Do you have a vision for reimagining your hometown or village?

Perhaps you are in a community group with big ideas for your main street, or an architect who has recently moved back home from the city. Let us help you get your ideas off the ground.

Hometown Architect is a key initiative of the Irish Architecture Foundation’s Reimagine placemaking programme, which works with communities across Ireland to co-create and co-design solutions to problems or opportunities they’ve identified in their locality. The IAF aims to support those involved in reimagining the economic, social, and cultural importance of Irish towns and villages.

The Hometown Architect open call invites joint applications from community stakeholders and local architects with proposals that focus on issues of particular concern, opportunities or innovations for town centre regeneration in line with the Government of Ireland’s Town Centre First Policy, which aims to revitalise towns across Ireland, building and sustaining vibrant town centres where communities can flourish.

In 2024, three communities that apply through the Hometown Architect open call will be awarded supports to the value of €10,000 for projects that focus on the regeneration of their town or village centres.

Further information and guidance for applicants are available on the Hometown Architect Open Call page of our Reimagine placemaking website.

Looking for inspiration? Examples of current Hometown Architect projects are available on the Reimagine Hometown Architect page.

Key dates

Applications will be accepted from Thursday 9 November 2023 until Friday 19 January 2024, through an online application form.

Two online information sessions will outline the application process in detail and provide an opportunity for potential applicants to ask questions during a Q&A:

• Tuesday 21 November, 1pm – 2pm. Register for this info session.
• Wednesday 13 December, 12 – 1pm. Register for this info session.

The three successful projects will be announced in February 2024. 

Further information

Hometown Architect is part of the Irish Architecture Foundation’s Reimagine placemaking programme and is funded by the Arts Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development, with additional support to the IAF from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Visit reimagineplace.ie to be kept up to date with Hometown Architect and other news and events from across our Reimagine programme.

Photo: Aughrim Hometown Architect engagement activities, St Patrick’s Day 2023. Photo by Ste Murray.