Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

‘A FRESH VIEW for a new way of life” is the message the hoardings across from the Stillorgan Luas stop declare to alighting passengers. Behind the hoardings lies an extensive multi-block development of high-rise apartments, shops, businesses and offices, many of which are still unfinished. The jaunty advertising slogan of this particular development company has an unintentionally ironic tone: the fact is, for a considerable number of people around the country, living alongside unfinished developments has indeed become a new way of life, writes ROSITA BOLAND

Next weekend, Dublin hosts Open House, encouraging citizens to explore buildings of architectural merit or public interest. As part of the programme, architect and academic Alan Mee will conduct an “Unbuilding Walking Tour” at the unspecified location of an unfinished development. The aim of the tour is to “directly relate the current economic and development crisis to a particular location”.