National Policy on Architecture to boost public engagement and create new design quality criteria
- Published on: 18 May 2022
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
- high quality and well-designed living environments can bring economic, social and environmental benefits to cities, towns, and rural communities across Ireland
- new national research service to drive innovation, high-quality design and sustainable construction
- the National Policy on Architecture promotes the power of architecture and design to bring about a more sustainable society
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien today launched the government’s new National Policy on Architecture, following its recent approval by Cabinet. The new policy, ‘Places for People’ will boost public engagement with architecture, empower the architectural profession, especially within the public service, raise design quality, and improve data and research on our built environment, for better outcomes in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
‘Places for People’ also asserts the need to support architects and built environment professionals to work together to achieve a high quality living environment for everyone, bringing economic, social and environmental benefits to cities, towns, and rural communities across Ireland through the delivery of sustainable, high-quality buildings and public spaces.
Design quality criteria
The publication of national design quality criteria is a priority action of the policy. These will be a set of objective tests for assessing the quality of all phases of built-environment projects: design, procurement, construction, management, use, conservation, re-purposing, and disassembly. The assessment values will be based on the European high quality design criteria and circular economy principles. By setting out a consistent, objective approach to the assessment of design quality, these criteria will strengthen public procurement procedures and enhance our capacity to deliver buildings that work for all.
Public engagement with architectural design
The policy seeks to generate greater public engagement with architectural design, using tools that encourage all stakeholders to work together to deliver homes, workplaces, and public spaces that create and sustain resilient, vibrant and inclusive communities.
A public sector information exchange network is a priority action proposed in the policy, aiming to share knowledge and best practice amongst architects and built environment professionals employed in government departments, local authorities, and State agencies.
A new national architecture and built environment research service
The policy commits to scoping out the establishment of a national research service to create, maintain and enhance architectural and built environment research capacity. This policy action seeks to advance multi-disciplinary research to drive innovation, high-quality design and sustainable construction responses, and enables us to measure progress towards ‘net zero’ buildings and places.
These priority actions are building blocks towards a multi-annual programme of work, led by the State Architect, Ciaran O’Connor and a Delivery Board responsible for the plan’s implementation.
Policy linkages
The policy recognises particularly the vital contribution that architecture can make to the implementation of government priorities including Project Ireland 2040, the Climate Action Plan 2021, Housing for All, Heritage Ireland 2030, and Town Centre First.
The policy will also act as a bridge to new European Green Deal initiatives and the mobilisation of the New European Bauhaus, linking Ireland to this new creative and interdisciplinary initiative. The New European Bauhaus is a meeting space to design future ways of living, situated at the crossroads between art, culture, social inclusion, science and technology. It calls for a collective effort to imagine and build a future that is sustainable, inclusive and beautiful.
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan said:
“This policy recognises the vital role that architects and built environment professionals can play in addressing many of the urgent sustainability and social challenges which we face. It puts in place a framework of practical actions to ensure that we draw full value from the art and craft of architecture, and deliver buildings and public spaces that work for all.
"I particularly welcome the focus on maintaining and rehabilitating our built heritage, so that our communities can benefit long into the future from the skill, energy, and care embedded in these buildings.
"The success of this policy will come from public, private and non-profit sectors engaging creatively, innovatively and respectfully, recognising all aspects of quality in design and construction, which are vital to long-term sustainability and wellbeing.”
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien commented:
“The new National Policy on Architecture is the product of wide collaboration across the public and private sectors. I would like to thank sincerely all who participated in the process.
"We are fortunate in Ireland to have a world-class architecture profession – emphasised just last month when Grafton Architects deservedly won the European Union award for contemporary architecture. I see every day the contribution that architects and built environment professionals make to key national priorities, including my own department’s Housing for All plan.
"I believe the Places for People policy and its actions will support and enhance this contribution, helping to deliver homes, workplaces, and public amenities in which our communities can flourish.”
Notes
Brief summary of consultation process
A discussion document, Places for People, was issued in December 2019 to start the public engagement process. This process included 11 multi-disciplinary workshops and an online survey. It generated over 120 submissions from 123 individuals and organisations, some of which contained extremely detailed and constructive recommendations. This material was analysed to inform the selection of objectives and actions. The policy development team also benefited from the inputs of an advisory group representing State departments, offices and councils, private and non-profit sectors and higher education.
Key points in the Places for People policy
The policy sets out 42 steps in 3 main thematic areas:
- Value and Empower actions will support successful implementation of the policy vision by enhancing public appreciation of and engagement with architecture, and empowering the network of architects and built environment professionals working within the public sector
- Set a Quality Agenda actions will enable stakeholders and professionals to work to consistently high standards, establishing common evaluation criteria and processes to ensure aspirations convert into real improvements in the quality and sustainability of our built environment
- Generate Knowledge actions will provide the evidence and information needed to work towards a truly sustainable built environment. These actions will build capacity and capability in the workforce and influence leaders on the design of policies and programmes
Implementation structure
Implementation will be overseen by a Delivery Board, chaired by the Principal Architect in the Office of Public Works Ciaran O’Connor, and including representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, as well as other government departments and public bodies (including the Arts Council and the Heritage Council), and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. The Delivery Board, aided by an expert group, will set up a work programme to scope and assign priority actions, regularly review implementation and adapt and augment priorities as required.
The key objectives of the National Policy on Architecture drawn from the public consultation process are:
- sustainability: prioritise environmentally sensitive buildings and places to achieve sustainable development goals
- quality: design and deliver quality buildings and spaces for all
- leadership: advocate for leadership to prioritise quality architectural outcomes
- culture: foster a culture that values architecture as both art and science, serving people, place and planet