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In 1991 Temple Bar Properties Ltd. initiated what was
the most important architectural competition held in
Ireland for years, the Temple Bar Architectural Competition.
What it was looking for was an Architectural Framework
Plan to outline a set of architectural and urban design
proposals that would provide the physical basis for
the sensitive urban renewal of Temple Bar as a unique
cultural quarter with substantial residential accommodation.
The brief asked competitors to put forward ideas to
convert the broad objectives for the renewal of Temple
bar into a plan incorporating these major elements:
- The East-West Pedestrian Route and permeability
- Public Open Areas
- Pedestrianisation,Traffic Movement and parking
- Provision of Residential Accommodation
- Streetscape and Heritage
- The need to encourage Movement and Activity
The competition was won by a group of young, like-minded
and forward-thinking architects called collectively
Group 91. This comprised of Shay Cleary Architects,
Grafton Architects, Paul Keogh Architects, McCullough
Mulvin Architects, McGarry NiEanaigh Architects, O'Donnell
and Tuomey Architects, Shane O'Toole Architects and
Derek Tynan Architects.
In response to the particular set of issues that Temple
Bar represented, Group 91's winning entry suggested
'no single solution, rather a flexible series of integrated
responses...to release the dynamic potential of Temple
Bar, while reinforcing its unique sense of place in
our city.' In other words it was not a rigid, prescriptive
masterplan but a general, working design guide.
The plan itself envisaged a community of 3,000 citizens
living in this enclave within the city. It endeavoured
to consolidate and conserve the existing character of
the area whilst simultaneously injecting new life and
architecture.
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