshop

The two events were undertaken to co-create the detailed design for the site. Arising from this a Public Consultation Process was undertaken and Planning Permission for works for the project was approved. In November 2022, the Town Hall Event was undertaken to update stakeholders on progress and the plans to complete the project. The Pilot was officially unveiled in June 2024.

The Visionary Solutions

VS 1: Creation of Outdoor Learning Pod between Dundalk Library & Museum Quarter to showcase the
newest technologies and host shared functions

VS 1 saw the installation of a new facility, an Outdoor Learning Pod, which showcases the newest technologies and hosts shared functions. Alongside was also installed Virtual Learning Pod Sensors used to to collate data on visitor numbers and duration of stay. A new Software was also installed to record PV savings from existing PV roof panels on the Museum roof.

VS 2: Outdoor Urban Green Learning and Sensory Garden for health and well-being

VS 2 developed a sensory garden, and the area was enhanced with new seating throughout the site and improved public lighting with LED lights. A rainwater harvesting system now encourages visitors to be more sustainable in the use of water. A new touch screen monitor will display green learning’s and information on the project.

VS 3: Sensor-equipped bike-stations

VS 3 saw the installation of new bike-stations at the site, all equipped with sensors. The data collected on cyclist numbers helps the city better understand the use of the space.

The Visionary Plan on VARCITIES Health & Well-Being Platform

Health & Well-Being Platform

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