Urban regeneration and the economic crisis: past development and future challenges in Dublin, Ireland

Abstract

Among the medium to larger-sized European cities, Dublin is emblematic of the social and physical impacts of urban economic restructuring. During the economic boom of the nineties the Dublin area benefited of large investments, particularly in the services sectors, and large areas in the inner city were interested by significant process of physical regeneration. This article analyses the general trends in urban development in Dublin, focuses in particular on a case study of the docklands area which provides empirical evidence of the city’s development trajectory, and discusses the key challenges that face future urban development in the city.