Airport’s Brutalist Ramps Saved from Demolition
National Planning Body Upholds Refusal to Raze Iconic Structures
A significant decision has been made regarding the future of Dublin Airport’s distinctive spiral parking ramps, with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) refusing permission for their demolition. The ruling supports a prior refusal by Fingal County Council, preserving structures deemed to be part of the airport’s architectural heritage.
Architectural Merit Recognized
The ACP concluded that the spiral ramps are integral to the architectural narrative of Dublin Airport, particularly in how they shape the approach to Terminal 1 (T1). Their removal, the commission stated, would negatively impact the visual appeal of the T1 approach and reveal less aesthetic elements of adjacent buildings.
The ramps, constructed in 1972 as part of the new T1, feature a concrete finish characteristic of the brutalist architectural period. Although not officially protected, the commission cited their technical and artistic value, noting their distinct brutalist design, concrete construction, and unique form. This combination, the ACP found, represents a significant feature adjacent to T1.
“The commission stated that notwithstanding the fact that the spirals are not a protected structure, it is considered that the spirals are of technical and architectural merit by virtue of their brutalist design, associated concrete construction and their unique architectural form and shape which reflect a distinctive feature adjacent to the T1 building.”
—An Coimisiún Pleanála
The refusal, signed by commissioner Paul Caprani, indicated that without adequate justification, demolishing the ramps would contradict policies aimed at safeguarding architectural heritage within the Fingal County Development Plan.
Airport Operator’s Appeal
The DAA, operator of Dublin Airport, had argued that demolishing the ramps would unlock crucial development potential in the airport’s core. Vincent Harrison, Chief Commercial and Development Officer, emphasized the necessity of removing these “redundant, deteriorating structures” to facilitate future expansion.
“Mr Harrison states that ‘what is clear is that the application site, lying as it does centrally between two national airport terminals and at the heart of the eastern campus, makes it an extremely valuable site, particularly in the context of a limited and finite land resource’.”
—Vincent Harrison, Chief Commercial and Development Officer, DAA
The DAA expressed surprise and disappointment at the ACP’s decision. A spokesperson highlighted that the ramps were not identified as significant heritage assets in prior reviews or national surveys and were not listed on the record of protected structures, last updated in the Fingal Development Plan 2023–2029.
The spokesperson also noted the ramps have been out of use for many years and have deteriorated structurally, with their removal intended to improve airport infrastructure and passenger safety and efficiency. The DAA plans to review the decision and consider its next steps.
The preservation of such structures aligns with broader efforts to protect urban heritage. For example, London’s Barbican Centre, also a significant brutalist development, has seen renewed appreciation and preservation efforts in recent years, recognizing the cultural value of these mid-20th-century architectural styles (Barbican Centre History).
