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’ in 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 proposed 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 assisted 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 proposed 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 was 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.
Discover the Pilot!
The Visionary Solutions
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 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 displays green learning’s and information on the project.
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.
VARCITIES H&WB Platform acts as a bridge connecting the tangible reality of Dundalk with its digital twins, offering users a seamless, user-friendly experience to access time-series environmental data through interactive dashboards and insightful 3D renders.
Explore the dynamic transformation of our Pilot site in Dundalk and embark on a transformative eco-gaming experience with VARCITIES GoNature Game with full AR/VR 3-D render!
