Draft Design Review Report

A Vision for Colbert Station Quarter, Limerick

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Quarter, Limerick This RIAI Design Review has created high-level ideas for the Colbert Station Quarter. It is a non-statutory process Contents that focuses on innovation. It introduces design thinking early on in an urban development process by engaging architectural expertise. A Design Review offers not one but 1. Introductions multiple visions and a broad range of ideas. These are non- 1.1 Statement by the Design Review Chair, David Browne directional but start an important conversation about the 1.2 Foreword by RIAI CEO, Kathryn Meghen need for quality and sustainability in our urban environment. 1.3 Foreword by LDA Chair, John Moran They empower communities by providing them with a 1.4 Foreword by LCCC CEO, Pat Daly strong overarching vision of what could be achieved. 2. Project Context 2.1 Strategic Planning Context of Colbert Lands Proposal 2.2 Public Consultation on the Aims for the Colbert Design Review 2.2 Urban Design Principles – by Riccardo Marini and Brent Toderian

3. Project Vision, Challenges and Opportunities 3.1 Vision Statement 3.2 Opportunities and Challenges

4. Executive Summary 4.1 Colbert Station Quarter Development Potential - Common Themes 4.2 Colbert Station Quarter Development Potential - Transformative Ideas

5. Design Review Proposals Merritt Bucholz, Bucholz McEvoy Architects Anne Kiernan, Transport Infrastructure Ireland Shelley McNamara, Grafton Architects Piotr Mach, eml Architects Sean O’Laoire, MOLA Architecture

Limerick City 6. Next Steps 6.1 Next Steps Timeline 6.2 Stakeholder Consultation and Feedback

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 1 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 2 Design Review Objectives Five Different Visions 1. Introduction An important objective has been to base the I expect that the different visions will promote Design Review for the Colbert Station Quarter healthy debate about the future development on the concept of integrated place-making of Colbert Station Quarter and, indeed, of with compact, dense, sustainable urban design Limerick. I believe that this will be of critical at its heart. The design panel has shown that importance in informing a Master Plan or 1.1 Statement by the Design Review Chair, David Browne immense opportunity exists around Colbert Framework Plan for the future development of Station to create a mixed-use walkable city the quarter which, I think naturally should follow quarter designed around small city blocks for the work carried out in this Design Review. The Design Review of the Colbert Station • A process that is independent and non- a broad-based community complemented by a Quarter has been a great opportunity to explore directional. vibrant and thriving business sector with bars, Viewing the diverse variety of approaches the creation of a new city quarter which can be • Benefit of the knowledge of experts who do restaurants, cafes and shops providing street proposed by the individual architects will, I an inspirational model for urban regeneration in not have a commercial interest in the site and animation throughout the day. hope, help the public and stakeholders to form Limerick and other Irish cities. The vision for this resultant advice and development ambitions for their own opinions on what they believe is right Design Review has been to create a sustainable, sites or city quarters which are open and far- The richness of the Design Review process can for the future of the Colbert Station Quarter. vibrant, liveable city quarter which will welcome reaching. be seen in the five different creative and exciting You may like some ideas and others you may not all to live, work and enjoy and which will build on visions crafted by the participating architects, like. However, it is important to remember that Limerick’s strengths as a leading Irish city. When A Design Review always precedes the work on a taken from each of their unique perspectives, what is being presented is blue sky conceptual realised, this new quarter could play a central Framework Plan or a Master Plan as its purpose is Shelley McNamara and Grafton Architects, thinking and to avoid focusing on the detail of part in the future growth of Limerick, benefitting to stimulate thinking and discussion amongst the Sean O’Laoire and MOLA Architecture, Piotr individual schemes. all communities. This could help make Limerick’s public and stakeholders on the possible ways in Mach, Anne Kiernan and Merritt Bucholz. I new and existing urban quarters more vital and which an area might be developed or redeveloped. would like to take the opportunity to offer my In summary, the Design Review Panel have attractive for economic investment. Design Reviews could be described as a means of deep thanks to each of the architects, not only provided five excellent visions for compact, focusing high-level design thinking on a particular for their creative design thinking but also for dense, sustainable urban redevelopment for the The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland neighbourhood or urban quarter with a view to the enormous amount of time and effort that I Colbert Station Quarter. It is hoped that these (RIAI) is a champion for quality and sustainability kick starting the imagination with creative ways know, as a practising architect myself, they have visions will assist in inspiring the thinking of in the built environment. The RIAI engage with for these areas to be redeveloped. contributed to the work. I have no doubt that stakeholders and the public in the way they have government, stakeholders and the public and they have individually and collectively provided revealed the potential of key sites in the Colbert have been successfully running architectural A Design Review should help people to focus more than excellent value for money. Station Quarter for imaginative transformation. competitions close to 30 years. More recently, on what is needed for an area, what needs to The proposals show how it might be possible under the Government Policy on Architecture, the be added, what, if anything, should be replaced It is important to be clear on the objectives of to shape a distinctive, Limerick centric urban RIAI has been running Design Reviews for sites of and what features are of the highest value to the Design Review. As with other RIAI Design vision with a high quality network of streets, strategic importance, for both public and private those who live and work there. Typically, after Reviews, the primary purpose of the exercise is squares and public spaces and small block, clients, including the Diageo Site in Kilkenny, the presentation to the city or county council, a Design about Vision. The brief included the concepts mixed use development capturing the value Military Barracks in Castlebar, the Tivoli Site in Review will then be published. After publication, and aspirations of the primary stakeholders, of a unique historic environment, providing a Cork, Bantry Harbour and Town, and Sandy Road feedback from the public and stakeholders will be LCCC, HSE and CIÉ as well as those of the LDA. resilient and flexible, biodiverse, low carbon and in Galway city. sought, and the report will be finalised. Work can In addition, the LDA sought public consultation sustainable city quarter connected to a 21st then proceed on a Framework Plan or a Master prior to commencement of the Design Review century transport hub through pedestrian and What is a Design Review? Plan, which will follow the normal procedures for and included the views of the public in the brief. cycle routes and public transport. This is about Design Reviews are an excellent tool for a client this type of exercise, including alignment with As part of the briefing session, the architects putting a vision and structure in place that will to explore the potential of a project or site and current decisions, plans and policies. panel also heard enlightening presentations serve the city well for the next 100-200 years, develop wide-ranging ideas through expert from the Limerick and Clare Education and just as the vision for Newtown Pery, prepared architectural advice and fresh thinking. Benefits of As has been the case with other Design Reviews, Training Board, Cushman and Wakefield, by Christopher Colles and Davis Ducart for this process include: a panel of five architectural firms was appointed, Kieran Ryan and Limerick Chamber along Edmund Sexton Pery in 1769, has served they were issued with a brief, and each architect with presentations from LCCC, HSE and CIÉ. Limerick so well for so long. • Provision of expert impartial advice to clients created an individual vision for the redevelopment Presentations were also made by international on the development potential of a site or city of the Colbert Station Quarter, summaries of these urban design experts, Riccardo Marini and Brent Creating a compact, dense, sustainable, and quarter. are are included within this publication. Toderian. In their different approaches, the panel flourishing new urban quarter for Limerick is have addressed the brief requirements and the central to each vision. public’s comments.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 4 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 5 1.2 Foreword by Kathryn Meghen, RIAI CEO

The RIAI is delighted to support Limerick vibrant and sustainable urban quarter for City and County Council and the Land living, working, education and leisure that Development Agency with a Design Review will enrich the city of Limerick. for Colbert Station Quarter. While each architect has developed a Design Reviews are an excellent strategy different design vision, the Design Review and platform to introduce design panel are unified in their belief that Colbert thinking and innovation early on in an Station Quarter can be an exemplary urban urban development process by engaging development with a strong emphasis on architectural expertise. Architects are affordable housing, set in attractive urban trained problem-solvers and their unique spaces and parks and complemented ability to analyse complex issues and with great opportunities for work, leisure develop design solutions is of great benefit and education. The new quarter is also to communities such as the residents of well-connected to transport and in close Colbert Station Quarter. proximity to key Limerick amenities, such as the important Georgian area around It is important to note that a Design Review Pery Square and the River Shannon. offers multiple visions and a broad range of ideas. They are non-directional but The RIAI understands that the Design start an important conversation about Review is one of the early stages in the the need for quality and sustainability in journey to develop Colbert Station Quarter our urban environment. They empower and we believe that the process will greatly communities by providing them with a benefit from the architectural input. strong overarching vision of what could be achieved. We look forward to receiving feedback on this report from the public and Each architect on the Design Review stakeholders and wish Limerick City and panel has responded to the same set of County Council, the Land Development parameters in relation to Colbert Station Agency and the citizens of Limerick the Quarter with a diverse range of possible very best of luck with this important ideas – resulting in five distinct visions. project. It has been a pleasure to be Common to all is a desire to make a new involved.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 6 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 7 1.3 Foreword by John Moran, Chair of the Land Development Agency

It takes a true sense of community for to Limerick by providing attractive live-work disparate landowners and users to put aside propositions for the future and rebalance their own preferences or territory and commit the traditional transport hierarchy in the to a higher ambition and search for a new city in favour of walking, cycling and public shared vision. transport.

Colbert Station and the surrounding area The aim of this part of the project was to have been identified by Limerick City and allow exploration of a set of different visions County Council and the LDA as a prime and ideas. It is not a fait accompli. opportunity area for re-development. But, it was the willingness of the primary There is no single right answer. landowners, CIÉ and the HSE, to join the journey that has given these lands the It is structured to inform on- Ca. 1617 city plan of Limerick in atlas Civitates Orbis Terrarum (Cities of the World) by Braun and Hogenburg, RHH Collection. potential to once more be transformative and going debate, to allow others to support the ongoing growth and 21st century raise concerns and find answers ambition of Limerick with affordable homes They will challenge our thoughts about not. It will help inform consideration at the core. to their questions. the context and potential for the future of Limerick’s next Development Plan of Colbert. Of course, some ideas may objectives. This process can create a When parts of cities stagnate, lands once It is also supposed to be high level but shows trigger concern that they do not create blueprint for activating state and other bustling with activity can be neglected and some detail to demonstrate possibilities to enough value to justify their cost, but we owned sites to transform underutilised even forgotten, especially if walled away be explored. But none of that detail is set in felt it was important to include those for areas for the benefit of local communities. for safety or other reasons. The potential of stone either. The design review and resulting debate. those lands for positive change can become public consultation will provide a focal point We wish to thank the RIAI, the panel of obscured by a motley collection of subscale for local communities to become involved There is also much common ground in architects, international experts and our uses. Some uses may be valuable but they in what will become an extension of their the ideas presented. It is encouraging partners in this review, Limerick City and typically operate below their optimal level. existing neighbourhoods. that these align so closely to the early County Council, and other stakeholders, public consultation and with the LDA’s particularly CIÉ and the HSE. They Our challenge, or perhaps our opportunity, We started the Design Review by seeking and own objectives around delivering compact have participated with enthusiasm was to find an open and inclusive way to listening to views from the local community urban growth, placemaking, sustainable, by sharing ideas and ambition. And examine what that positive change might and interested people on what they would high-quality, affordable and inclusive of course, the people of Limerick who look like and so we turned to the Royal like to see for the site. These views were living communities with accessibility and shared their visions during the first public Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI). shared with the architects to inform their sustainable travel at their centre. That consultation. All this input has generated thinking from the start. The responses to the common ground should allow us to move lots of good ideas reflected in the final The RIAI Design Review process consultation showed a strong demand for quickly with the other stakeholders to designs. demonstrates that Colbert Station and making better use of the underutilised areas identify individual sites for front-ended the surrounding lands do indeed form for affordable housing and facilities to cater projects or to allow useful temporary uses The potential and vision to be unlocked a strategically important area offering for all ages including education, sports and on other sites before their longer-term for this area is on a par with when very significant potential to transform parks. By prioritising liveability, people made development. Edmund Sexton Pery in 1765 employed underutilised brownfield areas into a vibrant, it clear they wanted to see more people living the Italian architect, Davis Ducart, to affordable and compact mixed-use urban and working in the centre of the city, making This is but the beginning. After the public design a town plan for what became New quarter. That new quarter can do much better it a place of vibrancy at all times of the day. consultation will come the development of Town Pery. than today to serve the existing communities I am pleased to see that this Design Review, a spatial planning framework for the area in the area and their growing populations. like others, has yielded thought-provoking, with Limerick City and County Council. Now we must continue to engage and With a transport node at its core, it will imaginative and high-quality ideas and That will mean more consultation, public work together to make sure that our attract new residents and quality employers visions from the five individual architect debate and evidence building to see what outcome adds just as much value and proposals. These are ambitious and varied. works well for Limerick and what does character to this historic city.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 8 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 9 1.4 Foreword by Pat Daly, Chief Executive Limerick City and County Council

The Design Review process offers an The amalgamation of Limerick City and exciting opportunity to collectively reimagine County Council, Limerick Regeneration and reinvent the Colbert Station Quarter. and the Limerick 2030 initiative have all National and Regional policy supports contributed to enhancing Limerick’s growth Limerick in becoming a major economic potential. We will continue to benefit from force in the Irish and European economy and expand on these initiatives and develop and proposes significant population and a series of transformational public realm economic growth to assist in redressing the projects that capitalise on our existing imbalance of development within Ireland. strengths and assets and create a sense of Limerick city centre will be at the heart of place. this economic force – an attractive magnet for retail, leisure, residential, commercial, educational and cultural growth. Unlocking and enhancing Limerick’s natural and built heritage

“Limerick City and County population and jobs in the city centre. Council now seeks to build It has the potential to deliver further positive change and will result in reduced on the transformation that vacancy, dereliction and promote re-use of Limerick has undergone sites and vacant buildings in the City for and take advantage of this economic, housing, community, culture, recreation and for other uses. opportunity that has the potential to bring a positive The challenge is to make the area a and sustainable social, cultural more attractive place to live, to enable and economic benefit to us.” individuals and communities in the area to avail of emerging opportunities and to secure the Colbert Station Quarter as a Working with the Land Development location of choice in which to live, work Agency, this collaborative project will and visit. We look forward to working unlock a key city centre site that will result with the Land Development Agency, the in the development of landmark projects community, stakeholders and agencies to that will complement established city help realise the potential of this central functions. It is envisaged that this will be a area. transformative integrated project, drawing together sustainable mobility, a wide mix I would like to thank the Land of land uses and activities, adaptable Development Agency and the RIAI for urban form, enhanced natural and built illustrating the potential rejuvenation heritage that will promote innovation of the Colbert Station Quarter in this and collaboration and facilitate increased document.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 10 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 11 2. Project Context

2.1 Strategic Planning Context of Colbert Lands Proposal

The Colbert Station Quarter Framework The Development Plan will also build on the Serviced Site Fund: Social Housing Scheme under construction is being made at an important time of success of existing strategies and investment Of particular relevance to the Colbert lands is at Lower Carey’s Road: 16 new homes opportunity for a positive transformation of that have already benefited the city or that the 16.5 ha Limerick City and County Council currently under construction by Fitzgibbon Limerick city centre to utilise its potential and are committed, including: owned lands including the ‘Guinness’ site. contractors for delivery in 2021. realise its strategic value in the functioning The first phase of a three-phase plan for of the city as a whole. It is proposed that the The Limerick 2030: this site has already received a €6 million Complementary to projects in transformation Framework will be integrated into the first An Economic and Spatial Plan for Limerick, grant from the Department of Housing, Local sites, there has been considerable joint Limerick City and County Development which has identified key strategic sites Government and Heritage under the Serviced attention paid to how to protect, revive Plan (2022-2028) which has recently in Limerick that will act as anchors for Sites initiative, and which LCCC is currently and reconfigure the city centre, and in a commenced with the publication of the enterprise and investment development committed to delivering of up to 400 homes manner that incorporates best practice in Capital Issues and Background Papers. across Limerick. Limerick Twenty Thirty by 2023. architectural conservation and design, digital Strategic Development DAC, the first, local communications and sustainable energy use. The Development Plan will be prepared in authority wholly-owned special purpose Hyde Road Strategy: accordance with the policies and objectives vehicle created in Ireland to deliver a A cross-directorate plan with input from These principles inform current on-going of the National Planning Framework programme of investment, is tasked to plan An Garda Siochana to tackle vacancy and programmes which have successfully secured (Project 2040) and the Regional Spatial and and develop these key strategic sites. dereliction along Hyde Road with targeted EU funding through the Urban and Regional Economic Strategy for the Southern Region, https://www.limerick.ie/council/services/ CPOs and Council acquisitions. Plan is Development Fund, namely ‘Limerick City which place a focus on significant compact business-and-economy/limerick-2030/ underway with the support and close Xchange’, and the ‘Georgian Neighbourhood’. growth and the development of brownfield limerick-2030-economic-and-spatial-plan attention of area Councillors to tackle over sites within Limerick. A new Housing 25 properties and return vacant and derelict The O’Connell Street revitalisation project Strategy, Retail Strategy, a Building Height The implementation of the Limerick dwellings to new homes, removing hotspots will also breathe new life into the area for Strategy, a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, Regeneration: for anti-social behaviour/dumping and pedestrians and residents and redefine a Strategic Environmental Assessment and a Implementation Framework Plan 2014, which improving the residential amenity of the its role as a ‘destination’ within Limerick Natura Impact Assessment will be prepared is committed to the physical, social and area and key gateway to the city. Parallel City. A plan to develop a further phase to inform the new Development Plan. Other economic redevelopment of the regeneration interventions by the Physical Development of improvement to Limerick’s impressive specific plans that will also inform it include, areas. Please refer to pages 16 and 17 of Directorate to traffic calm Hyde Road to waterfront, ‘the world class waterfront’ and the Limerick Sports and Recreation Facilities the following adopted plan for context and prevent speeding along straight runs. which includes the former Cleeves factory Strategy, currently at draft stage and the process: https://www.limerick.ie/sites/ site and the UL city campus, is the subject of Climate Change Adaption Strategy, adopted default/files/media/documents/2017-05/ a current application for URDF funding. in 2019. https://www.limerick.ie/sites/ limerick_regeneration_framework_ default/files/media/documents/2019-05/ implementation_plan_small_version. Draft-Climate-Adaptation-Strategy-2019- compressed.pdf 2024-Limerick.pdf

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 12 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 13 2.2 Public Consultation for the Colbert Station Quarter Design Review

The LDA sought input and views from the incomes. Views expressed an interest in public on the aims for the Colbert Station mixed-tenure homes for a broad scope of Quarter Design Review as a means of people from first-time buyers, to downsizers, informing and shaping the approach right families and single people. Submissions from the beginning. The public consultation highlighted the need for all-day footfall and was carried out over a period of six weeks inclusion of retail and premium office space, before the Design Review team met, and while also encouraging job creation. the views put forward by the public helped shape the overall direction of the review. The Additional facilities and services were consultation was advertised online and in outlined as incredibly important to the local print media and garnered a significant success of the new development. People response from the public. want shared facilities that encourage both work and play. They would like to see The public consultation was accompanied by facilities for childcare, health, schools, co- an article in the local paper where questions working spaces and perhaps even a larger were posed to the general public as to what venue for events. Some views expressed they wanted to see at the Colbert Station the importance of encouraging community Quarter development. The article wanted to participation in the arts and sports. Others encourage blue-sky thinking and stimulate highlighted the need to provide safe areas conversation on the future potential. for sports and recreational facilities including well-lit areas at night and a community A wide range of submissions were received garda presence. Many views agreed on the Overall, the public held a consensus that the Many expressed the need for green solutions during the consultation process, and importance of a vibrant and biodiverse area Colbert Station Quarter must have public with a climate-conscious neighbourhood responses were compiled and analysed. with trees, green space/walkways, wildlife transport linkages with other parts of and development. Furthermore, people want If a common theme were to be applied to and urban farms and communal gardens to Limerick by utilising a transport-orientated the new development to be mindful of existing the submissions from the public, it would encourage greater community spirit within development approach. Cycling and structures and our architectural heritage. be community. Almost all suggestions the new area. pedestrian infrastructure was key with the Overall, most views expressed the need for reinforced the importance of a strong inclusion of bicycle storage in the area. There an inclusive affordable neighbourhood with community with a sense of togetherness by Public opinion was somewhat divided when were also queries regarding a commuter rail investment in facilities and services to both linking this new community to other existing it came to the provision of space dedicated network, a rail link with Foynes and Shannon accommodate the increase in population and communities with healthy travel options. to cars; some submissions expressed and also a high speed rail network connecting to encourage economic growth. All while the need for more car space, while other to other cities, especially Dublin – allowing having greater public transport linkages to There was significant emphasis on mixed submissions argued for a less car-reliant workers that live and work in the Colbert other parts of the city and county with a housing and achieving integrated community development and the inclusion of car-free Station Quarter access to quick travel to strong emphasis on cycling and walking for people from all walks of life, ages and zones and even no cars. other cities when necessary. infrastructure.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 14 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 15 2.3 Urban Design Principles – Riccardo Marini and Brent Toderian 3. To invite or to repel The buildings and their settings need to be invitations to linger and to be active, active ground floors and ensuring that The RIAI and LDA invited two renowned urban experts – Riccardo Andrea Marini from there are eyes on all places and spaces Glasgow and Brent Toderian from Vancouver to be part of the Design Review process Brent Toderian give invitations for human activities. The for Colbert Station Quarter. The international experts briefed the Design Review panel Better Cities place that is created needs to endeavour at the outset and also attended the presentations. For the purpose of this report they to make it easy for residents and visitors have set out some urban design principles. Brent Toderian is an internationally respected to walk and cycle everywhere. These practitioner and thought-leader with almost 30 invitations to be active need to be years of experience in advanced urbanism, city powerful ones that in reality facilitate planning and urban design. He has advised and active movement. collaborated with cities, agencies and best-practice being. In terms of what has been considered developers around the world. Brent’s establishment acceptable for the past 60 years we need 4. To open up or to close in of TODERIAN UrbanWORKS (TUW) in early 2012 to understand that small intimate spaces The architecture that is evolved needs followed six years of significant achievements as and places is what we find attractive and to understand how to bring life to all Vancouver BC’s Chief Planner (2006-2012). Prior comforting; whether green or hard there is a the places from the use of open facades to this he was Manager of Centre City Planning + tendency to make spaces too big, as with the that give good visual permeability to Design, and Chief Subdivision + Neighbourhood linking streets their scale should be made as commercial or civic activities to residential Planner in Calgary, Canada (2001-2006). narrow as one can, so they make humans feel ground floors having active private spaces happy not vehicles. that face or open up on to the streets or There are five crises in the context of current city spaces they define and create. The use building (and suburb building): 1. To assemble or disperse of linking spaces by strategically placing When thinking of a new place or trying to people magnets that are inter-visible is • Climate bring life to an existing one, the aim should part of this opening up of the place. • Housing – Affordability be to develop a human centric approach thus Riccardo Marini • Public Health countering the reductive and fragmentary Some key words that might prove useful Life in between Buildings • Infrastructure Cost approach that is characterised by the when thinking of the places that will be • Demographics (cities needing to attract and retain modernist planning approach – create created: Riccardo Andrea Marini, M Arch, Dip Arch, young people) opportunities for people to gather in safety by RIBA, FRIAS, MRTPI, is an Italian architect creating a range of diverse spaces and places • Evolving (whether formal or informal in and urban designer based in Glasgow. After As Limerick expands its population to double or that are informed and enlivened by grouping nature). working for many years as a senior city triple the current size, there will be both challenges a variety of uses that would generate life. • Diverse (avoiding one-size-fits-all). officer he worked as a director with Gehl and opportunities. How you integrate 200,000 • Free (with secure rights and Architects in Copenhagen and founded new people in Limerick can be the difference to the 2. To integrate or segregate responsibilities). Marini Urbanismo in 2017. Riccardo believes success of Limerick. There is a need to integrate, the red line • Delineated (clearly public in their use). that people have to be central to the process approach is a failed one. A good place is • Engaging (designing in active uses). of creating our future settlements and in our Climate Crisis created by connecting to the surrounding • Meaningful (incorporating notable endeavours to rethink our existing ones. Understanding the connection between the climate areas in a meaningful way. Introverted amenities and features). crisis and better city-building is critical when dealing developments generate limited life and • Social (encouraging social engagement). Critical to the creation of a people centric with growth. If a city continues to grow in a car impoverish our cities. The streets and spaces • Balanced (between traffic and approach is the understanding of the dependent way, you’ll need to deal with many massive that are created need to be as far as possible pedestrians). importance of the human scale, this is in costs and consequences, not the least of which is air pedestrian priority without necessarily • Comfortable (feeling safe and relaxing). terms of the built forms but also critically in pollution. The good news is that air pollution can be excluding any mode of movement - active • Robust (adaptable and distinct in the terms of the hard and soft landscapes. All solved in the same way that we solve many other big movement should be favoured and facilitated. face of change) spaces should have meaning and a reason for issues while improving our quality of life — by taming the car and reprioritising people in the planning of our streets, communities and cities. We don’t need to ban the car, but we DO need to rethink its dominance and the amount of space we’ve surrendered to it.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 16 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 17 Brent Todarian Better Cities Contd.

Design Quality Parking is a critical lever for walking, biking Twelve Urban Quality Criteria by Jan Gehl There should be consistently high-design and public transport, and cities shouldn’t quality at every scale of development, underestimate the importance of buses. Car because great design creates value. Beauty sharing is an incredibly powerful lever. outperforms ugly, and ugly can be so expensive. Amenities and diversity make Public Health Protection against traffic and Protection against harm by others. Protection against unpleasant accidents. Is the public space perceived to be sensory experience. density enjoyable. This combats the argument Medical and public health professionals have Do groups across age and ability safe both day and night? Are there Are there noises, dust, smells, or that density is just an exercise in cramming become powerful allies in terms of improving experience traffic safety in the people and activities at all hours of other pollution? Does the public people in. city-building. The public health costs of bad public space? Can one safely bike the day because the area has, for space function well when it’s windy? and walk without fear of being hit by example, both residents and offices? Is there shelter from strong sun, rain, urban design are staggering. Doing density a driver? Does the lighting provide safety at or minor flooding? Density Done Well well and designing activity back into public night as well as a good atmosphere? Doing urban density better is the bedrock of life is critically important for better public

more successful communities in every way we health, even before you consider the key Protection measure success, and that includes shattering observations from the pandemic. the dominance of the single detached house. Land use and transportation decisions need Demographics Options for mobility. Options to stand and linger. Options for sitting. to be aligned in a holistic way, given that the Cities that are successful in attracting Is this space accessible? Are there Does the place have features you Are there good primary seating physical elements that might limit can stay and lean on, like a façade options such as benches or chairs? best transportation plan is actually a great and retaining millennials have been more or enhance personal mobility in the that invites one to spend time next Or is there only secondary seating land-use plan. Tall buildings can combine successful, and millennials want better forms of walking, using a wheelchair, to it, a bus stop, a bench, a tree, or a such as a stair, seat wall, or the edge height and human scale through podiums designed and more multi-modal cities that or pushing a stroller? Is it evident small ledge or niche? of a fountain? Are there adequate how to move through the space non-commercial seating options with much better design — in fact, buildings aren’t car-dependent. Even when they start without having to take an illogical so that sitting does not require of EVERY scale need to be designed better having families, they’ll stay in urban places if detour? spending money? to strengthen the street edge and activate you design them for kids and families. Plan for and enliven street life. Design an artful mix schools and daycare, ensure plenty of homes at ‘eye level’. Where density is lower, aim for that can actually fit families, and design your ‘gentle densification’, with a variety of ground- public realm to work well for kids, because Options for seeing. Options for talking and listening/ Options for play, exercise, and

oriented building types for different contexts, that works better for everyone. Comfort Are seating options placed so there hearing. activities. giving neighbourhoods a chance to evolve and are interesting things to look at? Is it possible to have a conversation Are there options to be active at residents a chance to age in place. Create the The Immediate City here? Is it evident that you have the multiple times of the day and year? highest densities, the most urban mixing and There are a lot of simple, fast ideas that option to sit together and have a conversation? the best design in urban centres and around can strengthen a city, but we make those transport stations. simple ideas too difficult. Examples include food trucks/carts, retail and cafe ‘pop- Transport ups’, shipping containers, street parking Designing primarily for the car just makes car transformation and other urban street Scale. Opportunities to enjoy the positive Experience of aesthetic qualities traffic worse. Don’t balance ways of getting activations, public/street art, and more. These Is the public space and the building aspects of climate. and positive sensory experiences. around, PRIORITISE active transport — act as powerful catalysts to create urban life, that surrounds it at a human scale? Are local climatic aspects such as Is the public space beautiful? Is it If people are at the edges of the wind and sun taken into account? evident that there is good design walking first, then bikes, then public transport, fill gaps, and illustrate a better way for our space, can we still relate to them Are there varied conditions for both in terms of how things are then goods movement and deliveries, and cities and streets. as people or are they lost in their spending time in public spaces at shaped, as well as their durability? then the private vehicles. You don’t necessarily surroundings? different times of year? With this in have to ban the car, but you should prioritise 5 Steps to Better Cities: For any urban issue mind, where are the seating options placed? Are they located entirely in it last. Designing a multi modal city works or challenge, ask yourself honestly where your the shadows or the sun? And how better for everyone, including drivers. city is in its learning curve toward doing the are they oriented/placed in relation Simple technologies like bikes and wheeled right thing, and doing it well. to wind? Are they protected? Enjoyment shopping trollies have a better effect when combined with smarter land use. Separated • Doing the wrong thing and protected bike lanes are key, especially • Doing the wrong thing better on high frequency and high speed streets. • Trying to have your cake and eat it Successful bike cities think about how to • Doing the right thing badly manage bike success with human liveability. • Doing the right thing well

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 18 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 19 3. Vision, Challenges and Opportunities 3.2 Challenges and Opportunities The Colbert Station area is a large and complex • Potential to open up and optimise underutilised area covering over fifty hectares and wider area areas adjacent to the Colbert Station for of influence. This operates as a key transport transport-oriented development to enclose and 3.1 Vision Statement for the Colbert Station Quarter hub, and incorporates significant health create a distinctive new quarter. educational, recreational and community uses. • Explore potential for alignment of sports and The area comprises large areas of State lands, recreational facilities in this area to enhance including Limerick City and County Council, “To create a new city quarter which will be an exemplar and optimise usage for the benefit of the CIE, HSE and Department of Education and community into the future. for potential further urban regeneration in Limerick and Department of Justice lands (see plan showing other Irish cities. The Design Review should seek to indicative land interests). It will require sensitive • Vision for HSE complex could be a consideration and stakeholder engagement to fundamental aspect of future development of inform an integrated place-making approach that has explore how the potential could be unlocked the quarter, Health and wellbeing. Potential to into the future, while respecting operational, compact, dense, sustainable urban design at its heart. optimize HSE with Health Services Campus, residential, and business communities’ interests. through rationalizing underutilised areas, An opportunity exists to create a mixed-use, walkable bringing together related uses and facilities Challenges and potentially relocating secondary uses while city living quarter around small city blocks with for a respecting the Protected Structure status and • Physical and built barriers throughout the curtilage. broad-based community complemented by a vibrant and quarter (infrastructure/rail line/walls etc). • Possibility of connection between CIÉ and HSE thriving business sector with bars, restaurants, cafes and • The extent of existing buildings and curtilage lands should be explored. There is potential to and current and planned operational shops providing street animation throughout the day.” connect the lands to the north and south of the requirements for health-related operations. station and railway line. • Range of active operations across Colbert • The possibility of linking green spaces, and for example those critical to CIÉ for the existing large cemetery as a new passive public functioning as a transport hub and HSE as well park. Courts Service as education, recreation and amenities, the LCCC Dept. of prison, and courthouse. Education • Explore the possibility of creating a stronger Prison Service connection between Childers Road and • Fragmented public and private land ownership. Southhill taking account of the existing CIÉ • Impact of development on low-density industrial estate and the valley between them. HSE residential areas abutting the Colbert area. • Consider potential opportunity to make use • Level changes across site. of the gantry crane on the CIÉ lands as a landmark and attraction, where visitors could LCCC Opportunities look over the area under development to LCCC generate excitement. CIÉ, Iarnrod Eireann, Bus Eireann • Potential to create a new inner-city centre CIÉ economic cluster of scale with high quality jobs • Explore potential cultural links, such as with and accommodation to go some way towards EVA. Limerick’s unique artistic heritage LCCC the ‘Project Ireland 2040’ targets for Limerick. could propose conceptual interventions as an innovative way of signalling generational • Opportunity for a reimagining of Limerick LCCC change in this landmark project. city centre (transferable to other Irish urban locations) as a highly desirable place to live, • Potential to enhance connectivity with existing work and play for people both from outside neighbourhoods to develop as a vibrant liveable Limerick and those in the region thinking of city quarter with a permeable and connected moving to more sustainable family or age- public realm and environment.

Study Area Map of Indicative State Lands for illustrative purposes only (not legal boundaries) friendly living.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 20 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 21 4. Executive Summary 4.1 Common Themes While each architect has created a different vision, there are many commonalities between them. These are areas that bear close examination in setting the brief for the next stage of Colbert Station Quarter:

Colbert Development Potential - Common Themes and Transformative Ideas New Gateway for Limerick

Colbert Station Quarter presents a Colbert Station Quarter has the potential A new arrival gateway with compact high-density distinctive transformative opportunity to rejuvenate to offer an enhanced city living experience: buildings enclosing and reinforcing the gateway and sense of arrival underutilised lands and create a new Key sites will be developed to provide to Limerick. gateway for Limerick and a highly exemplar sustainable neighbourhoods connected and vibrant mixed-use city with a choice of housing, live-work units Unlocking and Connecting quarter. and flexible workspace. Alongside this, high-quality office and commercial space Optimising the potential via specific development catalysts which Opening up underutilised lands will will be developed, providing opportunities open up, connect with, and maximize underutilised sites. enable Colbert Station Quarter to connect for inward investment and jobs in a prime and evolve in a phased way over time, location, supporting the local economy Transport-Oriented Development attracting investment to develop key and unlocking the potential for this area Intensification around the train station, creating a vibrant attractive sites. Colbert Station Quarter offers to flourish into a bustling and connected mixed-use development that provides a new focal point for Limerick. an unrivalled opportunity to become a mixed-use quarter, with easy access to a sustainable and attractive destination diversity of services and amenities on the Public realm enhancement to promote enhanced connectivity, for business and community to thrive, doorstep. wayfinding, and more active and sustainable mobility, while connected with heritage, in a parkland reducing the dominance of the car. landscape, embracing the city scape and local community. Sustainable and Inclusive Communities

Embracing the edges and creating integrated exemplar sustainable housing supported by recreational and community amenities in a connected and safe environment that promotes city living for all.

Green Lungs / Network

A network of connected parkland and greenway recreational areas, supporting biodiversity, nature, and ecosystem services such as water purification, air quality, climate mitigation and adaptation and promote community cohesion and health & wellbeing.

Phasing and Flexibility

Recognising that rejuvenation will be an organic process that will take place over a long period, providing for flexibility to evolve naturally from the outset. Future flexibility is key to accommodate changes in social, cultural, technological and environmental demands over time.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 22 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 23 SPORT, RECREATION & COMMUNITY

FREESPACE Area: 277,000sqm

4.2 Transformative Ideas A step-by-step approach will build up to the delivery of a visionary and inclusive piece of city, generating excitement and enthusiasm within the community. Grafton Architects ‘Building for the Future’ Early phasing, subject to feasibility and stakeholder engagement, could include Colbert Square and the site south of that area as a potential early win. Future phases potentially include School parade and CIÉ lands off Mulgrave Street, and following this, potential for HSE grounds Site Area: 550,000 m2, FREESPACE: 277,000 m2, and the new gateway to the city. Key BUILT SPACE 438,100 m2, Uses: Residential, Education, Urban Commonage areas could be Health, Sports, Work, Studios, Recreation, Community. progressed in a phased way subject to feasibility and agreement. Infrastructure: Bridges, Streets, Squares, Carparking, Parkland, Horticulture.

Sean O’Laoire and MOLA Architecture ‘Colbert Station Quarter – An International Exemplar and a Sustainable Urban Design’

Colbert Station Quarter presents a major Commercial and Other Uses opportunity for Limerick’s future, potentially In addition, commercial space could be an exemplar for urban development in the region of 86,505 m2, which could combining the best aspects of urban and include workspaces as well as commercial rural characters, to nurture its present and and cultural uses. The proposal contains future citizens. a significant amount of ‘Freespace’ for the community – 277,000m2 of parkland, sports Scale of Development Opportunity fields, horticulture, recreation grounds, food For this proposal, Grafton Architects have production, nature and ecologies. estimated a potential developable area of circa 20.67 ha (206,710m2) for the Colbert Potential to Unlock Early-Win Projects Station Quarter. in First Phase These high-level proposals act in the form Residential Population of ‘urban acupuncture’ on the existing A key focus for the new urban quarter would site, proposing no demolition. Work could be to develop housing and provide homes begin now, even at a small scale, to build for in the region of 9,585 people in 3,195 confidence, which will consolidate the The proposed development of the Colbert and the University of Limerick. In so doing, residential units. The average density is 2.23 bigger more complex ideas. The early phases Station Quarter lands, founded on a clear it offers Limerick the challenge to lead and and buildings could range in height from 3-9 could include residential with supporting vision and robust principles, offers Limerick a develop a new urban quarter that would storeys. educational, cultural, commercial uses. unique opportunity to consolidate its historic be a national and international exemplar of Residential uses would include provision of urban core, while mediating and connecting informed and sustainable urban design. social and affordable housing from the start. its northern, eastern, and southern suburbs

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 24 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 25 Scale of Development Opportunity contemporary ‘Tech’ and R&D uses, besides Anne Kiernan In this proposal, initial estimates are that up a quantum of community and specialist retail to 39.67 ha approx. of the Colbert Station space (e.g. food). St. Joseph’s Hospital offers ‘An Unparalleled Opportunity to Reimagine Limerick’ Quarter could be developable, subject to itself as a cultural attractor. feasibility, stakeholder engagement and relevant agreements. At this early stage, it is Phasing and Potential to Unlock Early-Win assumed that lands which could potentially Projects become available for development include ‘Start as you mean to continue’ is respectfully lands to the south of Colbert Station, as offered as guidance. This is predicated on well as part of the HSE lands and CIÉ clear founding principles, which warrant a lands west of Coláiste Mhichíl, CBS Sexton commitment to a detailed multi-disciplinary Street. For the purposes of this exercise it is analysis and baseline studies. This first phase assumed that 75% of that area, or 29.75ha, is will be critical to the integrated evolution of potentially available. the Colbert Station Quarter. For certainty in respect of future provision, a suburban rail Residential Population should be prioritised. ‘Meanwhile’ or ‘interim’ It is assumed that Colbert Station Quarter uses should be actively considered, as should would be 80% residential with 20% for a project pavilion which would inform the other uses. Conservatively, it could host a public and other parties of the vision for population of between 6,000-10,000 people. this new urban quarter. There is a unique Homes would be 3-6 storeys high, achieving opportunity for experimentation and testing a density between 50 and 80 units/ha. At of prototypes, to further promote the national this stage, capacity figures are indicative. and international profile of the project. This is a conservative estimate, and potential to increase, with resultant building height Prototype food production and site- increase. This proposal is predicated generated energy projects warrant on generating an optimal residential consideration as first phase projects. accommodation brief, based on the principles assumed, to ensure a diverse social and age Certainty in respect of funding and mix. availability of lands will determine phasing. History testifies to the risks and Commercial and Other Uses consequences of disjointed and disconnected For the purpose of this Design Review, 20% phasing, e.g. residential development lacking The new Colbert Station Quarter, with its accommodation is a rich variety of higher commercial, employment and other uses is community infrastructure and related rich mix of character and heritage, presents density accommodation focused on the assumed. In gross area terms, this equates facilities. Phasing should be addressed in the an unparalleled opportunity to reimagine station, student accommodation, and smaller to 6ha (approx.) for non-residential uses. The context of a robust and integrated framework the centre of Limerick city. This proposal is scaled development interwoven with the nature of the commercial and employment plan, to ensure that elements which are based on 5 Character Areas: existing fabric of the city. uses will require further interrogation, but symbiotic and interdependent are realised the unique location and context suggest progressively and in parallel. 1. Education Lands Scale of Development Opportunity 2. South Colbert Station In this proposal, the developable area is 3. Guinness Lands estimated to be approximately 28 ha in 6-7 4. HSE Lands different parcels, approximately as follows: 5. Railway Lands • 4 ha in 3 parcels to the north of the This new vision can provide affordable station housing in new and existing communities, • 12.25 ha at the sports pitches and with a mix of uses including education, Guinness lands leisure, local enterprise and commercial • 6.6 ha at the HSE lands office, hotels, bars and cafes. High quality • 3.4 ha to the north of Kennedy Park public realm is common to all of the five • 2 ha south of Colbert Station identified character areas. Residential

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 26 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 27 Residential Population side of Colbert Station Square (10,000m2). Piotr Mach Colbert Station Quarter could be home to a Significant additional education facilities population of approximately 5,250 in 1,200 (30,000m2) could be provided for food ‘A Liveable and Vibrant Place - The Colbert Station Quarter’ residential units with an additional 1,300 science/research on the HSE lands. student beds. Heights would vary from 3-9 storeys. Densities would vary from 171/ha to Phasing and Potential to Unlock Early-Win the immediate north east of the station, to Projects 52/ha at locations adjacent to existing low It is considered that potential could density residential development. be delivered on some lands subject to unlocking access at the suggested Commercial and Other Uses locations lands to the north of Kennedy The new quarter could accommodate Park, eastern end of the HSE site, and 39,000m2 offices, with 24,000m2 to the lands between Carey’s Road and the the immediate north of the station, and existing rail alignment). Potential early 10,000m2 to the south. An additional wins could include the CIÉ/Bus Eireann 5,000m2 of office accommodation could be lands to the immediate north and south of provided at the central square at the heart the alignment, as well as at the Guinness of the Guinness/Sports lands. It is proposed lands enabling delivery of significant that this new Quarter could incorporate commercial office & enterprise units, as well 11,400m2 of enterprise units, provided to as significant numbers of residential units the north of the station, with immediate of varying scale and densities. access to the railway line and Roxboro Road. Apart from the CIÉ and Bus Eireann depots, There could be 7,500m2 of civic/community where there is some exploration of potential building/uses, provided at Colbert (it is recognised that this land may never Station Square as well as at the heart of be available for development), all proposals the Guinness/Sports lands including a are for land that is currently vacant. Phasing community building, as well as café to the and timing will be influenced by stakeholder north of Kennedy Park. A hotel with bars, consultation, and a participatory approach restaurant, etc. is proposed at the north will be of major benefit in the longer term. The Colbert Station Quarter has the Residential Population potential to transform Limerick city into It is estimated that the extended Colbert a liveable and vibrant place where people Station Quarter could be home to up want to live, work and spend time. to 26,000 people in in up to 6,000 homes (incl. 3,000 apartments around Sustainable transport has been prioritised: proposed Central Park) and 2,000 shared walking first, then cycling, public transport, accommodation (within proposed two deliveries and then private cars. The education campuses). The density is proposed Limerick Skyline gives a chance proposed at 100 homes/ha. to give up driving in favour of cycling and exploring the Colbert Quarter from above. People’s experience has been taken into This new area of Limerick with the Central account to create a human-scale urban Park, green routes and paths, community design. From the existing low-rise houses gardens, green roof terraces has people at Carey’s Road, through the proposed and nature at the heart of its creation. mid-scale affordable houses, to 6-7 storey apartment quarters around the proposed Scale of Development Opportunity Central Park – this mixed-use development This proposal has looked at an extended could present an opportunity to create area beyond the Colbert Station Area a dense city quarter with a variety of to demonstrate high-level architectural accommodation and activities. concepts and possibilities at this early stage. On this basis the area incorporates Tall buildings at the ground floor 80ha, which is an area greater than the are shaped in a human scale way to Colbert Station area. strengthen and activate the street edge.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 28 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 29 Different amenities and diversity are key. The A Central Park (existing Caledonian Park) new neighbourhood will have an overlap of could also be created. This would activate functions throughout the day, so that the area Caledonian Park, attract people into the area, This issue of inner city connectivity The Caledonian parklands are an equally is active from morning to night, engendering and connect with Colbert Station. is significant in the context of new good place to start simply because of an atmosphere of community and protection. residential quarters being developed the concentration of sports facilities Future phases could include, but dependant because cities thrive on connections. to the southern portion of the site. Commercial and Other Uses on feasibility and stakeholder engagement Improving connectivity between these Its connectedness to the south and The following is a breakdown of potential and agreement, underground train line sites will require significant infrastructural southwestern part of the city via the non-residential missed uses that could be Limerick-Foynes; first apartment blocks with investment, carefully and strategically ‘green-way’ of the train lines, and the incorporated: Commercial – 6% (80,000m2); commercial ground floor around Central planned and executed. potential to create a new development Employment – 5% (60,000m2); Educational Park (1,000 homes); recreation area over the around a revitalised public transportation – 5% (60,000m2); Recreation/Leisure – 5% Colbert Station; redevelopment of Colbert Residential Population and goods transportation artery. (60,000m2); Healthcare – 3% (40,000m2); Plaza and living quarters in front of train The project should be mainly residential Cultural/Public – 2% (25,000m2). station; development of site along railway plus supporting facilities, for example The communities around Caladonian and Guinness lands and potential to develop schools, parks, high quality grocery stores, Park are separated by the park, and the Phasing and Potential to Unlock Early-Win a first section of Limerick Skyline to connect mobility hubs, and high quality public stitching together of these communities Projects train station with HSE land, and open up and transportation, all with the primary aim of would be an important and necessary There is potential to explore a number of key rejuvenate underutilised and key parts of the supporting high density residential use. aspect of developing the park. As a projects as a potential early win – subject to Colbert Station Quarter. recreational green space within Limerick feasibility and stakeholder engagement and Neighbourhoods and communities should it could be made much more accessible agreement. This could include a pedestrian be able to be built and created. Density to the wider city, and in that context it and cycle way (biodiversity corridor). should be similar to Georgian Limerick must work much harder, supporting a which provides excellent precedent for diversity of users, while adding layers Limerick’s ultimate density. Heights of sport and recreation functionality so should be mostly 4 storeys in order that that its use-demand intensifies. This will most units will serve as de-facto walk- build a more diverse community of users ups, like most apartments in the EU. All and participants, who take part in a wide Merritt Bucholz apartments should be accessible via a lift, range of sports facilities. This broadened ‘Cities Thrive on Connectivity’ however each apartment should be very and charged sports centre would have accessible via staircases, which should be significant impact in terms of sparking imaginatively deployed to increase access social innovation and societal change. and convenience, as well as create spaces where people can meet each other. The The impact on the economy would be Scale of Development Opportunity total number of lifts should be minimised immediate with long-term jobs closely The developable area set out in our in order to reduce overall costs and linked with the University of Limerick and proposal includes the lands around maintenance costs. other third level and second level sports Colbert Station, currently in CIÉ training and education mandates. Recent ownership; the lands in the ownership Phasing and Potential to Unlock Early- graduates would be encouraged to live of the HSE and currently partially used Win Projects and work in Limerick city centre because by the HSE; and the lands to the south The HSE-owned lands seem to offer the of the high level of access to outstanding of the station commonly known as best possibility for early development as sports facilities, and this would in turn Caledonian Park. The most complex they are in single ownership, they have attract more innovation around sports and issue is the connections between these never been developed upon and have been in public health. lands – they are currently connected in their current use for over 200 years. only by the Roxboro Road (an old artery Key to transformation of cities is the of the city) which includes a bridge over transformation of public imagination and the train lines. These north-south links how people feel and think about a place. and connections need improvement to connect people living within the city better to each other and to other proximate parts of the city.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 30 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 31 5. Design Review Proposals

Grafton Architects

Aspirations Cities within a City This site at the very heart of Limerick We have responded to the rich urban history city, comprising some 50 ha is complex of Limerick, the manner in which the city and challenging. It is largely inaccessible, grew through the ages, its distinct quarters practically invisible. There are many of individual character: English Town / Irish stakeholders and communities which have/ Town / Newtown Pery. need a voice. The Nature of the City The site presents a major opportunity for Acknowledging, the nature of the city and Limerick’s future, potentially an exemplar its hinterland, we have adopted two basic for urban development combining the best approaches: aspects of urban and rural characters, to 1. Consolidation of the urban fabric around nurture its present and future citizens. Colbert Station creating a new urban It presents opportunities to drive an quarter: an Open Citadel inclusive conversation with all of the 2. Re-vitalisation of the expansive green stakeholders and citizens whose futures territory adjacent to the railway creating a depend on this site. new landscape of support for the city life: an urban Commonage. A City and its Hinterland We are captivated by the beauty of the Within these poles, which overlap and surrounding landscape and how this is connect, we have adopted the following still present, and felt deep within the themes: city, a unique and vital ingredient that can play a more fundamental role in the Intensification of the urban condition imagining of Limerick. For the first time around the train station could provide and the City and County Development Plans expand the city’s living, working, education, integrate, presenting a real opportunity social and cultural environments. Proposing to strategically combine urban and rural a future where nature and city are more aspects, inspired by the unique natural and intensively bound together (connected to cultural qualities of this place. the Wild Atlantic Way, the Shannon Estuary, the Clare Hills).

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 32 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 33 Landscape as connector

Re-vitalisation of recreative and natural will act as a resource and catalyst for future planned Bus Station. Workspaces or living new arrival gateway to the heart of the city. landscapes as connectors, embedded in the intensification. spaces are elevated to form the Bus Station This is a significant architectural and urban city, expanding the provision for sport and canopy with light coming from above. New element within the tradition of Limerick recreation, creating spaces for improvised and The Open Citadel educational buildings form the northern which is known for historic gateways, said opportunistic uses. This new urban quarter is bounded by Parnell frontage of this new street. Bus access in to be seventeen in total. This gateway is Street, Lower Careys Road, Roxboro Road and out of the bus station from Mulgrave formed at the junction of Careys Road and Repair and Reconnect by making visible and Upper William Street, similar in scale to Street would be separated from this new Roxboro Road, where Roxboro Road crosses territories that were previously lost, creating the existing identifiable quarters of Limerick, pedestrianised street. the railway lines. We are proposing that this new openings and connections, greenways, Englishtown, Irishtown, Newtown Pery. bridge be enhanced or supplemented by a cycle and pedestrian pathways. Joining up Colbert Station sits in the middle, surrounded School Parade second more generous bridge. separate fragments of city, drawing peripheral by new and existing buildings which intensify It is proposed that a new north-south street communities nearer the centre of a living city. and animate this new quarter. It has a new and footbrige over the railway lines connects Urban Commonage distinctive edge to the East addressing the Mulgrave Street to Jackman Park, reinstates This new east-west urban park would make Productive Landscape / Landscape as ‘urban commonage’. the railway bridge over Lower Carey’s Road a new connection to the heart of the City. A Connector. Turning wasteland into productive and continues on to connect to Caledonian weave of entry points, paths, pedestrian and ground - Combining movement/recreation/ Colbert Square Park and Pearse Stadium. This bridge would cycle bridges over the railway and Childers energy production/food growing. Colbert Square in front of the station, is provide direct and walkable access from Road, would connect this park with existing proposed to be re-imagined as more enclosed the school to the playing fields and sports and new communities of workers and Proposals and environmentally comfortable, with new facilities, as well as a safe cycle route for inhabitants, a new ecosystem that ties into This site is on the ‘shoreline’ where urban blocks that reinforce the Parnell Street students on their way to school. the necklace of green spaces already existing agricultural land meets the city. The organic frontage, stitching into the existing city. around Limerick. Community allotments, historic field pattern merged with the Connections between Parnell Street and Railway Row leisure gardens, walks, running tracks and geometric urban block pattern of the built Hyde Road could be realigned on axis with The new east-west street south of Colbert cycle paths, would provide safe places for city sharing a similar scale of habitation. This Upper Mallow Street. The triangular plot to Station would provide access to new ‘Living play, outdoor entertainment and cultural proposal retains this proximity of landscape the east of Peoples Parkwould would be built - Edge’ housing blocks and to the station events. This would be a working landscape and city. reinforcing the park edges. carpark. This transforms the south edge of used to attenuate rainwater, to purify the the railway station and forms a ‘knuckle’ air, enrich the ecosystem. The Commonage A process of “urban acupuncture” led to Station Place social space at the entry to Jackman Park. would be occupied and formed by new live- a strategy of adding and not subtracting. It is proposed that a new east-west street work buildings, by existing and new health Existing communities and facilities are which connects Parnell Street with the new Gateway to The City institutions, actively enjoying a relationship maintained, new ones added. The outcome urban parkland, is formed by building over the The Urban Commonage is addressed by to these parklands simultaneously providing new distinctive buildings which form a passive supervision of these civic amenities.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 34 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 35 Limerick Greenway

Intensification Limerick Greenway These buildings preserve the privacy of We envisage that the new greenway would the existing terraces of houses providing transform the disused railway line from a secure, active, social edge to new sports Colbert Station to Foynes, a beautifully and parkland spaces, inhabiting with An Open Citadel private housing. Our ambition would be that landscaped strip of ground which further dwelling, working environments, community New public squares, streets and laneways each of these categories would be intermixed animates and gives access to the sports facilities, men’s sheds, halls for gathering, extending the city centre with a new quarter. in the Open Citadel on one hand, and in the fields and parks and anticipates the future childcare, education facilities linked to the proposals to reinforce the Urban Commonage. re-instatement of the line. outdoors and the natural environment. By Station Place contrast, taller ‘urban villas’ are located Colbert Square Adaptability Living Edges and Urban Villas in the bigger landscape where scale and Railway Row Thinking of the building for the future, the Thin linear buildings and mews lanes form privacy are not an issue. School Parade and bridge to playing fields question of sustainability, and embodied new edges to playing fields and wasteland. carbon, may demand that certain structures Urban Commonage be designed to be adaptable, in a way which Open Spaces and Territories working as: allows them to accommodate a range of uses Urban Recreation Grounds/Parks/ Food and activities over their lifetime. This we would Production-Allotments/Sport/Ecologies/ see as crucial to a living functioning city. Water Swails and Attenuation/Play. Start Now New Gateway to the City The proposals act in the form of acupuncture Living Edges on the existing site, proposing no demolition. Work could begin now even at a small scale. A Mixed-use Framework A step by step approach will build up to the The proposal is at once architectural, delivery of a visionary new inclusive piece of infrastructural, social and cultural. Within this city generating excitement and enthusiasm framework we envisage many possibilities for within the community. the mixed delivery of social, affordable and

imagery l-r: 1. The Cent Quatre, atelier Novembre, Paris, Copyright atelier Novembre. Photo Myriam Tirler 2. Tila Housing, Pia Ilonen-Ilo arkkitehdit, Helsinki, New Gateway to the City Copyright Pia Ilonen Ilo arkkitehdit © photo Stefan Bremer 3. Urbane Mitte Am Gleisdreieck Park am Gleisdreieck. Copyright HG Esch Photo

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 36 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 37 Sean O’Laoire, MOLA Architecture

1. Introduction and Vision 2. Context This is a summary of a “high-level” review, Colbert Station was built in 1849, two respectfully offered as a contribution to the years after “Black 47” –The peak year of the formulation of a holistic vision and planning Great Famine. Preceded by the construction framework for Colbert Station Quarter, which of an asylum, jail, and barracks, it became would be shared by all stakeholders and the an element of an institutional precinct on public. the eastern edge of the Georgian City, in close proximity to Irishtown and other layers It’s title : “Leading Limerick –Limerick of Limericks evolution , which included the Leading” can be seen to embody an ambition horrific settlements of the “underclasses”. that we believe the planning and development process of the Quarter should have. While it enjoys a spatially strategic location as a “Gateway” its environs are severed A bold integrated, ambitious and co- by tracks, and are somewhat amorphous, ordinated strategy could unlock the catalytic lacking structured connectivity to it’s eastern, potential of the Colbert Station Quarter to northern, and southern suburbs. progressively release connect and enhance the capacity of the historic city, and its unique LCCC is committed to promoting and natural and cultural assets, to render Limerick accommodating a projected population of a uniquely desirable place to live in, visit, (min.) 100,000, within the City Boundaries, recreate, work, and invest. by 2040. It is also embarked on the planning of a comprehensive Sports and The planning philosophy, and the design Recreation Framework. It is presumed that and development process could underpin any displacement of sports fields will be Limerick’s strategic socio-economic addressed in this context. Iarnod Eireann objectives in a national and international has published indicative suburban rail context resonant of it’s brand: Limerick- proposals centred on Colbert Station. This Atlantic Edge, European Embrace. The offering is predicated on the realisation of process could and should also embody such a service, and it is on the assumption the spirit and intent of the New Limerick that LCCC will seek to optimise land use and Charter (2013) engaging all signatories in promote appropriate residential densities. the realisation of a vision predicated on a shared ambition that the Quarter could be an Limerick 2030’s mission is also relevant in exemplar, in the manner in which Freiburg the “bigger picture”, specifically the Cleeve’s in Germany and Aarhus in Denmark are now Riverside Quarter. bench marks of innovative, egalitarian, and sustainable urban design.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 38 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 39 Productive City greenways and distinct character The Quarter should aspire to produce 30% of areas within the quarter and it’s linked its food requitements, using hydroponics environs and communal allotments. Its economy and prosperity will be sustained by embracing 4. Towards a New Quarter innovators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses, and be responsive to the growing An Adaptable Grid numbers of people working from home. The discipline of establishing a grid for this new urban quarter, builds on the legacy of Adaptive City Georgian Limerick and other historical and The Colbert Station Quarter, in its evolution, contemporary precedents. Illustrated here is a should be capable of adapting to a diversity of framework plan for a new urban quarter, and housing typologies, social spaces, and work Brainport Smart District (BSD) in Amsterdam places, as well as integrating private and by our colleagues UN Studio. public sector investment and involvement. It rejoices in integrating the principles A Catalyst of Connectivity proposed to underpin a future Colbert Station A reimagined Colbert Quarter will be the Quarter and in being a living laboratory. catalyst for creating new connections,

3. Underpinning the Vision: Healthy City Framework Principles The Quarter should aspire to be an exemplar and manifestation of a holistic understanding of public health promotion, founded on the Principles: quality of the environment, the communal Unlocking the potential of the specific recreational, educational, and cultural properties in coherent manner, and infrastructure, shared by multi generational Connecting Colbert Station Quarter to communities. the historic city core and the Eastern and Southern suburbs is an essential and Inclusive City fundamental strategic objective. The Quarter should embrace and integrate a diversity of classes and age groups, and This connectivity and mobility-focused facilitate the integration of diverse uses, proposal sets out a development framework from home working to business enterprises, which would be founded on the following community care, recreational, and principles: educational facilities. Digital data sharing and “smart” technologies would underpin 1. Health communality and quality of life. 2. Inclusivity 3. Resilence Resilient City 4. Productivity The Quarter should aspire to be substantially 5. Adaptability capable of managing its own waste water, waste disposal and recycling and be an The following summarises the principles exemplar of ecological and bio-diversity best top row: which should underpin the planning and practice. Critically, it should aspire to produce 1&2. The Brainport Smart District by UN Studios in Amsterdam, illustrates how a grid offers a planning and development framework, hosting and design process: all its own energy, with the capacity to export integrating a diversity of mixed uses and architectural expression.

to the grid. bottom row: 3&4. Dutch Urban Solutions, Brno, further illustrates how such a framework could embody and express the principles underpinning this submission.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 40 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 41 An Adaptable Grid: Strategic Framework

New Gateway Building

Dominantly Residential areas Potential Commercial Developmentt with Supporting Community Uses Phasing: The residential density yields offered here

Future Cultural/Community Inevitably the availability of lands will are predicated on the assumption that 50 Facility in Asylum determine phasing. Phasing should be best units/ha would be a minimum density

Future HSE HQ considered on the context of an integrated target. We therefore offer calculations based Masterplan, to ensure that the elements on 50 units/ha and 80 units/ha, which at which are interdependent are realised in this stage of the process should inform Green Bridge at Roxboro Road parallel. calculations of development yield.

Enterprise/ Innovation Centre Density/Use Mix: A Sustainable Urban Quarter For the purposes of this exercise, we The proposed development of the Colbert Potential Future Bridge Crossing set out here an indicative calculation of Station Quarter lands, founded on a clear development densities for the Quarter. vision and robust principles, offers Limerick a unique opportunity to consolidate its Potential Future Connections These assume that there is a dominance of historic urban core while mediating and residential development in the conjectural connecting its northern, eastern, and Greenway with Provision for Future Tram/Rail Service framework illustrated in Fig 1: 80% southern suburbs and the University of residential/ 20% other. It also assumes that Limerick. In so doing, it offers Limerick the 25% (min) available lands area is required challenge to lead and develop an urban for open space and infrastructure. quarter that would be a national and international exemplar of informed and sustainable urban design.

Adaptable Urban Blocks • Colbert Station Quarter could become a This study, (Dutch Urban Solutions Brno) destination for discerning food shoppers, is offered to further illustrate the rationale while promoting Limerick as a healthy city of the adaptable grid, which underpins and as a producer of quality local produce. our strategy. The brief for each block would reflect all of the principles cited • Sustainable landscapes, which will resulting in urban blocks, which contain facilitate food production and enhanced diverse residential urban typologies, biodiversity will also induce communality ensuring social inclusivity in addition to and seasonal aromatic and sensory the provision of workplaces, recreation and experiences. social infrastructure and capacity for food production. Short term Actions: Serious consideration could also be given Experiencing Colbert Station Quarter to the potential of the mental health facility • Imaginative exploitation of the grid offers to be adapted for further cultural/future the potential to integrate a diverse range proof/residential/community uses. Equally, of residential typologies with related consideration should be given to interim private, semiprivate and communal land uses, or ‘‘meantime uses’’ such as spaces. the Foynes Line Greenway, and perhaps a prototype hydroponics project installation, • A diversity of uses and residents, within a a photo-voltaic array on the roof of Colbert dominantly residential area, will provide Station, and food fairs in the goods shed on security, animation, focal points and the Roxboro Road junction. Such relatively places for informal gathering. low cost initiatives could begin the process if progressively integrating the area into the “Mental Map” of the City.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 42 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 43 Summary This ‘high-level’ design review is respectfully offered as a contribution to public debate and, critically, the formulation of a design and development brief. The founding principles and strategic framework are offered to facilitate this objective. It is not to be interpreted as a ‘masterplan’.

Equally, architectural imagery and reference projects are offered purely to assist in articulating the founding and strategic principles. Assumptions about available development lands are at this stage a ‘guesstimate’, informed by an assumption that a masterplan will be required. This Plan will need to consider the area holistically including issues such as whether suburban rail/tram service will be provided and potential impact on land take for a transport/green corridor.

This ‘high-level’ review offers a contribution For the purposes of this exercise, it is to the development of a brief, predicated assumed that it will be 80% residential with on clear and robust principles that would 20% for other uses. Conservatively, it could underpin the design and development host a population of between 6,000-10,000 process. The framework offered at this point people. is provisional as it is premature to establish what quantum of lands will be available, just The proposed development of the Colbert as it premature to establish when and if a Station Quarter lands, founded on a clear suburban rail/tram service will be provided. vision and robust principles, offers Limerick a unique opportunity to consolidate its However, the design and development historic urban core while mediating and process offer great opportunities for: connecting its northern, eastern, and southern suburbs and the University of • Delivery of affordable housing Limerick. In so doing, it offers Limerick the • Creating a socially diverse community challenge to lead and develop an urban • Sharing a quality public realm and quarter that would be a national and community facilities international exemplar of informed and • Integrating enterprise, employment and retail uses sustainable urban design. • Research, innovation and collaboration.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 44 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 45 Anne Kiernan FRIAI

Introduction affecting the Georgian core). Changing the The brief for the Colbert Station Design culture of the city to provide a pedestrian review refers to a once-in-a-lifetime friendly environment is also a key theme, opportunity to create a new city quarter as is linkage – providing connections, which will act as an exemplar for urban which physically and metaphorically join regeneration in Limerick. Limerick disconnected and isolated communities. City and County Council, the HSE and Landscape and biodiversity, essential to CIE have come together to assist the sustainability, are also forces for health and Land Development Agency create this healing, part of the process of repair. unparalleled opportunity, which aims to create an ambitious vision for sustainable Sustainability is woven into all matters urban development in Limerick. – whether we are looking at energy generation or conservation, drainage, life Key Themes cycle costings, materials specification or The key themes, which emerged after the creation of sustainable communities, the briefing, are inherent in the city and holistic solutions, which recognise the not confined to the designated site. This criticality of the threat to our environment, process offers an opportunity to repair must now underlie everything we do. Lastly, some of the fragmentation from which all thinking about the city is predicated the city suffers on many levels. The on the superb work carried out by SAUL, urban structure, while still strong in the which has illuminated multiple aspects of Georgian quarter, has elsewhere suffered the local context, heritage and character of from very low density planning, over wide Limerick. Our aim has been to build on this roads, dereliction, vacancy and vehicular understanding, to support and create places traffic dominance (the latter issues also for communities to live, work and flourish.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 46 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 47 vicinity of the station, with bars, cafes, the city by working with the existing third a hotel, and offices proposed, as well as level sector in Limerick to provide teaching enterprise units providing employment, space, laboratories, medicinal gardens, an with offices and apartment living overhead, arboretum and student accommodation, and a significant student population, all while also coexisting and accommodating contribute to a create vibrant living city the needs of the HSE at this important quarter. Landmark buildings, high quality health service site. architecture, and pedestrian priority tree lined streets ensure a pleasant environment An opportunity for enhancement of the for all to enjoy. New pedestrian bridges existing environment presents at Hyde Road, across the railway line would provide where consolidation of the carriageway connectivity and accessibility for the permits creation of a linear park. Similarly, adjoining lands south and east of the station. traffic controls at Parnell Road limiting access to public transport and taxis, The beautiful parkland site occupied by enable widening of pedestrian pavements, the HSE offers opportunity to build on the facilitating ease of movement to and from horticulture and food science traditions of the vibrant Colbert Square quarter.

Site Analysis materials, workmanship and community The designated site is ostensibly very activity – varies dramatically from one part large. It contains lands that are vacant of the site to the next. This has framed or underused, but also existing homes the characterisation of the land and and active uses, a thriving educational fundamentally influenced the response, quarter with historic roots. There are which changes from one area to another. other institutional uses, and operational and logistical requirements pertaining to Strategic Framework the HSE, CIÉ and the education sector, Adjacent to the station, a need to create among others. Much of the available land enclosure and protection from the prevailing is inaccessible, or severed by the active or winds, as well as opportunities to intensify protected future railway alignment. The use and instigate true transport oriented local context – historic buildings, fragments development was identified. High density, of industrial heritage, history, local mixed use development in the immediate

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 48 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 49 The lands south of Carey’s Road (including An Unparalleled Opportunity for Limerick the Guinness lands) offer an opportunity The proposed Colbert Station Quarter, to develop a new quarter, significantly with its rich mix of character and heritage, increasing the existing prevailing residential presents an unparalleled opportunity to densities to provide a vibrant, sustainable reimagine the centre of Limerick city. This urban environment. This new quarter could new vision can provide affordable housing be designed around a green parkland route, in new and existing communities, with a with a mixed-use urban core providing civic, mix of uses including education, leisure, commercial and retail uses, thus reimagining local enterprise and commercial office, and enhancing the existing amenity value of hotels, bars and cafes. High quality public this land. The active nature of this important realm is common to all of the five identified green lung for the city would be retained and character areas. Residential accommodation clockwise l-r: existing cross community links enhanced, is a rich variety of higher-density 1. Military Hospital, Antwerp. Adaptive reuse of a 19th century former military through physical linkage of the neighbouring accommodation focused on the station, hospital for residential and community use. Masterplan by Achtergael Architects. Photo: Alamy. communities, the enhancement of the student accommodation, and smaller scaled 2. Future pedestrian/cycle bridges should be the subject of architectural existing soccer pitches, and the provision development interwoven with the existing competitions, aiming for high quality design outcomes as in the case of of additional sports and community garden fabric of the city. Meadow Bridge by Tonkin Liu Architects

facilities. 3. Landmark buildings provide focal points as well as facilitating orientation and a sense of place, such as Cinnamon Tower apartments, Hamburg, by Bolles+Wilson Architects, Photo: Christian Richters/VIEW.

4. Het Funen in Amsterdam, by Frits van Dongen of de Architekten Cie, is an example of high quality, shared public space, contributing to the development of community in high density living. Photo: Ernst van Raaphorst.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 50 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 51 Piotr Mach, eml Architects

My design philosophy for the Colbert Connectivity with Nature Station Quarter might be described in 2 Today we are facing the real problem words: of global warming and climate change. Limerick can respond to this in an active Connect and Grow way and become one of the cities of the future. This proposal encourages ecological The presented vision for the Colbert integrity and biodiversity, protection and Quarter discusses the Connectivity in three enhancement of the natural heritage. Urban main aspects: bladeless wind turbines, solar panels and 1. Social interactions (connectivity between roof bio cultivation are common on building people) rooftops, encouraging sustainable energy 2. Green living and connectivity with and small-scale farming. Nature 3. Communication/ Transportation An eco-city is a healthy city. The human Connections natural environment is different from where and how we are living today. The isolation Social Interactions from the green environment is not natural The current situation with the Coronavirus for us. Increasing the amount of green pandemic has re-orientated our relationship spaces and planting more trees in Limerick to the outside world and even to each would be a huge improvement, also other. Online communication creates beneficial for future generations. more connections, but unfortunately also a greater distance between people. We Communication / Transport will need to focus on rebuilding social This is a transport-oriented proposal, where interactions in our society when the current all residential, business, educational, health situation is over. and leisure spaces are within walkable distance of public transport. Walking, The pandemic has also presented cycling, e-scooter, bus, tram, rail and opportunities like more flexible working car-pooling are prioritised. Encouraging and an appreciation for nature and outdoor residents to walk or cycle not only reduces activities. It gives a hope that by designing carbon emissions but also builds a safer more green areas, human-scaled public environment, bring streets to life, improves realm and attractive streets in Limerick the health of people. It is not necessary to will help to change this city into a liveable completely ban cars, but they have to be place where people want to be and to come prioritised last. together again.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 52 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 53 Also in a wider context, one of the ideas is Finally, this might have an effect in Limerick to better connect Limerick areas such as transforming into a modern city, where Southill or Garryowen and to connect them citizens are conscious of the value of their through the Colbert site. This could involve home place, appreciate it and care about bridging over the Limerick to Dublin railway, shared neighbourhood. As a result, Limerick which is a significant divider cutting through would become cleaner, safer and just a the city centre. better place, where people want to spend time. The option to re-open the old Foynes railway line might be considered. To free up the To reflect these ideas,5 core design land the potential for underground train strategies have been proposed: lines could be explored. It would also help Limerick to connect with the Wild Atlantic 1. This could involve bridging over the Way and create an additional opportunity for railway to connect the north and south of tourists to come and explore the city. the city. Colbert Station Quarter could be the connector between isolated parts of Implementation of these principles could Limerick. release Limerick’s real potential for Growing. 2. A new central area could serve the entire This is a multicultural city. It gives a huge city and visitors. advantage in terms of how much we might 3. Availability of a wide range of sport In relation to the points above, the proposed People exploring Wild Atlantic Way would learn from each other by sharing our living facilities and diversity of amenities. development has the potential to explore: have another reason to visit Limerick. and working space, sharing our experience 4. Creation of a second city centre. and simply cultivating kindness, empathy 5. Explore the potential of creating a • A new bicycle and pedestrian bridge, • The possibility of creating a modern and humanity. Limerick has a potential to modern educational campus that could which could be a ‘Limerick Skyline’. education campus at Killmallock Road grow in numbers, but it also has to grow in include city-centre schools. Soft infrastructure such as this above that could include city-centre schools. quality. the railway could work as a connector This could provide shared facilities that between the north and south of the city can be used by the community in the and also as the pedestrian and cycle way evenings and weekends. from the Colbert Station Plaza up to Kennedy Park (with an option to extend it • There might be potential to partner to the City East Plaza at Ballysimon and with the proposed Innovation & Science further to UL). It could also work as an Campus (currently HSE site) as both open public space, where people can meet educational centres could be connected and enjoy exploring the Colbert Quarter via proposed Skyline. from above. Such a development has the potential to retain some of the existing • A new sport & recreation area could be industrial railway infrastructure, such developed over the Colbert Station which as gantry crane, where viewing platform could be used for a variety of sports such and mini exhibition space would be as mini soccer pitches, basketball courts, incorporated to help to explore the land skate park, outdoor climbing wall. This from the top. platform deck with sports facilities might also serve the proposed new Education In wider perspective, there is a need for Campus at Killmallock Road and could landmark in Limerick, something that is connect to the wider Colbert Station easily recognisable, a reference point for Quarter. A bus station, train station and communication and orientation serving the the proposed bicycle garage could be residents and also being tourist attraction. located underneath.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 54 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 55 An example of modular housing: Rebel, Amsterdam by The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park in architect Studioninedots. Image: MIR, Proloog New York City on a former railroad.

• A possible remodelling of the Colbert sports facilities, all within an existing The modular character of the apartment Station Plaza with Bus Eireann moved mature park. The option to convert the quarters would allow to control density to the other side of the station. The St. Joseph’s hospital into live/work units and to add more floors, or adapt floors station forecourt could be softened and might also be considered. A new HSE quickly to other functions, when needed. enlivened with more green areas, trees, location could be the north-west part of benches and bicycle storage solutions. this very attractive site. In summary, Colbert Station Quarter The re-imagined square could become would be designed around the following the starting point of the proposed This area would offer family sized housing, principles: Limerick Skyline. close to daycare, schools and supports. • Affordable homes A new linear park could be created from • A new Central Park could be created • Modular character of apartments Colbert Station Plaza to Baker Place, with high-density living quarters around • Human experience is a key creating further linkages. the edge of the park - a new ‘Green • Streets for people, not only for cars Heart’ of Limerick. It could also be • Density at every scale • We propose a mid-scale housing density considered to convert the old Foynes • Diversity of available amenities area – a ‘kiss point’ between the existing railway line into a bio-diversity corridor • More green areas and proposed houses. New houses to – an attractive pedestrian and bicycle • New Limerick landmark and be a mix of 3-storey affordable duplexes way connecting the Colbert Station connector and town houses with an interactive with Raheen. The next phases might semi-public space between dwellings for focus on building 6-7 storey apartments the local communities. The space could around the park. Internal semi-private feature green social areas, playgrounds, courtyards, green roofs, garden terraces picnic tables, crazy golf, outdoor gym etc. and commercial GF units facing the park • Consider converting HSE land into an would create a very attractive living and Innovation & Science Campus including recreation area in the city centre. innovation centre, business centre and

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 56 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 57 Merritt Bucholz

The radial structure of Limerick city circuits. It is the connections between these connects the centre to neighborhoods and things that need to be reborn, reinvented habitats, it connects the city to villages and and re-purposed to serve a new living towns and, in the extending along those community; close to nature, with air and radial lines, accommodates centres of light, and enhancing the essential quality education, employment, and recreation. of equality that Limerick City proposes to Ireland. In planning a new city quarter At the University of Limerick’s school of for Limerick Colbert Quarter, these must architecture, SAUL, years of studying the be built close to the 55,000 homes that structure of the city has revealed the ways already exist; new communities are hopeful in which the development of the city has not additions to existing communities, new complemented this structure, or through communities offer complementary activities episodic development has not been able to and resources to their old neighbours and leverage this powerful connecting geometry. connect and make new the bonds within Still, the radial geometry persists, traversed the city, but in new and different ways. laterally by water; by train lines both used (Galway) and not used (Adare); by green Can we radically shift the character areas spaces, both used and left over, unkempt and establish a new vision for Limerick? and orphaned from daily functionality. Housing oriented to a new public park There are schools and houses, shops system is necessary to place people within and playing fields, places of worship and nature, and provide them with a vantage places of celebration and community, point for the future. cemeteries, hospitals, prisons, and racing

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 58 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 59 • The Roxboro Road is a cross cutting The core of the buildings would contain backbone, forming a crucial link. Roxboro ‘green hearts’, serving as environmental Road is complex spatially in section cores and as a physical representation of moving up and down, and providing the green island and ‘environmental lung’ views across Limerick. It is an important for the new urban quarter and centres of pedestrian link as it is used by school activity and life. children who live in Galvone and Kennedy Park. It is a complex functional route; along • It is proposed that all buildings for all it are butcher shops, monuments, shrines, uses would be designed as low-energy bridges, prisons and houses. It connects demand buildings, climate controlled with places that otherwise have no connection, minimal use of mechanical ventilation or and is the only overhead crossing of the air conditioning, relying instead on the Limerick Train lines in the city. building’s orientation, facade treatment, and structural fabric to produce an • A new link at the junction of the Roxboro environment that is physiologically road and Lower Carey’s Road could extend balanced with human comfort needs, and across the rail yards into the HSE lands. minimises the use of generated energy.

• It is proposed to consider flexible building • Shallow plans with orientation along the prototypes for extended communities. north-south axis would facilitate maximum These could be 6 to 10 stories and built access to east and west light. High of prefabricated timber buildings. This ceilings offer optimal conditions for natural would create a climate-aware relaxed ventilation and daylight to penetrate to all environment, embodying a forward- spaces. thinking approach to sustainability. Outdoor and indoor space would be Breathing Skins connected. Low embodied carbon and Climate-attuned facades would respond locally-sourced materials are proposed to their relationship to the sun and wind such as concrete, timber and limestone. path, mediating between the external and In Limerick, there is the opportunity Kings’ Island, Thomond Park, and Cleeves There would be extensive vegetation internal environment to create optimal to create a ‘Green Ring Park System’, Riverside Quarter. both on the building and across the site. comfort conditions internally. capitalising on the latent potential of a park to create access to nature and Colbert Quarter New Public Park System health to build stronger more connected • Two large public parks are created at the communities by transforming the existing HSE lands and area along the sidings to residual green space, disused infrastructure, the south of the train stations and new landscapes into a new public park system, the ‘Green Ring’. This park system • Public forest planted to create and shape would create new walkable communities public spaces. and connected neighbourhoods out of existing places that are already built. • Prototype high-density housing, built A coherent park system will realise the simultaneously to leverage large scale potential of the city’s 450 acres of green development. spaces, and make a permeable natural system, providing opportunities for access, • New construction techniques using movement and development in areas that prefabricated timber construction to build are not connected to the road network. a new architecture of high quality for the This permeable natural system would link future. the Colbert Quarter to Dooradoyle and

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 60 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 61 Berlin’s Hufeisensiedlung (Horseshoe Estate), 1925-33, by Tolou circular earthen and timber houses in China are an architect Bruno Taut represents high-quality housing for a experimental housing prototype for sustainable communal living. large residential community, designed at a time of economic Each houses as many as 80 families or 320 people. The homes crisis in Germany. New construction materials and methods have been arranged around rights to light, air and ground. Each were to bring ‘light and air, dignity and order’ to working-class living space looks both ‘in’ and ‘out’. ‘In’ represents the community homes. The design combined a humane functionalism and and collectives; ‘out’ the environment and the city. modernist style with ideals of community and progress. The Hufeisensiedlung was constructed not by private enterprise but by cooperative building guilds.

Using Design For Manufacture principles in Limerick by a pop-up factory. It will we will leverage the global supply chain arrive into the HSE site and be offloaded to build innovative timber buildings in by the now idle shipping container crane Limerick. at Colbert Station. While the mass timber Forestry in the EU relies on rail-based structure goes up, the windows, made of transport, trees are harvested and timber and fabricated in an Irish joinery transported from the forest to the mills shop will be produced and shipped from via rail, their sizes and quantity at harvest their factory in the middle of Ireland. are compatible with rail transport. If the Foynes line were to be recommissioned, it In Colbert Station Quarter south, the could be used to deliver prefabricated mass site for one of the ring buildings under timber components for the structure of the construction, the crane would make its way buildings, arriving into the port of Foynes, around the ring, having collected panels shipped to the site on the freight line, from the train-beds that roll through the Buffalo Park System, New York by Frederick Law Olmsted Toronto Island, Toronto, Canada and Calvert Vaux, 1868 and 1896. Great cities are defined and The Toronto Islands – also called the Island, or Toronto Island Park offloaded and erected immediately. site. structured by their parks. At Buffalo, New York, Fredrick Law – is located in Lake Ontario, a 13-minute ferry ride from downtown Olmsted created a new park system for the city out of forgotten Toronto. Boats to the Island leave from the Jack Layton Ferry land, designing parks carved out off and into the existing city. Terminal at the foot of Bay Street and Queen’s Quay. The Island Limerick’s access to the port could be The arrival of the prefabricated The creation of the park system immediately increased the value is actually a group of 15 islands inter-connected by pathways and of the lands around the park. We need to build our cities around bridges. You can walk from one end of the Island to the other. leveraged to ensure maximum market components would be on a ‘just-in-time’ parks and fill these parks with forests in order that human life Kids and adults of all ages can find something to do or see on the access. This would help to achieve the basis and immediately lifted into position can be sustained. Island. There are beautiful swimming beaches, sports facilities, bike, canoe and kayak rentals, a boating marina, large grassy scale of construction required at a lower on the structure. The completed buildings fields for picnics, a theatre, nature paths as well as a 150 year-old cost: construction time will be minimized would continue to be served by the rail community of 600 people. and quality will be maximised. line, and as the forest grows around and within the ring, and is protected by the It is proposed that timber will be community that live in the ring, it will sustainably sourced from forests where develop into a lush green lung for Limerick, there is market pressure due to demand and the building will fold into the park and quantum of supply and manufactured system.

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 62 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 63 6. Process & Next Steps

6.1. Timeline

Design Review for Colbert Station Quarter

Q1 2020 Public Consultation to identify needs & aspirations for Colbert Station Quarter

Q2 & Q3 2020 Design Review Commences

Q2 & Q3 2020 Q4 2020 6.2 Stakeholder and Community Feedback Design Team Vision & Ideas Draft Design Review Report Published RIAI Design Development & Presentation Public Feedback invited & considered Review Report Colbert Station is a strategically important approach as part of the development of a area with significant potential to transform Spatial Framework for the area. This will underutilised areas over time to become support the evolution and regeneration Develop a Spatial This Framework is being developed to help inform an even more vibrant and vital part of of the area over time, particularly given Framework for Colbert consideration of Limerick City and County Council’s future Limerick into the future. the complex and extensive nature of the Station Quarter planning policy objectives for the Colbert Station Quarter. area with significant operational interests, The Design Review process represents as well as being a major transport hub, an important starting point to explore and area where key public services and Q4 2020 possible visions and help inform facilities are provided. Feasibility and Baseline Analysis & Stakeholder consideration of options to catalyse the Engagement to develop Draft Spatial Framework potential for this area into the future. Next steps will involve seeking views from the public on the ideas and visions The process began by seeking views from in this report. Following the consultation, Q1 2021 Q1 2021 the community on what they would like feedback will be considered and inform Public Consultation Draft Spatial Framework Colbert Station to see for the site. This helped inform the final Design Review Report. The final Quarter Spatial on Draft Spatial Framework Colbert Station Quarter thinking and fed into the emerging ideas report will be published and will then help Framework Plan for Colbert Station Quarter published including implementation generated by the Design Team. It is good to inform the next stage. plan, vision, policy objectives Published 2021 to see that the Visions and Ideas that and outline of key infrastructure requirements and opportunity sites the Team have presented have taken on This next stage is the development of a board issues identified by the community Spatial Framework for Colbert. This will Limerick City & in their submissions, such as importance be underpinned by socio economic and County Council Vision for Colbert Station of amenity and green space, and creating viability analysis. This Framework will Quarter and objectives to integrated communities. consider needs as well as potential future Development guide future development Plan 2022 – 28 growth for the area and establish an Defining an agreed vision and objectives agreed vision and objectives for the future. to help unlock the transformative potential This will explore key opportunities through Development Housing Planning Applications Ongoing phased of this area is an important part of the next consultation with key stakeholders and Jobs / Commercial - Progress Key Sites development of key phase. Achieving the vision will take time will consider phasing and infrastructure to public realm / Early Wins to unlock sites to unlock potential and will require a phased and integrated support with unlocking key sites over time. near term development & deliver agreed vision opportunities and objectives for Colbert Quarter into the future

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 64 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 65 Design Review Panel - Biographies

In 2018, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley in the “Fit Out Awards”, “Irish Construction McNamara were the Curators of the Excellence Awards” and “LAMA Awards”. Venice Architecture Biennale with their Finalist in the “Fit Out Awards 2017” in the Merritt Bucholz of the RIAI Urban Design Committee manifesto Freespace. Grafton Architects Category “Young Fit Out Designer of the In 2005 Merritt was appointed Professor of and is committed to sustainability, urban have participated in numerous exhibitions Year”. Architecture by the University of Limerick regeneration, and community engagement. including: the Sensing Spaces Exhibition to establish the School of Architecture She is a contributor to EU research in 2014 in the Royal Academy in London; Piotr Mach also was awarded “Outstanding University of Limerick. SAUL has since into the design and operation of urban a Pavilion for the 2014 Tercentenary of the Pole in Ireland 2018” by the Polish become recognised for its critical transport, focusing on integrated transport, City of Barcelona; and ‘the Ogham Wall’ Promotional Emblem Foundation ‘Teraz involvement in social and urban planning interchange and urban development. A installation in 2015 in the Victoria & Albert Polska’ whose main objective is to create issues, its ecological design thinking, member of the DMURS (Design Manual Museum, London. a positive image of Poles worldwide. Piotr its focus on building-craft and making for Urban Roads and Streets) project was awarded for his contribution to the skills, and its ability to proactively work committee and assessor for Academy of The practice has won numerous awards for integration of new communities (like the within a research faculty of science and Urbanism urban regeneration submissions, their work. In 2016, Grafton Architects were Polish community) into their adopted home engineering. Anne is currently collaborating with honoured by being awarded the inaugural city of Limerick. Grimshaw Architects on Dublin’s new RIBA International Prize for the Universidad It has built close and effective ties with Metrolink. de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC) in Lima, Sean O’Laoire, MOLA Architecture the City of Limerick. Merritt together with Peru and the 2020 RIBA Royal Gold Medal. Seán Ó Laoire is a Consultant Director of Karen McEvoy co-founded Bucholz McEvoy Grafton Architects MOLA Architecture, having previously been Architects when they won an RIAI open Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell Piotr Mach, eml Architects a Founding Director of Murray Ó Laoire competition for the design of a civic office co-founded Grafton Architects in 1978, Since qualifying as Master of Science, Architects (1979 - 2010). building, Fingal County Hall, in Swords, Co. having graduated from University College Architecture & Town Planning at the Dublin. Shaped by this early engagement Dublin in 1974. They are Fellows of the University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland Combining Architecture with a specialism with civic architecture, Karen and Merritt RIAI, International Honorary Fellows of the in 2007, Piotr Mach has worked in a in Urban Design, he has been centrally have been developing an architecture that RIBA, elected members of Aosdána, and number of architectural practices in Ireland. involved in many prestigious schemes, is technologically sophisticated, inherently the 2020 Pritzker Prize Laureates. including King John’s Castle Limerick, low energy, and takes a human-centred He joined Limerick firm eml architects Dublin Docklands, Titanic Quarter Belfast, approach to design. Teaching at the School of Architecture in 2014, and has worked on significant and Ceannt Station Galway as well as at University College Dublin from 1976 projects including Analog Devices projects in France, Slovakia and China. Anne Kiernan FRIAI to 2002, they were appointed Adjutant International, JLR, ACI Worldwide, Ernst Anne Kiernan is Chief Architect with Professors at UCD in 2015. They have been &Young, GSK, Three Ireland, Limerick City A recipient of the prestigious Triennial RIAI Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Visiting Professors at EPFL, Lausanne in & County Council and Tipperary County Gold Medal, he is a former President of the With a background in masterplanning and 2010 – 2011. They held the Kenzo Tange Council. Piotr became central to the design RIAI (2007 - 2009) and was a former Senior residential and commercial building design, Chair at GSD Harvard in 2010 and the process on these very successful projects, Lecturer in Urban Design at DIT, in addition Anne has more recently focused on public Louis Kahn chair at Yale in the Autumn of working from concept design right through to numerous positions in an advisory realm design, integration of transport 2011. Currently, they are Professors at the to construction stages. He has a particular capacity, most recently being a member of infrastructure projects and the urban Accademia di Archittettura, Mendrisio, expertise in design and 3D visualisations. the RIAI Gold Medal adjudication panel and environment. She is a long-time member Switzerland. advisor to Uachtrán na hEireann on 1916 Achievements include: Finalist Thurles commemorative art. Municipal Offices, 3Arena Bars and GSK

RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 66 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 67 RIAI Design Review for Colbert Station Area Quarter, Limerick 68