The Hometown Architect project is part of the Irish Architecture Foundation’s Reimagine programme, which aims to connect communities with architects to co-design and improve their local built environment. The Reimagine programme believes that local insight and tacit knowledge from all stakeholders are integral to developing solutions for our urban spaces, fostering a sense of agency, ownership, and pride among participants.
Hometown Architect invites joint applications from community stakeholders and local architects with proposals that focus specifically on the improvement of some aspect of their local town or village centre.
This open call is now closed. You can see the selected projects here.
Funded by the Arts Council and Department of Rural and Community Development, with additional support to the Irish Architecture Foundation from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, this project aligns with the Town Centre First policy, which aims to revitalise towns across Ireland, building and sustaining vibrant town centres where communities can flourish. In 2023, 5 communities will be awarded supports to the value of €10,000 for projects that focus on the regeneration of their town centres.
Applications will be accepted from Tuesday 1st Nov 2022 until Monday 16th January 2023, through our online application form here. The full Open Call brief can be downloaded below. Online information sessions will be held on the following dates, outlining the application process in detail and giving the opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A discussion:
Info session 1: Wednesday 23rd Nov, 12pm – 1pm. Register here.
Info session 2: Tues 13th Dec, 12 – 1pm. Register here.
Sign up to our newsletter mailing list at the bottom of this page to be kept up to date with Hometown Architect and other Reimagine news and events.
Reimagine is a nationwide placemaking programme by the Irish Architecture Foundation, that works with communities across Ireland to co-create and co-design solutions to problems or opportunities they’ve identified in their locality. Reimagine matches architects with local partners, enabling communities to play an active role in the development of their neighbourhoods, streetscapes, parks, villages and towns. We truly believe architecture has the power to improve the way we live and how we think about our built environment. By bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, we can create a more inclusive conversation that will inspire a better-built environment for everyone.
This website acts as a central portal, with information on placemaking toolkits and training, a free webinar archive, case studies, essays and the latest placemaking news. The Reimagine team also host a wide range of events during the year, including informal cafés, panel talks and workshops.
Since 2019, Reimagine has worked with twelve communities around Ireland on projects identified by the communities themselves. Through annual Open Calls, we select communities to work with design teams on solutions to improve their built environment. Find out more about these project on our Fieldwork page.
The Reimagine programme was initially developed with funding from the Creative Ireland Programme’s National Creativity Fund. Reimagine and associated projects are now funded by the Arts Council, Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Irish Architecture Foundation is principally funded by the Arts Council, Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage, Office of Public Works, which enables us to deliver projects like Reimagine.
