3D Design Bureau

Plans have been submitted to Dublin City Council to transform the vacant former Ulster Bank at 130 Baggot Street Lower into a 2,632.66 sq m hospitality development. The proposal centres on the conservation and reuse of the protected structure, alongside the redevelopment of adjoining properties at 33 to 37 Pembroke Street Lower, to provide a 37-bedroom hotel with restaurants, bars and guest amenities.

Following the success of our first Best of the Quarter initiative, voting is now open for the Q2 Awards.

Following a third-party appeal, An Coimisiún Pleanála has upheld planning permission for a new residential development on former Bray Golf Club lands, off Dublin Road and Ravenswell Road, Bray, Co. Dublin. The approved scheme will deliver 159 homes as part of the wider Sea Gardens development, comprising 150 apartments and 9 townhouses.

Work continues on Wicker Walk, a new phase of the wider Seven Mills, Dublin’s newest town. This phase provides for a major mixed-use scheme comprising 660 homes, including houses, duplexes and apartments, together with a crèche, community floorspace and extensive public open space.

Following an appeal, An Coimisiún Pleanála has upheld planning permission for a new residential development at Scholarstown House, Scholarstown Road, Dublin 16. The approved scheme will deliver 57 homes in total, comprising apartments and two houses.

Wicklow County Council has granted planning permission with conditions for a new residential development at Broomhall, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow. The approved scheme will provide 87 homes in a mix of houses and duplexes/maisonettes, together with a crèche, sports pitch and supporting site infrastructure.

Hotel projects need to be understood, discussed and promoted long before they are built. In that sense, they are not so different to other types of development. What tends to vary is what people need to see early on. For planning and stakeholder engagement, for example, the priority is accuracy and context, clear representation of massing, materials and how the proposal sits within its surrounding environment.

Following last year’s article on the key trends shaping the AEC industry, we are back to share what we believe will define 2026. These trends are not entirely new. Many were already building momentum in 2025. The difference this year is that they are becoming more connected, with better data, clearer processes, and higher expectations around certainty, speed, and quality.

As 2025 draws to a close, the CIS Construction Industry Forecast 2025–2027 provides a look at what the next phase of growth could mean for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Long before construction begins on-site, a great amount of work goes into preparing a project. Among the key elements of this preparation are architectural visualisations, which play an essential role during the planning stages and later help property developers and estate agents market units off-plan as construction progresses.

With housing demand rising and urban density increasing, apartment developments have become central to urban planning strategies. In Ireland, this topic has been at the heart of ongoing debates, particularly following the announcement of new apartment design standards by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, alongside the Minister of State for Planning.

Before a project even breaks ground, developers face a series of important steps that shape its viability. Beyond the challenges of the planning process, much of this work begins during the feasibility stage, where early decisions can save developers both time and money. One of the most effective tools at this stage is the Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV).

Welcome to Ep. 1 of the 3D Design Podcast. We have scoured the internet’s biggest forums, search engine queries, and keywords to find the web’s most asked questions about architectural […]