Presented by the Irish Architecture Foundation as part of our Reimagine placemaking programme and This Is Where We Are Now season, A Place Belongs Forever To speaks to those passionate about placemaking and the built environment who want to expand their understanding of the field, engaging with placemaking in creative, interdisciplinary ways. During this one-day symposium participants will explore how we connect with the places we inhabit through hands on-activities, workshops, and a panel discussion. 

Whether you’re a built environment professional, graduate, artist, or are simply curious about how we inhabit, think about, and shape the places that shape us, this event will equip you with the tools and inspiration to think about placemaking through an interdisciplinary perspective. 

In the Irish Architecture Foundation, we are committed to furthering the practice of placemaking in Ireland through our Reimagine programme. We approach placemaking as an interdisciplinary and collaborative practice that involves diverse stakeholders — including architects, artists, local communities, and policymakers — in shaping the physical and social environments that shape our day-to-day lives. By bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, we believe that we can create a more inclusive conversation that will inspire a better built environment for everyone.

Through the Reimagine programmes, the IAF’s approach to placemaking has been characterised by celebrating the value of an area’s architectural and cultural heritage. We support public involvement and collaboration, offer training and opportunities, and nurture local resourcefulness, enterprise and innovation. A Place Belongs Forever To is an opportunity to collectively reflect on this approach through experimental and unconventional modes of practice: from sensory mapping to poetry exercises, performance workshops, and panel discussions on contemporary placemaking practices. 

Workshops

Sense(s) of Space, 10:00-12:00

This workshop kicks off the day by taking to the streets to explore sensory mapping through urban wandering. Participants will collectively investigate their emotional responses to various urban spaces by engaging with the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of these places. This is an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other and the place where we will spend our day together. This workshop will be led by the Irish Architecture Foundation’s Reimagine team. 

The Poetics of Place, 13:00-14:20

This workshop will explore placemaking through poetry. Participants will engage in poetic writing exercises that explore connections to place. The session will include solitary writing  followed by group reflections. By the end of the workshop, attendees will gain insights into how words can deepen our understanding of space and open new perspectives on the environments around us. This workshop will be led by researcher, essayist, and poet Fiona Hanley. 

Performing Place, 15:00-16:20

This workshop will explore how we connect to our surroundings through movement and performance. Participants will engage in collective activities focussed on using our bodies to express feelings and ideas about different places. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have learned about how emphasis on movement and the body in space can deepen our understanding of space, encouraging creative expression and personal storytelling as tools for placemaking. This workshop will be led by interdisciplinary performance artist Emma Brennan.

Register for individual workshops (€7 each) or all three for €14. Lunch will be provided.

A Place Belongs Forever To… panel discussion, 17:00-18:20

In closing our placemaking symposium, we invite you to join our evening panel discussion that demonstrates the diversity of contemporary placemaking in Ireland. Our panel will each present their own practices and understanding of what it means to inhabit, think about, and shape the places that shape us.

Panelists:

Ailbhe Cunningham – Critical Spatial Practice
Dr Rachel O’Grady – OGU Architects
Sophie Maltzan – Fieldwork & Strategies
12th Field (David Jameson & Evelyn D’Arcy) – Bog Bothy
Chaired by Phoebe Brady – Cineál Research & Design

Followed by Q&A and a food and drinks reception.

Register for the panel discussion (free).

Accessibility Information:

1. Venue:

The IAF’s temporary venue at 1 Charlemont Walk is based on the ground floor and is fully accessible via ramps on entry.

See the location on a map.

The venue is served by the Luas Green Line and several buses:

Luas

• 3min (220m) walk from Harcourt Luas stop on the Green Line
• 6min (400m) walk from Charlemont Luas stop on the Green Line

Bus

• 2min walk (150m) from the 44 bus stop on Charlemont Street
• 4min walk (250m) from the 140, 65, 14, 83, 15 and 14 on Camden Street (South Richard Street) 

Accessible toilets are located at the Charlemont Square Concierge building. 

2. Seating and rest areas:

Seating and table arrangements will vary throughout the course of the day based on workshop activity. Seating will be available throughout the day if required with designated quiet areas for participants who may experience sensory overload.

3. Workshop engagement: 

In the morning workshop we will be traversing public streets in Dublin. These are planned with accessibility in mind; however, it will require us navigating the streets as a large group. In the early afternoon we will be engaging in a writing workshop that will combine personal reflection time and group discussion. In the late afternoon we will be actively using our bodies in a performance workshop. You are welcome to participate in a way that feels right for you. If you wish not to participate in certain activities, just let us know so we can accommodate your needs in advance. 

4. Contact Information: 

For any further information on the event or to let us know about any needs you may have, please contact us on reimagine@architecturefoundation.ie

Photo: IAF Summer School workshop 2024, photo by Ste Murray.