The aim of this project was to generate community engagement in Liberty Park, Dublin. This formed part of the Treeline Project, a bigger strategy to enable the regeneration of underused public spaces in the north inner city. The brief involved the erection of a temporary arts pavilion to house a season of artistic events in partnership with Dublin City Council. We hoped to create a legacy that a new sense of place can be created by low-cost ephemeral architecture.
A programme for the venue was devised by artists and partners in collaboration with the local residential and working community. The architectural approach was influenced by industrial steel structures found on the shipping docks of the nearby river Liffey, which has strong sociohistorical connections with this area. This also informed a palette which worked to reduce scale and emphasise structural expression.
A limited number of columns were used to ensure minimal impact on the landscape. These structural elements were oversized to imply robustness and permanence. An open cantilevered end and the siting of the pavilion on the perimeter of an open grassed area facilitated both intimate artistic performances and large gatherings. The minimum amount of materials for necessary structure and shelter were employed while the building system allowed for ease of disassembly. This ensured that the pavilion could be re-erected in underused public spaces to continue as an activator while providing necessary social commentary.
