As part of our season of exhibitions, talks and films, This Is Where We Are Now at our temporary venue at Charlemont Walk,  the Irish Architecture Foundation is proud to present for the first time in Ireland the immersive film installation A Lot With Little.

In a world where unpredictable events and natural disasters increasingly affect our living conditions, and where the building industry is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, the responsibility of architects has never been as critical as it is today. Indifference to the overwhelming consequences of climate change is not an option. With limited time, money and resources at our disposal, we urgently need new sustainable ways to design and produce good architecture. An architecture led by societal needs, and made with the resources at hand, that responds to local culture, local economy and the environment. An architecture conceived ethically and responsibly, that cares for our future.

A Lot With Little showcases the work of international architects engaged in sustainable solutions for housing, education, transformation of existing buildings and disaster relief. It features projects with a social dimension that have had a positive impact on the communities they serve. The contributing architects provide multiple interpretations of a common mindset, overcoming a lack of resources with creative ingenuity.

A multichannel film installation, curated and produced by Noemí Blager and made by Tapio Snellman, showcases selected projects in their existing settings, alongside interviews with the architects themselves.

The featured architects embrace lateral thinking and participatory methods, leading to the creation of sustainable, affordable architecture that contributes to societal betterment. Their shared values prioritise context over concept, fostering flexible, people-centred architecture that exist in harmony with their surroundings. Here, sustainability isn’t a mere goal or regulatory response — it’s a natural consequence of their design philosophy.

Featured architects include:

Mariam Issoufou, Mariam Issoufou Architects, Niger with united④design
Anne Lacaton & Jean Philippe Vassal, Lacaton & Vassal, France
Mauricio Rocha, Taller de Arquitectura Mauricio Rocha, Mexico
Marina Tabassum, MTA, Bangladesh
Jan de Vylder & Inge Vinck, A JDVIV, Belgium
Francis Kéré, Kéré Architecture, Burkina Faso/ Germany
Solano Benitez, Jopoi de Arquitectura, Paraguay
Marta Maccaglia, Semillas, Peru
Shigeru Ban, Voluntary Architect’s Network, Japan
Marta Peris & Jose Toral, Peris + Toral Architects, Spain

The exhibition is curated and produced by Noemí Blager. The film is made by Tapio Snellman and the music composed by Daniel Nolan.

Installation in Dublin is by SpaceForms.

Plan your visit

Opening hours: Wednesdays-Sundays, 11am-5pm

Location: 1 Charlemont Walk, Dublin 2. See the location on a map.

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

• 3min (220m) walk from Harcourt Luas stop
• 6min (400m) walk from Charlemont Luas stop

• 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)

Accessibility: Ground floor, fully accessible via ramps on entry. Accessible toilets are located at the Charlemont Square Concierge building.

Events

Thursday 7 November, 17:00-19:30, at Charlemont Walk

Join us for Screen Time, a private viewing and panel discussion on architecture and film with Noemí Blager (curator and producer, A Lot With Little), Valerie Mulvin (The Reason of Towns) and Martin Danneels (director, The Space Is The Thing), followed by a launch reception for A Lot With Little. The films A Lot With Little and The Space Is The Thing will be available for private view from 17:00, with the talk beginning at 18:00. Reserve your place.

Monday 11 November, 19:00-20:10, at Royal Irish Academy of Music

Design and Crafts Council Ireland, in collaboration with the IAF, present Mariam Issoufou in conversation with Professor Lesley Lokko OBE, two leading architects shaping the global landscape. This talk is part of Irish Design Week and a unique opportunity to hear these acclaimed architects in person in Dublin. Reserve your place.

This Is Where We Are Now is presented with the support of McGarrell Reilly. The housing exhibitions and talks are supported by The Housing Agency.