If you live in Dublin, then on top of all your other worries, you're in one of the least democratic cities in terms of public access to public spaces according to the European Prize for Urban Pubic Spaces. The survey, which looked at the transformation of public space in eight EU cities (see www.mypublicspace.eu) found that Dublin has one of the most privatised public spaces and added that "the city had exploded into one huge suburb".

But apart from whether we should have to fork out for a cup of tea or coffee to access what was once public space, we might also question whether Dublin has changed for the better as a result of the building boom? It's a question we could learn a lot from given the current slowdown. And as the subject of a new open debate (on Thursday 16 October) at this year's Open House Dublin, it's also likely to raise some important issues.

For example, having built one third, or in the region of 500 thousand units, over the last decade, we have the newest housing stock in Europe. But have we used that opportunity to build long-term sustainable housing in communities with good physical and social infrastructure? Or have we squandered the fruits of the boom?

Critics such as Ian Lumley of An Taisce believe that in many cases, rather than build for the future we've built housing of a similar sub­standard, partic­ularly in terms of energy efficiency, as the mid-to-late20th century stock. This is despite the fact that having signed up to Kyoto prior to the boom, the government was aware of the impact of climate change and the importance that building energy efficient homes would have.

Although the construction sector operates under strict regulations in relation to energy efficiency and building standards, the problem, say critics, is that many of the regulations during the early part of the boom were not of a very high standard and were self-regulated. According to Jeff Colley, editor of Construction magazine, this laissez-faire approach could mean as much as 95% of new buildings don't comply with the relevant regulations.

Chilling news, as is the fact that many of our new suburbs, particularly in greater Dublin, lack sufficient transport, education or community facilities. The result is a city of two parts: a vibrant city centre surrounded by two-car dormitory suburbs. With exceptions. While some opportunities were missed, the boom threw examples of how we can get it right, for example the strategic plans at Adamstown and Pelletstown, which point the way forward in terms of integrated planning and design.

There have also been huge improvements in design standards particularly in Dublin and Cork, according to Lumley. And smart, energy efficient developments such as Elmpark, the Daintree Building and the Watermint also show how exceeding expectations is not beyond the sector or developers.

New developments will be built. The good news is that some of our biggest developers are now thinking far more pragmatically about what the market will want in the future. According to Colley, bigger developers are now looking at building zero carbon homes and rather than simply complying with 2010 energy guidelines they are planning projects with 2013 energy regulations in mind. It makes sense in a world of rising energy costs.

The organisers of Open House Dublin also see much to praise in terms of the architecture produced during the boom. Where many of us see eyesores and poorly landscaped and designed high rises plonked beside motorways and widened roads, they see an 'architectural renaissance': lofty praise indeed.

Now in its third year and hoping to exceed the 15,000 attendees of last year, the event offers the public a chance to get inside those hard to access public spaces. For example, among the 140 buildings available to the public, are the new Department of Finance office which overlooks the Huguenot Cemetery on Merrion Row, Alto Vetro, the eye-catching glass apartment building in Dublin Docklands and Elmpark – Senior Citizen Housing, which is part of the new mini city comprising offices, a hotel, private apartments, a leisure centre and senior citizen housing for Dublin City Council, as well as the elegant historic buildings.

Open House also recognises that Dublin is far more than its city centre, and as part of the theme 'The Changing City and Greater Dublin' it will include buildings and monuments in Dun Laoghaire, Tallaght and Swords as well as the Historic Dublin Airport Building.

So while it's easy to criticise much of the new build over the last decade, this event also gives us the opportunity to recognise good architecture and planning and to shine a light on what we, both as owners and developers expect to see in the future.

Open House Dublin runs

from 16 to 19 October