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Smithfield Market: West

• Location: HARP Area
• Architect: HKR Architects
• Completed: 2005

Smithfield Market provides 1.3 million feet of mixed-use space and represents one of Ireland’s largest ever urban redevelopment projects. The development area of 4.5 acres in Dublin 7, which commenced in 2001 and was completed in 2005, is bounded by Smithfield Square, North King Street, Queen Street and Haymarket, and sits over three full levels of basement car parking.

The development of Smithfield Market establishes a new urban edge to the west side of Smithfield Square, and establishes a new smaller square, now named Museum Square, from which access is gained to the major elements of the scheme. A cinema, exhibition space, offices, restaurants, retail, work shops, and apartments together provide a new urban quarter in this historic part of the city.

Materials of the highest quality were specified in the development and include Jura limestone, high quality facing brick, structural glazing and copper and zinc panelling. All buildings have been carefully considered to form a new and appropriate urban grain which will continue to act as a model for urban regeneration in Dublin and represent a major catalyst for the continued regeneration of the greater Smithfield and HARP area.

The scale of the new buildings at Smithfield were carefully considered in order to provide both an appropriate urban massing for this area of the City Centre with its close proximity to public transport, as well as providing a balance between the heights of the new buildings and the size of the historic market place. The new buildings form a strong edge to the square that is punctured by new routes for pedestrians that are carved out of the old urban block.

The hard landscaping at ground level in public areas contrasts strongly with the rooftop gardens provided on several blocks for the benefit of residents who enjoy panoramic views – an important social space often denied to apartment residents.