Client Google | Landscape Architect Gustafson Porter + Bowman |
Photographer Gareth Byrne © Google, Speirs Major Light Architecture | Project Team Mark Major, Benz Roos, Justyna Bork |
Boland’s Mill is a major urban regeneration project in Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock district. The development combines three contemporary towers with the careful restoration of the historic 19th-century Boland’s flour mills, alongside residential apartments, office space and shared public spaces.
Connectivity and Flow
Conceived as an open and permeable urban campus, Gustafson Porter + Bowman’s design knits the Quay into its surroundings while establishing a character of its own.
As daylight fades, our lighting defines the thresholds, creating identifiable landmarks and views that draw pedestrians in, while shaping a vibrant light-and-dark composition that guides safe movement.
A Circular Approach
A focus on sustainability underpins the lighting strategy. Equipment already on site was reused and refurbished where possible. Across the development, we carefully controlled lighting levels to minimise glare, light pollution, and light ingress into residential buildings, ensuring an energy-efficient approach that respects the residents and the surrounding urban environment.
Neighbourhood, Community and Wellbeing
Our lighting creates a neighbourhood atmosphere, with pockets of feature lighting that support social activity and quieter moments of pause. Each space has its own character while contributing to a cohesive overall identity.
Canal Bank Square
At the water’s edge, glowing orbs are scattered throughout the landscaping, keeping the atmosphere informal and playful.
Boland Square
Soft light articulates the dock edge, while highlights to the colourful art screens create a joyful and inviting atmosphere.
Both details are visible from across the dock, serving as beacons and casting beautiful reflections on the water.
Heart of the Community
For this family play area, the lighting is simple and suited to the space’s informal character. As in other areas, bright colour is highlighted and incorporated, as seen here in the columns refinished in bright yellow.
In the smaller public spaces - Carter Square, Miller Lane and Canal Bank Lane – we integrated lighting into both the hard and soft landscape, highlighting benches, handrails and trees, casting layered shadows through planting, and reflecting light across water features.
The result is a series of gently animated night-time environments that shift and evolve with the seasons.
Celebrating Heritage
A defining feature of the development, the restored heritage buildings are illuminated to accentuate their materiality, craftsmanship and industrial character.
We actively washed the dock-facing façades with close-offset light, highlighting the brickwork texture and historic signage.
On the street and square façades of Boland’s Flour Mill, a rhythmic arrangement of customised wall-mounted lanterns and accent spotlights illuminates routes and reveals the historic brickwork.
The facade of Building D on Barrow Street is illuminated to highlight the contrast in appearance with the new tower architecture. Light softly illuminates the facade from the lightwells, with additional accents to the doorway arches and window reveals.
Bespoke post-mounted lanterns at the entrance are inspired by historic designs, while incorporating the latest technology.