A EUROPEAN CITY
Today's Dublin is the capital of a modern European member state. The prosperity of the Irish economy in the 1990s has reflected itself in the revival of the centre of the nation's capital. Having been traditionally a services and administrative centre, Dublin is now the focus of a high-tech post-industrial economy. The development of financial services, computer technology and communications together with a scheme of tax incentives directed towards urban renewal have been prime factors in the metamorphosis of the inner city area.

Dublin was fortunate to miss out on the radical changes which occurred to the urban fabric of most European cities both as a result of the Second World War and the modernist aftermath when renewal was equated with removal. The fabric of the city centre remained intact throughout the economic boom of the 1960s despite the blight caused by road widening plans and the changes brought about by generally mediocre office development.

By the time renewal of the city centre had commenced in the early 1990s there had been a general reaction in Europe against modernist architecture and urban planning that failed to take account of urban grain and context. New methods of urban intervention as exemplified by the principles of "Critical Reconstruction" established as part of the International Building Exhibition in Berlin and the work of Martorell Bohigas Mackey in the Nueva Icaria project in Barcelona, together with the philosophies exposed by Leon Krier and Aldo Rossi, had taken root with Irish designers.

In general the guiding principle of the "European City" with its strict division between public streets, squares and parks on the one hand and private lots on the other was now in the ascendancy.

The title of "metropolis" can be genuinely claimed only by those cities which respect their historical context. For this reason, it is not the aim of urban design to collect outstanding architectural achievements as in a museum. New architecture must relate to the city, to the historical and urban planning context and to architectural tradition, in order to reinforce the identity of the city. Architectural progress evolves from the continued development of tradition, typologies and technologies. Recent renewal work in Dublin has been generally faithful to the principles.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
The change from the dear old decaying "Dirty Dublin" to the fashionable capital of one of the European Union's economic success stories has been both rapid and remarkable. The early redevelopment of the city centred on the construction of a large number of apartment developments on derelict sites and on the initial development of the International Financial Services Sector.

Dublin Corporation with the arrival of a new City Manger and City Architect and changes in significant staff experienced an administrative revival in the period post 1995. Appropriate urban renewal schemes were planned in areas such as Smithfield. More recently the Integrated Area Plans for O'Connell Street, the North East Inner City, the Coombe and the Harp Area each present the possibility of urban renewal achieving both physical and social improvements.

The second phase of the IFSC is now well advanced and illustrates the improvement in urban design over the earlier phase with a greater variety of uses evident, particularly on Mayor Street.

The West End, i.e. the area between Parliament Street and Fishamble Street, is the final stage of the Temple Bar Properties development involving the major residential element of its building programme. This ambitious programme involving a wide range of residential building types over retail and restaurants, carried out by a team of seven architectural firms is an urban renewal model of European significance.

The Smithfield area, one of the major public spaces in the Harp Area, is in the process of being renewed with new tourism, leisure, commercial and other mixed uses. It is set to reach its potential as a major public space in North Inner City.

THE NEW MILLENNIUM
As we enter the twenty first century in an era of unprecedented economic growth and with Dublin evolving and developing at an ever-increasing rate, it is an appropriate time to reflect on what has been achieved in recent years and on future direction.

Over 200 years ago, when the city last reached a comparable level of economic prosperity, its image as a Georgian city of urban squares and terraces punctuated by public buildings and spaces was established. The effect of the Act of Union was not immediately apparent and the slow economic decline and concomitant affect on the city's fabric was no longer apparent.

Notwithstanding the optimism of forecasters it is inevitable that this period of economic advancement will moderate. Then future generations will have an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of our generation. As we enter the new millennium it is important that all of those involved in shaping our city: architects; urban designers; planners; administrators and politicians maintain the vision and objectives of Dublin as a model European City in its urban design, architecture and quality of life.

Tony Reddy is a principle of Anthony Reddy Associates, Architects, Planning Consultants, Urban Designers and Project Managers.