St. Catherine’s Foyer and Sports Centre
Dublin, Ireland
This Foyer was Ireland’s first “Foyer - Housing and Training centre” which consists of a 48 bed housing unit with training facilities for young people aged 18-25 who are in housing and training need. The centre is a stepping stone to independent living and was a pilot project for Dublin City Council.
The living accommodation is grouped around a south facing courtyard and provides 8 cluster groups of 6 study bedrooms with their own shared kitchen and dining facilities. Communal rooms and classrooms for training are on the ground floor. This integrates with the indoor sports centre which uses sustainable “Windcatchers” for ventilation and the foyer has one of Ireland’s first sedum roofs.
Client:Dublin City Council and Cara Housing Association Ireland
Awards:
2004 RIAI Award
2004 OPUS Architecture/Construction Awards runner up
2003 Brick Award best housing project
Publications: Building Design & RIAI Journal
Photos: Paul Tierney