A new use for office buildings?

Sir, – Your article on Dublin’s distressed office market (“Dublin’s office market remains distressed and it’s too early to call a recovery in rents,”August 18th) makes one thing clear: we are awash with vacant office buildings even as we face a national housing emergency. It should be obvious what to do.

Dublin doesn’t have a housing crisis and an office vacancy crisis – we have one simple problem with one simple solution: turn empty offices into sustainable homes and community hubs.

Instead of leaving valuable city centre space underused, we should retrofit offices into climate resilient, intergenerational housing. This avoids the carbon cost of demolition and creates vibrant communities with space for young adults, families, and older people, along with sport, food, health and co-working facilities.

Rooftops can grow food, façades can generate solar power, and city blocks can become true urban hubs.