In its eighteenth-century heyday Dublin was the second city of the British Empire-a short period of wealth which saw the construction of the Georgian city. A period of slow decline followed which helped preserve much of the urban fabric until neglect and the economic slump of recent years accelerated the loss and damage. The last five years, however, have seen a spectacular transformation in Dublin` s fortunes, with a wealth of new architecture that exhibits a deep understanding of urban design and an appreciation of the context, history and continuity of the city.
Historic central areas such as Trinity College are being transformed by challenging modern buildings, while the great experiment of Temple Bar is an urban-renewal project of European significance. This guide describes more than 100 new buildings, viewing them within the continuum of a historic city renewing itself.