New Life for Old Buildings is a national programme about the future of buildings that are already built. It is developed and delivered by the Irish Architecture Foundation as part of Reimagine, the IAF’s placemaking programme. Our aim is to empower people determined to transform Ireland’s vacant buildings into homes by providing opportunities for on-the-ground learning and knowledge  exchange, building a national network of individuals determined to breathe new life into old buildings.

In 2024, the New Life for Old Buildings programme will take place in Limerick in partnership with our anchor venue, the Hunt Museum.  First Steps: No Finance, No Project is the second of a number of Limerick based walks, talks, clinics, and site visits events in 2024 and 2025. The 2024 programme is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

This weekend provides the opportunity to engage with essential financial and practical guidance and inspiration for those beginning their journey of breathing new life into old buildings. This is followed by our Saturday morning site visits to meet first-hand with the people of Limerick who are at different stages of converting vacant buildings into homes. These visits offer a rare opportunity to meet homeowners and experts who have successfully transformed, or are transforming, vacant properties into vibrant living spaces.

New Life for Old Buildings 2024 – First Steps: No Finance, No Project, 4-5 October.

1. ‘Waste of Space: Vacant Limerick’, Friday 4 October, 17:30-19:00 (free)

Explore Limerick’s architectural heritage with local historian Paul O’ Brien for a walk about tour of where it all began. Meeting at the Hunt Museum and finishing at the International Rugby Experience building. Register for the Walking Tour.

2.  Specialist Clinics Friday 4 October, 17:30-19:00, Hunt Museum (free)

Book in for informal chats and advice sessions with the Living City Initiative, Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan, local accountants and more. Register for the Specialist Clinics.

3. Presentations, Friday 4 October, 19:00-20:15, The Captain’s Room, Hunt Museum (free)

Talks on challenges and opportunities at the early stages of projects from chartered quantity surveyor and Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland Nick Taaffe and Limerick City and County Council senior architect Gráinne McMahon from the Living City Initiative. Register for the Presentations.

4. Site Visits, Saturday 5 October, 10:00-12:00 (€10)

Join us for site visits where we’ll meet first-hand the people of Limerick who are at different stages of converting vacant buildings into homes. Register for the Site Visits.

This is the second of three New Life for Old Buildings weekends in Limerick this autumn. Save the dates for

• On-site Insight, 11-12 October

New Life for Old Buildings is a key part of the IAF’s mission to inspire new ways of thinking about the built environment and turning challenges into opportunities for community-driven change. We extend our gratitude to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for funding this programme and to all of our project and venue partners and contributors for making this valuable work possible.

Photo credit: Dermot Lynch for the IAF.