Dublin Mountains Visitors Centre

The PKA-designed Dublin Mountains Visitors Centre is South Dublin County Council's flagship proposal to develop a gateway to the leisure and cultural opportunities that the mountains provide for tourists and Dubliners alike.

The objective of the project is to improve the mountains' leisure and cultural offer, while conserving the area's landscape, ecology and heritage in a manner that is consistent with international best practice.

Following completion of a 2005 masterplan, led by PKA, and the assessment of alternative sites, it was decided that the proposed development would be focused on the adjoining Massey's Wood and Montpellier Hill properties.

The architectural and archaeological heritage of these properties includes two passage tombs, the Massey's Wood walled garden and the world-famous Hellfire Club at the summit of Montpellier Hill.

PKA's masterplan comprises a range of designed walks and trails, improved visitor access and parking facilities, as well as PKA's two principal architectural interventions - the visitor centre building and the iconic tree-top walkway.

The visitors centre will accommodate a cafe / restaurant, a walkers' lounge, an interpretive space, an educational facility and essential services for walkers and other users of the mountains.

The tree-top walkway is an elevated bridge connecting Massey's Wood and Montpellier Hill; it will provide visitors with the unique experience of walking through a tree canopy, as well as reducing pedestrian activity between the two site along the busy Killakee Road.

An environmental impact statement, first submitted to An Bord Pleanala in August 2017, was recently re-submitted with the requested further information; a decision is anticipated in mid-year 2020.

Client: South Dublin County Council

Value: €22,000,000
Size: N/A
Reference: Mr Frank Nevin, SDCC
Design: 2015
Completion: 2020