Explore the public realm of the redeveloped Bolands Mills, developed by Google and recipient of the 2026 RIAI Irish Architecture Award for Universal Design, with a particular focus on how Universal Design principles have shaped the experience of this historic site.

Join architect Donncha O’Shea of Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Access Consultant Eoin O’Herlihy, and members of the RIAI Universal Design Taskforce for a guided tour of the public spaces at Bolands Mills. The tour will explore the history and context of the site, as well as the challenges and opportunities involved in creating welcoming, inclusive and accessible spaces for everyone.

The tour will consider how architecture, landscape, accessibility and user experience come together in the public realm, and how Universal Design can contribute to places that are both distinctive and genuinely inclusive.

Places on the tour are limited, allowing for a more focused and interactive experience. Participants will be invited to share their own observations and feedback on their experience of the public spaces, contributing to a wider conversation about accessibility, inclusion and the quality of the public realm.

Following the tour, we will gather at Daphni Bar in Bolands Square for a round-table discussion exploring the design process in greater depth. The discussion will bring together the perspectives of the design team, access professionals and participants, with a particular focus on how the spaces are experienced and used in practice.

An opportunity to look beyond the finished project and consider how inclusive design is conceived, delivered and experienced in practice — and what can be learned from an award-winning example of Universal Design in the public realm.

This event was selected through the Open Call (Open to All) as part of this year’s Open House Dublin programme.

Pre-Book Only

Wheelchair accessible
Accessible Toilets
Assistance Dogs welcome
Easy Read information (designed for people with intellectual disabilities, people who can’t read well, and people whose first language is not English)
Tactile Materials
Prams/buggies permitted

This tour is an inclusive event at an accessible public space. All are welcome.
If you require any particular assistance to attend/participate please contact us in advance.