Begun in 1924 under the ‘million pound scheme’, Marino was intended as a model scheme with superior dwellings. It was the largest scheme built by Dublin Corporation so far, with almost 1300 five-roomed houses in two sections (431 on the original Marino site and 852 in Croydon Park). Built by four main contractors: H. & J. Martin, G. & T. Crampton, John Kenny, and Paul Kossel, a German firm, the new garden suburb ideas and standards were adopted, including a low-density geometric layout with varied house styles grouped around open green areas and culs-de-sac. All houses were ‘parlour type’ with a living room, parlour, scullery, larder, bathroom, three bedrooms, water closet (w.c.) and coal cellar. All had front and back gardens, and allotments were included to the rear.

The houses were not for rent, but would instead be sold through ‘tenant purchase’. Over time the ‘purchase rental’ paid the house price and the tenant eventually became the owner. Selling the houses reduced ongoing costs for the Corporation and was preferable to renting weekly tenancies out at uneconomic rents. It was also hoped home ownership would inspire ‘greater civic spirit’. However, only better-off workers with stable incomes could afford these houses. The poorest tenement dwellers would only benefit when the rooms vacated by families moving to Marino became available to rent. Between 1924 and 1929 almost the entire 2,436 units of housing built by Dublin Corporation were sold by tenant purchase.