The Reimagine Workers’ Villages exhibition is a celebration of the work and legacy of architect Frank Gibney by the Irish Architecture Foundation, and the contribution of the communities that were created through his innovative Bord na Móna villages. Built in the 1950s to house the growing workforce for the national peat industry, they represented a new departure in rural housing and continue to provide lessons in compact, sustainable design.
The exhibition will delve into the social history of the villages, with video interviews and exhibition materials for visitors to look through and get a sense of what life in the villages was like during their time as Bord na Móna estates. We also invite any visitors with a connection to any of Frank Gibney’s worker estates across Ireland to share their own stories.
On November 9th, the IAF will host a Workers’ Villages colloquium, which will bring together academics, architects and community members to think together about the legacy and future story of the Bord na Mona villages. This will be followed by a public talk to formally launch the exhibition.
Workers’ Villages project is funded through Creative Ireland’s Creative Climate Action Fund, aimed at supporting communities at the heart of Ireland’s Just Transition process.
