Design and Dublin:
crafting legacies
We commission architects, artists, landscape designers, artisans and craftspeople to help us shape our spaces. Integrating old and new, we make places for people to meet and work, adding studios and workshops for writers and artists, so that new stories can unfold.
No. 4 Fitzwilliam Place
Restoring one of Dublin’s storied Georgian townhouses was an opportunity to continue the legacies of craftsmanship and workmanship that underpin these remarkable buildings. With conservation architects Lawrence and Long, we engaged skilled makers in plasterwork, timber and stone, alongside contemporary artists and designers to signal a sustainable new chapter in the story of our city. A commissioned publication tracks the project.
Art and design at No. 4 Fitzwilliam Place
Paul Marlow
"I immediately fell in love with the original plasterwork. Normally, working in buildings of this vintage presents challenges. Walls are often in a poor condition, commensurate with their age. It is a testament to the artisans that everything was almost perfect. My work focussed on removing the more recent interventions, and applying the polished finish. When the project was complete, I felt satisfied that the original craftsmen would have approved of the new stewardship at 4 Fitzwilliam Place."
Art and design at No. 4 Fitzwilliam Place
Alan Meredith
"Essentially this series of work is about surface and depth, a celebration of the qualities of solid wood, its tactility and inherent character. It is about bringing order to the organic wild material in a respectful way, while creating a sense of permanence. The table top and cabinet use oak from an exceptional burl oak tree from the Belmont Demesne in Co. Wicklow, while cuts in the surface of the cabinet doors reveal the depth of the material."
Art and design at No. 4 Fitzwilliam Place
Niamh O’Malley
“Slivers of rose-coloured glass have been shaped, cut, sanded and wrapped in copper foil. They are soldered and patina-ed, angled and splayed. Held together by heat and lead they are balanced on the head of a nail. They hold the light against the wall.”
Art and design at No. 4 Fitzwilliam Place
Veronika Zemska
"We restored the historic fireplaces. The chimneypieces are not just functional, they are works of art that reflect a particular era, and the fireplaces are more than just heating appliances, they are time capsules. One of the most significant challenges was sourcing authentic replacement parts, as many fireplaces are unique and irreplaceable. Our goal was to restore them to their former glory, ensuring they can be used and admired as stunning pieces of design furniture.”
Art and design at No. 4 Fitzwilliam Place
Sara Flynn
"I was immediately drawn to the idea of creating works for a beautiful Georgian Building being brought back to life to the highest standards, and filled with carefully curated materials and objects. We discussed different potential locations, and then I was given utter creative freedom. It was a wonderful and rare opportunity for me to create a singular, cohesive group of pieces, varying in scale and complexity; exploring textures, tones, colours and surfaces. All my favourite things.”
Art and design at No. 4 Fitzwilliam Place
Helen Blake
"Anything you bring into a space changes it, and these carpets are midway between an architectural feature and installed artwork. I am a painter, so this was much more physical and I was very aware of how they would work with the other features of the rooms: the approaches, the doorways; while echoing key plasterwork patterns from the building. I also used the number 4 as a reference throughout the work in terms of both geometries and colour."
Supporting makers:
Form & Fable
As supporters of the best in design, we hosted Form & Fable in one of our purpose-built retail and event spaces at Mary Lavin Place, Wilton Park in 2025. In partnership with J. Hill’s Standard, Form & Fable championed indigenous Irish design, showcasing the work of forty makers including Superfolk, Mourne Textiles, Ceadógan and Fermoyle. Workshops and demonstrations brought the energy and spirit of contemporary makers from across the island to Dublin.
Animating space:
Public art commissions
Art defines space, creating invitations for conversation, contemplation, thought and joy. Our on-going series of public art commissions signals our commitment to supporting contemporary artists in making their work.
Eilis O’Connell, RHA
The River Gates
"Designing the gates at Fifteen George’s Quay was an opportunity to create a large-scale drawing in steel. Informed by an expertise in fabrication which I have developed over the years, the design balances strength with transparency. Inspired by the movement of the River Liffey and views to the Custom House, flowing structural lines run through each panel. Collaborating with engineers and fabricators demonstrated how thoughtful design can elevate everyday infrastructure in the public realm and IPUT recognise this."
Peter Lane
The Age of Sail
“For this sculpture installation, I’ve taken inspiration from the site, its historic resonance, and fresh approach to the future. The colour of the tide and the bronze dome of the Customs House are physical cues, but my main goal is to communicate a sense of movement, from the past into the future of Ireland.”
Eilis O’Connell, RHA
Dipping the Other Wing
This reflective sculpture is located in the restored canal-side park adjacent to IPUT Real Estate’s Mary Lavin Place, the first public square in Ireland to be named after a female writer. The title is drawn from Lavin’s short story One Evening, describing the energy of a child cycling along the canal.
James Earley
Signs of Life
Earley’s 23-metre installation forms a striking ceiling linking Mary Lavin Place with Wilton park. Inspired by the movement of light, shade and colour on the Grand Canal, the piece integrates advanced glass technology, layering printed ceramic pigments onto tempered glass, to achieve depth, translucency and vibrant, vivid colour.
Ruth Lyons
Wave Junction
IPUT Real Estate Dublin commissioned artist Ruth Lyons to create ‘Wave Junction’ a dramatic public artwork on two axis, a vertical waveform clad in charred timber, and a curving horizontal bench that snakes along the ground.
'Wave Junction' was curated by Aisling Prior and supported by Fingal County Council.
Charles Tyrell, RHA
Liffey Grid
We commissioned Charles to make a set of gates for our Tropical Fruit Warehouse building on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay. The gates stand at 4 x 10 meters and incorporate vitreous enamel. ‘Liffey Grid’ is Dublin’s largest outdoor painting.
Shane O’Driscoll
Lux Prima, First Light
Shane’s commission is about creating new studio work following the lockdown. It’s a new starting point with the introduction of composition shapes that take reference from the IPUT Making it Work graphic logo. The shapes have been reconfigured to create a visual language throughout the new development and are integral to the space’s identity.
Joseph Walsh
Magnus V
Irish artist Joseph Walsh was commissioned to create ‘Magnus V’, a seven-metre-high ash sculpture for the reception of 10 Molesworth Street. It is visible to the public through windows on both the Molesworth Street and South Frederick Street sides of the buildings.
Eilis O’Connell, RHA
Night Gates
As part of our commitment to public art, we commissioned leading Irish sculptor Eilis O’Connell to produce two pieces of work at 10 Molesworth Street. The first piece is 'Night Gates' which adorns the entrance to the building. It is an intricately designed set of sliding gates featuring a series of large organic leaf shapes.
Eilis O’Connell, RHA
Unfurl
The second piece of work we commissioned for 10 Molesworth Street by leading Irish sculptor Eilis O’Connell is 'Unfurl'. 'Unfurl' is a major patinated bronze sculpture that sits in the building’s courtyard.
