ABSTRACT
The cityscape of Dublin has recently undergone a renaissance. In 1986, the Urban Renewal Acts provided tax incentives for undeveloped parts of the city, although they made no provision for community benefit within the developments. The first landscape project in the vicinity of Dublin to take advantage of the new legislation was the ferry terminal at Dun Laoghaire, built in 1991 to accommodate new ferries of larger size. The terminal plaza is an important gateway to the country for tourists and immigrants. The scheme includes microclimate attenuation and striking artwork in the form of a
mosaic serpentine seat. There is also a sample of Irish humour – palm trees, Trachycarpus fortuneii, to perplex the visitor as to their location. They grow contentedly in this relatively mild climate.
