Cuirt an Troisc – Age Friendly Housing

Description

Project Overview
The Cúirt an Troisc Age Friendly Housing project transforms a once vacant, underused site into a vibrant, inclusive residential scheme for older people. It comprises 19 generously sized, bright and spacious apartments designed to Universal Design standards. Each home includes a minimum of two bedrooms, offering flexibility to accommodate a family member, carer or overnight guest, supporting both independence and companionship.

Community-Centred Layout
The apartments are arranged around a central landscaped courtyard with cobbled paving, integrated seating, and shared green space that encourages neighbourly interaction and helps reduce isolation. Ground-floor units have private gardens and terraces, while upper-floor apartments feature generous balconies with access from both living areas and bedrooms, enhancing natural light and outdoor connection.

Location and Adaptability
Located close to public transport, shops, and essential services, the development supports older residents to live independently while remaining connected to their community. Homes are designed with future care needs in mind, featuring adaptable layouts and interconnecting bedrooms and bathrooms to facilitate hoist systems and assistive technologies, avoiding the cost and disruption of future retrofitting.

Design, Safety, and Sustainability
The design balances functionality with visual quality. Natural brickwork, black railings, and a soft colour palette create a calm, high-quality streetscape with active frontage and improved pedestrian safety. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, developed with input from An Garda Síochána, enhance security through passive surveillance, open sightlines, and well-lit pathways. Sustainability is embedded throughout, with energy-efficient air-to-water heat pumps and durable materials that reduce long-term maintenance and running costs.

Delivery and Build Quality
High standards were achieved through detailed specifications and contract drawings, which ensured consistency in quality from concept through to construction. Delivered by Lowry Construction, who partakes in the ‘Considerate Constructor’ scheme, the construction process reflected a strong commitment to safety, environmental responsibility, and precision workmanship. This collaborative, quality-focused approach ensured that the finished scheme not only exceeds technical requirements but also enhances residents’ quality of life.

Measurable Benefits
Since completion, the development has delivered clear and lasting benefits. It supports older people to remain in their communities safely and with dignity, reduces reliance on nursing home care, and eases pressure on health and social services. A dedicated Healthy Homes Coordinator works directly with residents, providing personalised support and connecting them with local services and resources. By integrating thoughtful design, sustainability, and person-centred care, Cúirt an Troisc offers a replicable model of age-friendly housing that responds to real needs and fosters long-term community wellbeing.

Aim of Initiative

Cúirt an Troisc aimed to deliver lifetime-adaptable homes that enable older people to remain in their communities safely, comfortably, and independently. Central to the project was the integration of Universal Design principles, ensuring homes can adapt to residents’ changing needs over time. The initiative aligns with six core principles:

Ageing in Place
The development supports older people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. Homes feature adaptable layouts, including interconnecting bedrooms and bathrooms, allowing for hoist systems if needed.

Supporting Urban Renewal
By transforming a once vacant, underused site into a vibrant residential space, the project enhances the streetscape, introduces active frontage, and creates safer pedestrian routes, benefiting the broader community.

Promoting Sustainable Lifetime Housing
Built to Universal Design standards, the homes incorporate energy-efficient air-to-water heat pumps, durable materials, and layouts that anticipate future care needs. Private and communal outdoor spaces maximise natural light and long-term liveability.

Using Assistive Technology
Homes are future-proofed for assistive devices like personal alarms and monitoring systems. A Healthy Homes Coordinator supports residents in accessing and using these technologies.

Staying Socially Connected
The design encourages social interaction through an internal communal space, central landscaped courtyard, seating areas, and shared balconies, helping to reduce isolation and promote wellbeing.

Working Together
The initiative’s success reflects collaboration between the Older Persons Council, health services, local Gardaí, and community stakeholders, shaping design and ongoing resident support.

Who is it aimed at

Donegal is proud to have one of the highest rates in the country of older people remaining in their own homes, reflecting a strong cultural value of independence and community-based living.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the necessary family supports to enjoy this freedom. This project addresses this gap by offering housing solutions that ensure older residents can live independently.

Cúirt an Troisc is aimed at older people who wish to age in place but need suitable, adaptable housing to do so safely and comfortably. All homes include two bedrooms, allowing for a live-in carer, family member, or guest, supporting flexibility and companionship as needs change over time. The development also benefits the wider community by regenerating an underused site, and creating a new and central hub for out reach services.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Integration of Universal Design and Age Friendly Principles
   The early adoption of Universal Design principles ensured that homes were fully adaptable, allowing residents to age in place with dignity. Interconnecting rooms, future-proofed layouts, and accessibility were designed in, avoiding costly retrofits later.
2. Cross-Sector Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
   Input from community groups, health professionals, Gardaí, sports partnership, and local services created a well-rounded, person-centred development. Regular consultations and ongoing communication helped build trust and alignment.
3. On the Ground Support
   The appointment of a Healthy Homes Coordinator provided essential, individualised support to residents, connecting them with services and technologies, and enhancing the reach and impact of the project beyond the physical homes.kk

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Infill Site Constraints
   The development was located on a constrained infill site, surrounded on all sides by neighbouring properties, requiring sensitive design, construction logistics, and communication to manage impact and ensure privacy.
2. Initial Local Concerns
   There were early reservations from the surrounding community about the introduction of a new housing scheme. These were addressed through engagement events, clear communication of project aims, and demonstrating long-term community benefits.
3. Balancing High Design Standards within Budget
   Achieving a high level of finish, sustainability, and Universal Design within budget required meticulous planning, detailed specifications, and close coordination between design and construction teams.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Older People Living Independently for Longer
   The scheme allows residents to remain in their communities in a safe, supportive environment, reducing reliance on institutional care and easing pressure on healthcare services.
2. Creation of a High-Quality, Replicable Model
   Cúirt an Troisc serves as an exemplar of sustainable, compact, age-friendly housing that can inform and inspire similar developments nationally.
3. Improved Social Connection and Wellbeing
   Communal spaces, a thoughtful layout, and the Healthy Homes Coordinator role have helped reduce isolation, supporting social interaction and improved quality of life for residents.