Corstorphine & Wright’s response to The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Town Centre Living competition for Sligo offered a new approach to building communities in Ireland. It was envisioned as a place that residents will be proud to call home and be able to embed into the community.
Our proposal drew inspiration from the industrial location and looked to take advantage of river views, as well as views into the site rather than across neighbouring ones. Care has been taken to ensure that active frontages are prioritised at ground floor level, allowing for both a feeling of safety and for a more vibrant development.
The materials used create a palette which is part of vernacular housing in Ireland. Brick, timber, concrete is used throughout the site to give the development a sense of continuity and allow for future developments elsewhere to take precedent from and create a sense of place and belonging.
It was a valuable learning experience for the design team to respond to this competition and work within different parameters.
Design competitions like this are a refreshing approach to procurement for public housing in Ireland, giving practices of all sizes the opportunity to explore different design methodologies and have the freedom to develop creative responses.
