'Let me come inland always', a poem by Mary Lavin, performed by Cathy Belton
Great cities are made up of layered spaces, in which art, design and creativity meet with architecture to fashion places for shared experiences, new thinking, and quieter contemplation.
It is not enough for IPUT to simply build and manage our property portfolio, instead we use our buildings, parks and other public spaces as living canvasses for art, design, and creativity.
Connecting people through culture, and shaping a legacy for the future, we are proud to partner with artists and our neighbourhood cultural partners to make memorable and meaningful places where people can thrive, and fresh ideas grow.
Mary Lavin was a writer who lived and worked on Lad Lane. Recognising her contribution, IPUT is delighted to name the new public square at Wilton Park as Mary Lavin Place, making it the first public space in Ireland to be named in honour of a female writer.
We commissioned Mary’s granddaughter, Kathleen MacMahon to write an essay about her grandmother.
We are proud to support the Royal Hibernian Academy (the RHA). It supports and promotes artists through its membership, with masterclasses and a strong community programme. IPUT is proud to fund a RHA Schools Arts Initiative, as well as exhibitions and events throughout the year.
Through our close relationship with the RHA, we have also commissioned artists to produce public art works, such as Leah Hewson’s vast installation, Abiding Traces, for the Tropical Fruit Warehouse hoarding at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay. The RHA are advisors on our Living Canvas Curatorial Panel.
Thriving cities make room for creativity. Responding to the crisis in spaces for artists to work in Dublin, we partnered with the Royal Hibernian Academy to fully fund three artist’s studios at Wilton Park. Established in 2019, the studios offer six-month residencies to artists at crucial stages in their careers, when such supports are vital. Artists who have benefitted include Brendan Earley, Alan Phelan, Leah Hewson, Cathy Dorman, and Helen MacMahon
Championing innovation, collaboration, and new thinking, we were delighted to again work with the RHA to present Eilís O’Connell, Six Works – an Augmented Reality Exhibition at Wilton Park. Part of our placemaking strategy, which is always to enrich the areas in which we work, this interactive experience saw visitors using their smart devices to see sculpture works come to life virtually throughout the park.
Innovation, talent, and good design thinking create spaces in which people want to gather. That is why IPUT chose to be lead sponsor of the annual international design symposium at the Joseph Walsh Studios in Cork. The event attracts 400 people from all around the world. Convening to share ideas, and to hear an international perspective on architecture, art, design and craft.
Speakers have included architect Charles Renfro of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, whose work includes New York projects The High Line and buildings at Hudson’s Yard, as well as Sheila Loewe, head of the Loewe Foundation.
Ireland’s leading art and design publication, the Irish Arts Review is part of Irish artistic life. As patrons, we support the Review in reflection of the importance we place on staying connected with, and participating in conversations and debates around art, culture, and architecture in Ireland.
As patrons, we are delighted to become part of this illustrious tradition and support the craft of printmaking in Ireland. Our support also includes commissioning fine art prints, such as a limited edition by one of the Wilton Park Studios’ Artists in Residence, Leah Hewson. We also collaborate on portfolios, a recent commission being for leading Irish writer, Colm Tóibín, contributing a text for a portfolio with artist, Charles Tyrrell.
The Dublin Simon Community has been helping to care for some of the city’s most vulnerable citizens for more than half a century. We work closely with their Property Development Department, sharing advice and support across policy and procedures, reporting and governance in the Community’s Capital Projects programme.
The largest and most significant project being undertaken by the Dublin Simon Community is currently the Medical Treatment facility at Ushers Island. This €30 million project, due to be completed in 2022, will provide 100 beds for homeless people requiring addiction support. The IPUT Development team is providing on-going project management advice for this project.
The foundation of an "IPUT Building” is excellence in design. We have a strong design ethos, and invest accordingly. Properties need to be of the highest quality to reach their full potential, so we commission leading architects, designers and artists, enabling us to provide the highest standard of space and experience for our occupiers.
Our development at the Tropical Fruit Warehouse pushes the limits of architectural and engineering innovation, adding two floating, fully glazed office floors to the original warehouse building, which will cantilever over the protected structure, offering panoramic views over the River Liffey. The design by Henry J Lyons Architects will deliver over 80,000 sq ft of contemporary space which is respectful of its rich architectural heritage.
For 10 Molesworth, we sought out the right artisan craftspeople to ensure the building materials reflected the rhythm of the street. This included sourcing travertine stone from a sixth-generation Italian family business, and the building's distinctive red brick from Coleford Brick & Tile a family-owned business established in 1925 in Gloucester, UK.
We believe attention to detail in design is a mark of quality. At 5 & 6 Earlsfort Terrace, an art wall and our bespoke reception desk draw inspiration from the angle of the building’s elevation at its lower levels. The wall features brass inlays precisely laser cut by into Portuguese Azul Atlantico limestone by specialist craftsmen in Italy.
We know good quality design does not have to be compromised to meet our exacting standards for sustainable buildings. At 40 Molesworth Street, the high-performance curtain walling system was finished in a distinctive land-laid Petersen brick that suited the prestige of its surroundings. This was just one of the specialist features that earned the building a LEED Gold rating.
As custodians of the spaces in which we own and manage our portfolio, we see investments in the public realm as an integral part of our placemaking strategy. We want to make a positive contribution to the people who live and work in the city, and to the communities around our buildings. Improving the overall experience for our occupiers, we add to the shared life of the Capital.
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. Unfurl is a major patinated bronze sculpture that sits in the building’s courtyard. The entrance to the building is adorned by Night Gates, an intricately designed set of sliding gates featuring a series of large organic leaf shapes.
At 5&6 Earlsfort Terrace, in the heart of Dublin’s business district, we created a new urban garden designed by award-winning landscape architect Robert Townshend. With views across to the iconic National Concert Hall, the garden’s sustainable urban landscaping and reflective water feature provide a tranquil public place for occupiers and visitors alike.
In 2019, we reinvigorated Wilton Park with enhanced essential amenities such as new benches and bins, and ensured public access by keeping it open in line with other parks in the city. The park has also been the venue for local community events such as the interactive exhibition Eilis O’Connell RHA, Six Works – an Augmented Reality Exhibition at Wilton Park.
As part of our developments on Molesworth Street, we invested in a programme of improvements to enhance the local area. We planted 17 Honey Locust trees, which create a natural canopy that allows sunlight to penetrate through its loose, light foliage. We also laid granite paving and widened the footpaths adjacent to our development.
