Remaking the Modern Suburb - Proposal

UCD Architecture School are running a summer school (2009) called Now What?

http://nowwhatrichview.blogspot.com

James Leahy from Dublin Cycling Campaign is running one of the series of workshops on the subject of Remaking the Modern Suburb. How can we come up with a new model for retrofitting our suburbs for accessibility which works without Celtic Tiger style growth?

For details of Now What and Remaking the Modern Suburb read on. If you're interested email nowwhatremaking@gmail.com or come to the opening at Richview, UCD, Clonskeagh at 19:30 on Monday 6th July.

Now
architects have time to think. architects are educated to solve problems and propose innovative solutions.
now what? is an initiative designed to tap into the wealth of creative talent amongst graduates and students who need space to research, learn new skills and people to discuss these with.

What
a series of multi-disciplinary public conversations; workshops; studio space and facilities available for research; publication of all work plus a public exhibtion at the end of the summer. The entire initiative is to operate as a think-tank, is free of charge and will be run on a voluntary basis.

Remaking the Modern Suburb - Summary

A new non-growth dependent development model for suburbs is required:

Development has stopped but the actions required to retrofit existing suburbs for accessibility and to provide social housing all assumed that the previous level of development would continue. A new model for the redevelopment of our existing suburbs over the next ten years is needed.

Wright (1967) plan for motorised suburbs

Smarter Travel Policy:
The new Smarter Travel sustainable transport policy and the National Cycle Policy Framework (Department of Transport 2008, 2009) have many actions calling for suburbs to be retrofitted to make them permeable for walkers and cyclists and accessible by public transport. How will they be retrofitted to do this?

Housing:
There is still a need to build social housing, create new models of housing tenure and to increase the mix of housing in existing suburbs. There is a further need to introduce employment and services into suburbs.

Blanchardstown 2009 impermeablity and uniformity

Inspiration:
Can the example of how the Dublin Crisis Conference, Making the Modern Street and Group 91 Architects in the 1980-90’s led to a revolution in the planning our our city centres and a new model of development be used as an inspiration?

Retrofitting suburbs:

• What will retrofitting projects look like?
• How will they be planned or regulated?
• Who will deliver them?
• Who will pay?
• How will they gain community acceptance?
• Who is doing what now, in Ireland and abroad?

Dublin Crisis Conference (Kelly et al 1986)