The redevelopment of Carlisle Pier, a Competition Winning Project designed by heneghan.peng.architects, has been selected by Kurt W. Forster for the international exhibition at the Venice Biennale, 9th International Architecture Exhibition - Metamorph from September 12 to November 7, 2004. The project for Carlisle Pier will be exhibited in the Hyper-Project section of the exhibition. This is the first time that an Irish Architects' design for an Irish Project has been selected for the International exhibition and it's the only the second time that an Irish architect has been selected for the International exhibition.

Dun Laoghaire's town center has been regenerated over the last number of years and the project has been conceived to respect the existing skyline of the town and to extend this vibrancy to the harbour. As it stands the town currently 'steps down' to the water, meaning that its public area exists one storey above the level of the harbour, creating a barrier between activities in the town and activities in the harbour. The proposal for Carlisle Pier creates a route from the town through the pier to the water's edge and back to the town along the harbour. This new route brings the public to the middle of the harbour, a space previously available only to sailboats.

The programme for Carlisle is a mixed use development incorporating retail, hotel, residential and a marine life centre emphasising public access and creating an open extension of the town. 'Carlisle beach', a man made beach at the end of the pier will be an open amphitheatre from which to view the harbour and, on special days, performances on the Floating Stage, which will also dock at the end of the pier on off days providing connection to the water.