Architecture that puts people first.

Delivering transformative housing, civic, and infrastructure projects shaped by place, designed for communities and sensitive to the environment.

• Dublin, Ireland
•  Available for new projects

35+

Years of Practice

200+

Projects Delivered

RIAI

Award-Winning Practice

ISO

19650 Compliant

Our Projects

Delivering architectural design
with engineering know-how.

About

A practice built on integrity and respect for people and place.

About the practice

Seán Harrington Architects is an architectural practice based in Dublin, working in Ireland and internationally. Our  dedicated team is known for its commitment to sustainable, context-sensitive, and people-focused design. Our work includes bridges, public space design, cultural institutions, housing and adaptive reuse, always with a strong emphasis on public engagement and long-term social and environmental benefit.

Our guiding principles:

Testimonials

“In a thousand years of bridge history, The Millennium Bridge is only the second pedestrian bridge to cross the river, which made it a very fitting addition to the family of Liffey Bridges at the dawn of the third millennium.”

Bridges of Dublin, Website

Bridges of Dublin - Website

“A beautifully presented scheme. It is ambitious in its treatment of the urban domain and in its use of light and exploitation of views within each apartment. A clear hierarchy is shown in the structure, planning and organisation of apartments with an integrated approach to sustainable issues of heating and energy and recycling. It was one of the few schemes which depicted every architectural detail as well as showing social interaction.”

Citation, RIAI competition assessors

“The project was funded by AIB, and is the leading project in their Social Housing Fund, as part of AIB’s overall Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy.”

Deirdre Spring

Project Architect, Seán Harrington Architects

“The inspiring design will incorporate welcoming leisure reading areas and meeting rooms, a dedicated Sensory Space, Study area, a Changing Places Bathroom, and a generous multipurpose programming space for library and arts service events.”

Eimear McGinn

County Librarian

“The success of the building is in the series of small communities that are formed within each block and each courtyard, whilst still benefitting from site-wide facilities.”

Gavin Smyth

Project Lead, Seán Harrington Architects

'The fact that we got both a DCC approval and an ABP approval, with very minimal changes or conditions is a testament to your skilled and thoughtful design work throughout the process."

Ian Cummins

Trafraska

“I want to see more of this type of development delivered. This is an example of Government, Local Authorities, and the construction sector working together to deliver high-quality, inclusive housing.”

James Browne TD

Minister for DoHLGH

"The elegant 2 span bridge over the River Shannon stands at a site of important historical interest, and the designers chose a simple minimal approach to avoid visual conflict with the adjacent buildings.”

Jury, IABSE Awards 2024

"Congratulations to all of the Galway City Council and extended team involved in the Droichead an Dóchais project on the great win of the Engineering Excellence Award in the Civil Engineering Project of the Year category!"

Leonard Cleary

Chief Executive, Galway City Council

“This local authority housing scheme is a thoughtful exploration of clustered buildings around informal courtyards. It gives a sense of place dedicated to people rather than cars. There are no windswept open spaces lacking definition rather only quality design through-out the whole scheme.”

Opus Awards 2009

Opus Awards 2009, Assessment Citation

“This project reflects our shared commitment to building vibrant, well-connected communities, and stands as a testament to what can be achieved through strong partnership.”

Ray McAdam

Lord Mayor of Dublin

“The bridge’s wide, open spaces were cleverly designed by the architects: stainless steel strips, inlaid with the granite paving, run neatly towards the river, then curve to form the bridge balustrades and finally spread into a handrail.”

RIAI Awards Citation 2016

“The careful attention to detail applied to sustainable design principles led to this project winning the ‘Sustainability, Built Environment Category’ at the 2024 ACEI awards.”

Ryan Gillespie

Project Lead, Seán Harrington Architects

“We have been totally blown away by the amount of support and good will shown to the park. The success of Granby Park demonstrates the public’s desire to see vacant space used for creative purposes and not to be left lying vacant. It shows that people want to see more of this kind of thing.”

Sam Bishop

Co-founder of Upstart

“The low carbon technologies, extensive landscaping, active SUDs, and confident civic language set a new standard.”

Seán Harrington

Principal, Managing Director

“All in all the development has totally delivered on what we had hoped for (and more!) and continues to do so daily as more and more people visit. It is a pleasure to come to work each day to such beautiful surroundings.”

Sharon O’Sullivan

Parish Centre Manager

"We are delighted with the winning design and hope it inspires other designers to aim for low carbon solutions everywhere.”

Shaun Pidcock

Programme Director, Lower Thames Crossing

“Green Lane is a great example of mixed-tenure living in the heart of a community. The older residents living here can enjoy living in a vibrant community with people from all ages and backgrounds, including young families, while also accessing the particular supports they need to remain independent and age in place.”

Steve Loveland

Head of Clann Housing, Clúid

“We sought an effective, elegant and beautiful structure that would enhance the visual impact of the Square. The umbrellas achieve this brilliantly both when in use and when not in use.”

Temple Bar Cultural Trust

“Waterford North Quays is one of the top ten projects included in the National Planning Framework (NPF) ‘Ireland 2040’. Its ambition is to enable Waterford to become a regional city of scale, leading the economic development for the South East and expanding and enhancing the local economy to realise the potential of the City and the region as a whole.”

Waterford North Quays Framework Plan

Waterford North Quays Framework Plan

Open to new projects and collaborations.

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