Watch the city change

DublinExhibitionSo many people in Dublin are reeling from all the changes in the city over the past 10 years that it's good to take stock. But there's a lot happening that is positive - particularly in new approaches to architecture and urban planning.

The best of it has been drawn together in a new multi-media exhibition, "Reflecting City: Reconstructing Dublin", now running at the RIAI's Architecture Centre in 8 Merrion Square.

And what it offers is an accessible overview of the city's development.

From integrated area planning to visions of the city in the next 20 years, it showcases Dublin's urban development through images, articles, virtual tours, 3D imagery and video interviews with the main players, including architects, planners and community activists.

Ballymun, Docklands, the north inner city, O'Connell Street, Temple Bar, Smithfield, Heuston Station, Trinity College and the "historic quarter" around Merrion Square are all featured in the exhibition, which is supported by a CD-Rom and website, www.reflectingcity.com.

Conceived and developed by the award-winning Irish multi-media company, Bluebloc Digital, the aim of "Reflecting City: Reconstructing Dublin" is to show how good urban planning, design and architecture can transform cities in a very positive way.

Financed by the Office of Public Works, Dublin City Council, the RIAI, Dublin Docklands Development Authority, Ballymun Regeneration, Trinity College and the Arts Council, it is a follow-up to Bluebloc Digital's 2002 exhibition first shown at the International Union of Architects congress in Berlin.

The latest version will also travel to the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris, the International Union of Architects congress in Istanbul in July and the Russian Festival of Architecture in Moscow in September.

Other venues include the Civic Offices at Wood Quay and Ballymun.

Reflecting City: Reconstructing Dublin, is on view at the Architecture Centre, 8 Merrion Square, until March 19th