Compact green city model proposes lower-cost, higher-density alternative to traditional housing
Architect-led design aims to balance affordability, liveability and community in Ireland’s housing delivery
31 March 2026 | 📧 editor@ipropertyradio.com
An Irish architectural practice has unveiled a new residential model it claims could address structural challenges in Ireland’s housing system by delivering higher density homes at lower cost while prioritising community design – watch the video in full: https://youtu.be/dMhz_vA-vsw?si=ePWPZoCofXOuasUb
Dublin-based JFOC Architects has introduced its ‘compact green city’ concept, a three-storey, medium-density housing model designed specifically for Irish planning, construction and market conditions. The model proposes a shift away from the dominant semi-detached suburban estate towards a more space-efficient layout centred on shared green areas.
According to the firm, the design can deliver up to four times more dwellings than traditional semi-detached housing schemes, while achieving densities of approximately 100 homes per hectare. This level of density is comparable to established urban neighbourhoods such as Portobello and Stoneybatter in Dublin, where population levels are sufficient to sustain local services and businesses.
The proposal also seeks to address cost barriers associated with apartment construction. JFOC Architects estimates that the model could reduce build costs by up to 30% compared to conventional apartment schemes. The design avoids extensive internal communal areas such as corridors and stairwells, which can add to construction costs and, in some cases, reduce buyer appeal.
Claire McManus of JFOC Architects and housing spokesperson for the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland said the model responds to both economic and social shortcomings in current housing delivery.
“Solving the housing crisis is not just about delivering units, it is about creating communities. Great public spaces are just as important as high-quality houses,” she said.
The design reduces the footprint of road infrastructure, which typically accounts for a significant proportion of land use and development costs in suburban schemes. Instead, car parking is located at the perimeter of the development or integrated beneath buildings, allowing more land to be allocated to public and semi-private green space.
Approximately 30% of the site area is dedicated to shared gardens and pocket parks, which the architects argue are less costly to deliver than road networks while providing higher amenity value. Each dwelling includes either a private terrace or balcony, alongside a direct front door connection to communal landscaped areas.
Two primary building typologies are proposed within the model. The first consists of small apartment blocks arranged in a checkerboard layout, creating semi-private shared gardens between buildings. The second is a perimeter block format, where duplex-style apartments are arranged around a central raised garden, with parking concealed below.
The layouts are designed to encourage passive surveillance and social interaction, with balconies overlooking shared spaces intended for informal use by residents.
Ms McManus said the concept is intended to bridge the gap between traditional houses and apartments in the Irish market.
“Streets of houses are cheaper to build than apartments, but they don’t deliver sustainable densities which allow businesses and communities to flourish. Apartment buildings help to avoid suburban sprawl, but they are expensive to build and not as desirable,” she said.
The proposal arrives amid continued pressure on Ireland’s housing system to increase delivery while improving affordability and urban quality. By combining higher density with lower construction costs and an emphasis on placemaking, the ‘compact green city’ model is positioned as a potential alternative for both public and private sector housing schemes.
The extent to which such models can be adopted at scale will depend on planning acceptance, delivery mechanisms and market response, but the proposal reflects a growing focus within the sector on rethinking suburban housing formats to meet long-term housing demand.
