The Central Statistics Office reported 166,752 vacant houses and apartments in Census 2022. While there are many reasons that homes lie empty, with the current housing and climate crisis we have a responsibility to find new ways of bringing these buildings back into use.

For the Irish Architecture Foundation’s first Reimagine Session of 2023, we are delighted to bring together a panel with policy expertise and hands-on experience to share ideas, case studies and initiatives, and inspire discussion and action.

Speakers:

Alison Harvey (Collaborative Town Centre Health Check programme, The Heritage Council); Shaheena Din (Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, Shelter Scotland); Emmet Walsh (EWA Architects and The Working-Home exhibit); and Nick Taaffe (Chartered Surveyor and host of a site visit to his converted barbershop).

Attendees are invited to stay after the panel discussion for a short tour of the Housing Unlocked exhibition, focusing specifically on projects that explore the adaptive reuse of vacant buildings.

Are you undertaking your own building reuse project? Keep an eye on the IAF’s Reimagine website for future opportunities to join site visits to meet and share learnings with others working on similar projects.

New Life for Old Buildings is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Photo courtesy of Nick Taaffe.