Ireland
Design philosophy
Mitchell & Associates is a multi-disciplinary practice
founded in 1989, combining architectural, land-
scape architectural, urban design and masterplan-
ning skills. The practice deals with the interface
between the town planning scale and that of the
individual site. The main areas of experience are
in relation to urban landscape, masterplanning of
rural sites – particularly historical estates – and the
insertion of built form into sensitive landscapes. In
addition, the practice has been responsible for the
preparation of a series of Integrated Action Plans
for historic townscapes/landscapes, combining ele-
ments of planning, urban design and landscape.
In the case of the GPO Plaza, the creation of a
‘room’, a major civic space for meetings, respond-
ing to the site’s historical significance, was the
underlying design concept and it is exemplified
through the planting and the paving designs and
choice of materials.
Design development
The Spire
The Spire was erected to the north of the GPO
Plaza in 2003. Designed by Ian Ritchie Architects,
London, following their competition success, this
monument was envisaged as the key feature for
the refurbishment of O’Connell Street. The Spire is
a 120m-high conical structure, making it the tallest
structure in Dublin city centre. Constructed of rolled
stainless steel sheet, it is 3m wide at the base and
tapers to 15cm wide at the top. The top section is
perforated and lit by small LEDs. During the day,
the surface reflects light and the surrounding street-
scape. At night, the tip of the cone is illuminated
and provides the city with a navigation beacon. The
circular base at the bottom of the cone is of ridged
stainless steel.
Stone styles
Mitchell & Associates were commissioned as
sole landscape consultants in 1997. They were
not the lead designers for the O’Connell Street
works, but collaborated closely with Dublin City
Council throughout the project. The decision-mak-
ing involved a large number of people, at all levels
up to the City Manager, in relation to the selection
of stone. A wide range of samples were collected
and assessed prior to the final selection.
