Dún Laoghaire Baths Redevelopment

Description

Dún Laoghaire now has a new ‘seascape space’ – full of life – people eating ice cream, chatting, sitting around, walkers, skaters, swimmers. People gather here naturally – a piece of both public space, infrastructure and urban design. It is unique because of the sound, the light and the smell of the sea. Long bench seats, accessible ramps, steps, terraced gardens undulating ground and changes in level connect the public to the beach with a sense of theatre.

400 metres of coastline with a 9 metre drop from Queen’s Road to high tide sea level are reimagined are opened up as part of this complex public infrastructure project. From People’s Park one now has a direct view across Queens Road to the refurbished Edwardian pavilion on the seafront, visually linking with the larger villa-style buildings along Dun Laoghaire’s coast. The new pavilion houses a café and changing places bathroom at street level. A lift and stair descends to the lower level where four artists’ studios, a foyer and accessible toilets are housed with access onto the intermediate promenade outside.

An intermediate walkway between Newtown Smith’s seafront promenade and Dún Laoghaire’s East Pier connects various levels, viewing points and landscaped areas by means of accessible ramps, seating and terraced gardens. Presiding over this new seascape space is a robust yet gentle sculpture of Roger Casement – a human rights activist and patriot – on a new jetty that negotiates the horizon on a tapered pedestal.

Every effort has been made to ensure that every part of this complex public project is universally accessible. Three universally accessible car/van spaces have been provided at Newtownsmith car park. All connecting paths from the car park to the pavilion entrance are kept to a gradient shallower than 1:20. A café, external terrace and ‘Changing Places’ toilet are accommodated at street level. An accessible toilet is also provided along with four artists’ studios and artists’ foyer on the ground floor. A fully accessible lift connects both levels. Externally accessible ramps and steps with resting places connect all levels of the project.

The project has involved engagement with many accessibility stakeholders across the full site redevelopment. There have been ongoing meetings and site visits with the Council’s Disability Consultation Group who have been kept fully informed of progress with the works.

The collaboration between Happy Out and The Together Academy at the public café also represents a unique social enterprise in Dublin that provides young adults with Down syndrome certified training, practical work experience, employment opportunities and a critical social and support network.

Aim of Initiative

From the 1840s, the Edwardian baths at Dún Laoghaire were used as an urban spa dedicated to therapeutic health and relaxation. Since their closure in the late 1980s, they remained neglected and in disrepair, depriving the city’s population of the opportunity to connect with the sea. The recent renovation of the Dún Laoghaire Baths is part of a comprehensive redevelopment plan implemented by the city over the past 20 years, aimed at enhancing its public spaces. In this case, the renovation sought to restore the lost connection between the city and its seafront, while ensuring accessibility for all.
The primary objectives of the redevelopment were:
To create a publicly accessible route from Sandycove along the sea front to the East Pier.
to retain the existing pavilion building ensuring that it would be open and accessible to the whole community, it is the only publicly owed pavilion along the seafront.
To create easier access and connection to the sea.
The proposal removed the obstacles blocking the view and access to the water and bridged 9m gap between Queen’s Road and the lower plaza. The current proposal was brought forward by DLR in 2011. Work finally commenced on site in 2018 and completed in February 2025.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative was aimed at the whole community and bringing back to life part of the sea front that was not accessible.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Crucial to the success of the project was early engagement with the community and stakeholder groups. The dlr Disability & Consultation Group (DCG) were one of these groups they play a role in recommending improvements and greater inclusion to dlr County Council. Their work helps to provide awareness of and insight into the needs for greater accessibility to Capital Projects and Council services. The DCG is made up of volunteers of all ages and abilities and membership is currently expanding to diversify the scope of input.
   There were meetings and site visits with the DCG during the design and construction of the works, especially across the public realm and audit reports were generated so any enhancements could be made.
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3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. The nature of the site was extremely challenging, with a 9 metre drop from Queen’s Road to high tide sea level: occurring at a particular tightening between the coast road, the railway line and the sea. Every effort has been made to ensure that every part of this complex public project is universally accessible.
   DLR worked closely with Accessibility Consultants in identifying the standards and guidance used for this public project to ensure accessibility. Accessible ramps with resting places and steps connect all the intermediate levels of the scheme between Queen’s Road and the lowest sea level.
2. Though derelict and in disrepair, the existing Edwardian pavilion is not on the register of protected structures, however it is the only publicly owned pavilion along the seafront and therefore has an important significance to the town. It was a challenge to refurbish the building, to sensitively house the public café, accessible toilets, lift and artist studios. Greater still was the challenge to also accommodate a changing places toilet within the existing historic fabric; however it’s inclusion at street level has provided a valuable resource for use in a part of town frequented by huge number of users, with the widest range of abilities.
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3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. The Baths opened in February 2025 and have been well received. Dún Laoghaire now boasts a vibrant seascape filled with life, where locals and visitors of all ages can enjoy ice cream, stroll, chat, skate and swim. This unique public space immerses people in the sights, sounds and scents of the sea. The long benches, undulating terrain and changes in elevation create a theatrical atmosphere and offer a connection to the beach and water. This revitalised seascape and restored bathing area are here to stay and have become an integral part of the city’s identity.
2. In July 2024 the Dún Laoghaire Baths were the winner of Architectural Review Public Awards 2024 and were shortlisted for the CCCB European Seafront awards.
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