“Urban Grit: Probing the Urban Commons With Residents of Oliver Bond Housing Complex in Dublin, Ireland” explores what greening — or the lack of it — looks like in the everyday realities of inner-city Dublin.
Through a collaborative art, design, and geography research process, we worked with residents of Oliver Bond House to develop “nature probes” — tools that help make visible the often-overlooked role of the urban commons in marginalised neighbourhoods experiencing rapid change.
The paper traces how historical planning decisions have contributed to greenspace deficits, while also asking a future-focused question:
👉 How can practices of urban commoning support more just, lived forms of urban greening?
Writing as both academics and practitioners, the project emphasises commoning our knowledge — valuing local expertise alongside art, design and research — to support communities navigating urban transformation.
Huge thanks to all the brilliant collaborators:
Alma Clavin, Seoidín O’Sullivan Austin Campbell, Eoin O’Mahoney, and artist & beekeeper Anthony Freeman O’Brien.
📄 Read the paper here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/12063312251392391