Europa Blackrock

A major new residential scheme is set to transform the former Europa Garage site in Blackrock. Designed by Metropolitan Workshop, the development proposes 101 new homes arranged across two architecturally distinct buildings that frame a landscaped central courtyard. Ranging from one to six storeys, the scheme balances urban density with a sensitive response to the area’s heritage context, maximising the potential of this prominent brownfield site.

The residential mix comprises 51 one-bed, 42 two-bed, and 8 three-bed apartments, each with private balconies or terraces. Residents will enjoy high-quality communal and public open spaces, totalling approximately 1,464 sqm, along with a basement providing 73 car parking spaces and 244 bicycle spaces. Submitted through the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) process, the project aligns with national policy to promote compact growth and higher-density housing in well-connected urban locations.

Metropolitan Workshop’s design doubles the site’s previous 2017 capacity, growing from 51 to 101 homes, while maintaining a sensitive urban grain. The development sits at a transitional point between Blackrock and Monkstown, adjacent to four protected structures and close to high-capacity public transport. Two distinct buildings respond directly to their surroundings—one referencing the scale and rhythm of neighbouring manor houses, the other reflecting the pattern of the nearby single-storey Newtown Villas.

A new public space along Newtown Avenue establishes a west-facing civic realm, reinstating historic street rhythms and enhancing local permeability. The roofscape, articulated with chimney-like features, interprets traditional architectural language while concealing rooftop plant, creating a domestic and recognisable identity within the townscape.

The proposal is set within a former tram depot site, once home to the O’Connell Street to Dalkey tramline terminus. Its design draws inspiration from this layered history and from the area’s rich mix of architectural typologies. A warm material palette of buff and grey brick with rough-cast render provides visual continuity with surrounding cottages and villas, while the broken-down massing ensures the scheme avoids a monolithic appearance.

Situated between coastal views and key public transport corridors, the Europa Garage project exemplifies how contemporary housing can sensitively intensify urban areas while enhancing local character and connectivity. The scheme represents a model for sustainable redevelopment in established Dublin suburbs.

Status: Complete