St James' Gate

Our proposal for St James’ Gate brewery looks to transform Guinness’ landmark site into a lively, mixed-use urban district while retaining and enhancing its unique industrial heritage. Set in The Liberties, a centuries-old neighbourhood in west Dublin, our masterplan establishes a network of fine-grained laneways and squares reminiscent of the surrounding Georgian city. To guarantee a new urban quarter visibly shaped by its past, we identified over 20 buildings, including brew houses, cooperages, and hop and grain stores to retrofit and accommodate the new programme, comprising commercial, residential and cultural functions. Their retention will represent a legacy of engineering innovation pursued by Guinness over the last three centuries. For instance, as part of our scheme, Brewhouse 3, Ireland’s largest cast iron building when it completed in 1879, will serve as Diageo’s new headquarters. Newly built structures inspired by the site’s history will act as significant placemaking markers within the district. The former brewery main entrance gates will lead to a new urban square with an adjoining central Market Building. Constructed with pyramidal timber roof volumes set atop a vaulted brick plinth, the building will provide a covered pedestrian link leading to the larger Storehouse Square, with the iconic refurbished Guinness Storehouse as its backdrop. An adjoining contemporary residential building, modelled on stainless steel brewing vats, will feature filigree perforated stainless steel shutters filtering light to generous terraces at its perimeter. Opposite, a new copper-clad auditorium will serve as a multipurpose venue, designed to spill out and animate the public realm.