Irish firm may have solution to the housing crisis

An architectural firm in Ireland has announced a new housing design, which it claims could help relieve the housing crisis.

The design is centred around a three-storey medium-density design that will deliver four times more housing than estates with semi-detached housing, which are common across Ireland.

Claire McManus of JFOC Architects said, “Solving the housing crisis is not just about delivering units, it is about creating communities. Great public spaces are just as important as high-quality houses.

“Streets of houses are cheaper to build than apartments, but they don’t deliver sustainable densities which allow businesses and communities to flourish.

“Apartments are expensive to produce, less popular than houses, and their communal landing and stairwell spaces can feel uncomfortable.

“We have designed a living suburban community plan, which complies with all building and planning regulations, a place where people can interact and one that sustains local businesses.”

The new housing design aims to become a compact green city, and is a way to build affordable homes around public spaces.

Each resident will have their own balcony, with a shared garden and their own front door.

Claire McManus said that a 100 dwelling per hectare plan can rival densities in areas like Portobello and Stoneybatter.

The planned developments will consist of two blocks arranged around a shared garden, with semi-private gardens in some homes, located in the spaces between their arranged checkerboard patterns.

Ms McManus said: “Good housing is a win for all. It improves the neighbourhood for the people already living nearby,” said McManus.

“With the compact green city, people have a network of safe green spaces to use, as well as people to support existing and new facilities.”