Its early engagement with the housing crisis was tentative and involved mostly small inner city schemes, many of which are unknown to present-day Dubliners. Yet, these schemes were built well and most continue to be lived in and appreciated. This book is a commemoration and an analysis of the early schemes from the 1880s to the late 1920s. These are examined in some detail and the book is comprehensively illustrated with maps, photographs, and block plans.

Housing policy evolved during this time and the reader will learn that the issues faced and the solutions found remain relevant to the present day. The reader will also meet many of the significant people who shaped the city, such as Charles Cameron, H.T. O'Rourke, and P.C. Cowan. The text ends with a detailed account of Marino and Drumcondra.

These schemes, especially the former, represent the culmination of policy development and were seen as models for the future.