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Log Driving Museum & Centre for Wetland, Fetsund, Norway

Concept Proposal

Holiday Guest House, Dalkey, Ireland

Planning Permission Granted

Bishop Lucey Park, Cork, Ireland

Concept Proposal

Floating Hotel, Lake Velenje, Slovenia

Planning Stage

y design

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We are Architects
'Y design' is a small creative architectural practice based in Dublin, Ireland. The studio has been founded in 2017 and is led by an architect Greg Dubiel.  (  Greg Dubiel Architect LinkedIn Profile  )


Our studio leads a number of small and mid-size projects and often collaborates on larger projects with locally-based well-established architectural practices.


If you wish to know more about us and our practice, please do not hesitate to contact us. Below you can find a sample of our design portfolio, it (probably!) speaks for us best... ;-)



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September, 2020
Museums in Akershus in 2020 organised an international contest to design a new National Log Driving Museum and Competence Centre for Wetlands. The site is located 30km east of Oslo and has over 400m long bank overlooking River Glomma. The new building will be cr. 7,000 sqm.

Log driving (the traditional technique of moving logs downstream using the river current) has been used to move timber in Norway since the 13th century. The Fetsund Booms, known locally as the Fetsund Lenser, is a former industrial site which played an important role in Norway’s log driving industry between 1861 and 1985 when the practice ceased.

The intention behind the proposed design is to create a building whose form expresses the rudiment essence of the log driving industry and complements or creates an uninterrupted background for the existing wetland context. The simple form, resembling a large log on the bank, has a unique and recognisable silhouette.

The proposed long and wide pier provides a strong connection between the building and the river Glomma. The pier allows for various water activities, future arriving by boats and exploration of the life hidden in the river.


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April, 2020
In 2020 Cork City County Council organized an architectural competition seeking proposal to improve functionality and usability of one of the main ‘soft space’ in the inner city - Bishop Lucey Park. The 150x50-metre park is located between South Main Street and the Grand Parade in the medieval quarter of Cork City and includes a partial exhibition of the medieval Cork City Wall.

Cork City Centre (the city centre island) is characterised by a dense network of urban blocks, streets, spaces, laneways and quays that vary greatly in both form and function. Within this urban structure, there is a very limited number of parks and “soft spaces". Improvement of the functionality of existing public spaces has continuously been recognised as a very important element of the Cork City development strategy.

The proposed concept includes installation of a circular gazebo-like pavilion above the unearthed part of the medieval wall to create an essential guiding landmark. The 'Black Knight' canopy has been inspired by typical circular temples / commemorative structures forms and the proposed weathered steel cladding is reminiscent of medieval knight armour.

The design aim is to increase the number of park users through maximising the usable areas, the attractiveness of the spaces and smooth urban connections. The existing major south-east connectivity along Church Lane is maintained, however, the overall new path layout is designed to encourage the passing people to detour, to slow down or to pause for a minute.


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November, 2019
In November 2019, An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for our holiday cottages concept in Dalkey Village. The tender progress, however, has been put on hold due to Covid-19. Our design proposes independent, own door guest rooms/cottages, which are linked only by an external 'green' corridor, a perfect blueprint for post-pandemic hospitality reality.

Taking into account the historic location of the site and its context, the proposed design aim at balanced and sensitive development. The idea was to find forms inspired by traditional Irish cottages which would capture the unique charm of the old 'organic' architecture. The proposed scale of the cottages, the irregularity of their forms, facade setbacks as well as the proportions of the green open spaces between them, aim to reminisce the traditional cottage settlements.

The proposed main two wall finishes follow the general concept idea to create a dialogue between contemporary and traditional architecture. The proposed stone cladding and fair-faced concrete create a distinctive contrast between a traditional, shaped by time and nature, and contemporary, artificially man-made stone.


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PROJECT
April, 2017
Long awaited project for the first floating hotel in Slovenia is reaching a major milestone.
Our concept includes 45 luxurious floating bedroom suites, along with 50 detached forest-like-cabin suites, reception, restaurant, conference center and more, situated on the shore of the Velenje Lake. More information coming soon...

In the Press:
  Dnevnik Newspaper  
  Vecer Newspaper  
  RTV Television  


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September, 2013
In 2013, Austrian govermant drafted an open international competion for the EXPO2015 pavilion design.

Our proposal has been among a few shortlisted to stage 2.

HARVEST FESTIVAL
The proposed pavilion theme presents harvest celebrations as a reminder that the environment around us is the best source of food and should be respected, nurtured and celebrated, as it was for centuries. For centuries people around the world celebrated harvest time in many forms, it was an integral and natural part of the cycle of their lives.

The pavilion itself will house a festival of joy and hope, a sensory experience bringing us back to our agrarian roots.

THE SYMBOL OF THE WHEAT SHEAF
The wheat sheaf – a symbol of strength, unity, life, fertility and essential nutrients is the inspiration for the building form. The sheaf signifies abundance, closeness to the earth and her resources. It also stands for strength and power, because bound together, the wheat strands are strong and resilient. The themes of fertility and unity send a clear message of the need for cooperation in the fight to address the great imbalance in access to food supplies around the world

100% ORGANIC
The organic form of the pavilion is achieved by using “organic” materials and an “organic” method of construction.


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January, 2017
Greg is an experienced designer, architect and engineer, a member of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland and the Silesian Chamber of Architects. He has over 20 years of design experience working on various residential, commercial and industrial projects in Ireland and the UK, as well as on many concepts, competitions and studies across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Greg settled down in Ireland in 2004, and was working for a leading international Irish architectural practices for over a decade.

'Y design workshop' has been set up in 2010 as an architectural online platform for discussion and part-time collaboration. The project turned into a self-sufficient architectural practice at the beginning of 2017. The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic has been a major setback for the office to grow, (as a small company mainly involved in various hospitality projects), but we were born in the middle of the biggest economic downfold, and resistance is in our name.

We are optimistically looking at 2021!.


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Play
May, 2014
The RSSB and Network Rail funded Future Railway Programme, in conjunction with the Department for Transport invited architects, engineers and designers worldwide to propose new interior design solutions to improve passenger rolling stock across the UK rail network.

The proposed concept combine the best train interior practices and ideas from short distance tube-like arrangement to first class long distance train, and present unique solution which can be easily modify to make this arrangements inside the same space of the same rolling stock.

The proposed interior design can be reconfigured 'on-the-move' by members of the travelling public and gradually address the needs or be reconfigured by the operator during vehicle turnaround and fixed or partially fixed, using simple locking system. The concept can be develop with association elements as new future train interior or adopted for existing rolling stock.

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What we stand for...
  'Y design' is a studio where architecture is seen as a delicate process of defining spaces, a thin line where art and craftsmanship can have a dialogue. We are driven by a passion for perfection, carefully crafted unique ideas, smart and well-tailored function, and the best sustainable and economical solutions.  
January, 2018
Our office offers a full architectural service from concept & feasibility, design, through planning to completion.

We have paramount skills for drafting concepts of complexed mixed-use developments, often in very important or unusual locations. Starting with the right concept, a balanced form and function, we always achieve the most economical and functional layout.

Having completed a number of interior design projects, we are very proud of our interior portfolio. We are famous for low-budget, creative solutions and various ideas for decorative and experimental textures.

We are a very creative team always lighting up for every unusual design project.


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Play
January, 2017
The design guidelines for the new play park within Le Fanu Park were directly shaped and influenced by a programme of community engagement events led by the Irish Architecture Foundation and The Matheson Foundation over the summer of 2015.

The international design competition has been launched in the middle of 2016. Our proposal received 3rd place.

The Play Park project has been funded by the Matheson Foundation in partnership with Dublin City Council and the IAF and will combine various play/skate/BMX areas.

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September, 2013
In 2013 Salford City Council and RIBA organized an international design competition for a new landmark pedestrian bridge over river Irwell linking The Crescent (A6) and Meadows. Adjacent to the University of Salford, this new bridge will unlock the vast development potential of this major corridor linking Salford and Manchester, part of the Middlewood Loop concept.

The proposed form is unique and intriguing, making the bridge a surprising and an easily recognisable landmark of The Crescent/Chapel Street.

The new Salford Meadows Bridge will be a “gate” to the world of untouched nature. This extreme difference between those two banks has been inspirations for the sinusoidal form of the bridge - the sound wave.


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why the 'Y'...
  The 'Y' (why?) is for 'dialogue', it is our platform for collaboration, for better understanding, and above all, for the best answers. For us, every project is unique but goes through the same thorough 'design workshop' process which can lead to innovative designs, outstanding landmark buildings, sustainable living spaces and respectful responses to the site context and built heritage.  
October, 2012
In 2012 TrygFonden foundation, which works to create secure enviroment in Denmark, made an internation call for a new design idea for rescue ladder for the Danish ports and water fronts.

Danish ports have over a long period of time undergone major transformations from being decisive traffic and leisure ports to attractive areas of housing, business and cultural institutions increasing pedestrian traffic along the quay and number of drowning incidents.

The F7 concept allows for variation of form and dimensions. The elements can be put together into fixed (straight or/and shaped) or flexible rescue ladder. The ladder can be folded which solves potential problems in case of freezing water and allows for convenient and easy transport. The unique buoyancy capability can be helpful in case of rescuing a person from thin ice conditions or even allow to transport in the water an injured person.

The proposed design complements Trygfonden iconic lifeguard tower and the new lifebuoy.


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October, 2018
We are growing. Our new office is open for business.

A remarkable moment and a great pleasure putting a mark on own door and floor.

Our new adress is:
717A Kilshane Drive,
Northwest Business Park,
Dublin, D15 WR52


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PRE 2010
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PRE 2010
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© Y design 2021