Fíona Canavan
22 April 2022  

Fíona Canavan

Originally from Dublin and having previously worked in Berlin, Fíona Canavan is an architect based in Dundee.

She moved here in 2017, initially working for a local practice before setting up as freelance. Fíona carries out both architecture and design projects for individual clients, as well as providing architectural services for other practices.

She enjoys the variety of design work that being an architect brings, whether it is forming a small dormer in a clients home or studying and examining urban realm to design new public space. In all design work, she explores the relations between the individual and the space they inhabit in order for users to form deeper connections to these spaces, through identity and delight.

In addition to working on a number of domestic projects locally, she has worked collaborating with other Dundee based designers. As a solo freelancer, the collaborative nature of a design project can be the most exciting part, whether it is working with engineers, landscape architects, artists or fabricators.

Fíona is also passionate about bringing architecture and the built environment to a wider audience, particularly in Dundee, which has a rich city fabric and a built environment with a strong identity.

Visit Fíona Canavan’s website here
Fíona Canavan Architecture
Fíona Canavan Architecture
Fíona Canavan
Fíona Canavan
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View of Union Street from the south end looking north up the street with pink, blue and yellow rectangles painted onto the floor in the foreground and wooden seats and planters bringing colour to the street
Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
14 August 2021  

Sustrans Spaces for People Programme

WE WERE THRILLED TO PARTNER UP WITH DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AND SUSTRANS SCOTLAND TO CO-DELIVER THEIR NATIONAL SPACES FOR PEOPLE PROGRAMME IN DUNDEE.

During 2020-2021, we worked in partnership with Dundee City Council and Sustrans Scotland as part of their national Spaces for People programme, funded by Scottish Government, to implement the pedestrianisation of central Dundee street; Union Street and pocket parks on Eliza and Craigie Street in Dundee’s Stobswell neighbourhood.

Both of these outcomes were driven by what local communities wanted to see in their area during, and post, national restrictions being imposed as a result of the pandemic. These designs were developed across a number of co-design workshops led by Service Design Academy and local designers.

  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • View of Union Street from the south end looking north up the street with pink, blue and yellow rectangles painted onto the floor in the foreground and wooden seats and planters bringing colour to the street
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
  • Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
Photography provided by Sustrans Scotland and David P Scott

We began this process by working with local Union Street business owners and Dundee based designers Callum Laird, Roots Furniture and Leila Kalbassi, during the Summer of 2020 to help enhance trade during national COVID-19 restrictions. The final design for the street’s pedestrianisation included wooden planters designed by Roots Furniture utilising natural materials and bold graphics including a colourful mural designed by Callum Laird.

Such was the positive impact and success that these temporary co-designed interventions had in assisting business to trade during COVID-19 restrictions that the pedestrianisation of the street was recently voted to be permanent. We will continue to be involved in the next stages of the street’s development to ensure that business and residents’ needs are at the heart of these changes.

We’d like to thank the full team behind this project, from everyone who hand painted the initial temporary mural to Bonnie Dundee for maintaining the wooden planter’s flower beds.

Following Union Street’s success, we then began working with Stobswell Forum and community representatives, again with  Service Design Academy,  to hold a series of workshops and conversations with local businesses and residents. The identified issues and co-designed ideas were taken forward by our project team; architectural designer Fíona Canavan, designer Louise Kirby and our Desk Officer, Poppy Jarratt.
They worked with Old School Fabrications to realise the community’s idea of reclaiming two small sections of road at Eliza Street and Craigie Street to create people focused, friendly spaces full of colour and greenery.
Louise Kirby’s colourful crossing and planter facings on Eliza Street were inspired by the jewels of Stobswell: including details of the ironwork on Morgan Academy’s rooftop, Baxter Park’s railings and zig zags from the public art on Princess Street. Craigie Street’s colourful designs were inspired by the decorative brickwork Gable End mixed with circular berries inspired from the Cotoneaster tree in Baxter Park.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SUSTRANS HERE
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PROJECT PLANS
Sustrans Spaces for People Programme
UNION STREET PEDESTRIANISATION
LOUISE KIRBY
CALLUM LAIRD
Fíona Canavan
FÍONA CANAVAN