Young people in Fingal teamed up with architects and a film maker to investigate the architecture and urban design of their own neighbourhoods. Transition year students from Luttrellstown Community College in Dublin 15 and Skerries Community College worked with architects Robert Bourke, Maria Tarsouli, Kate Dowling and Myrto Dowling and filmmaker Peter Kelly. Supported by this creative team, the participating students gained a deep understanding of architecture, urban design and film, which equipped them to critically appraise their built and natural environment.

All stages of the project was captured in a short documentary film which was screened in Spring 2013. The film, blogs and related resources were distributed to schools, youth centres, local authorities and other relevant groups in 2013. Both schools created blogs so their creative process could be tracked.

The project presented an exemplary model of youth engagement with the built environment which enabled positive dialogue between young citizens and those with responsibility for its design. Students encountered the people who build, design and plan their built environment, and gained insight into the structures and strategies involved in developing local areas.

This innovative urban design project was commissioned by the Irish Architecture Foundation and Fingal County Council Arts Office.

The project was funded by the Arts Council’s Engaging with Architecture Scheme 2012–13, through the Government Policy on Architecture Implementation Programme 2009–2015 with additional funding by Fingal County Council Arts Office. Place Shapers was also supported by Draíocht, Blanchardstown Arts Centre.

The final Publication and Documentary Film is available.

The process of each school project is also documented below via their self directed blogs bogs below.