Shaping the Future – Case Studies in Adaption and Reuse in ...

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht wishes to thank the clients and project teams for their permission to publish the photographs, drawings and texts for the case studies featured in this manual.

Every effort has been made to include appropriate credits for each project; any omissions are regretted and if brought to the Department’s attention will be corrected in any future publication. CASE STUDIES IN ADAPTATION AND REUSE

IN HISTORIC URBAN ENVIRONMENTS

CONTEXTS

CHALLENGES

SOLUTIONS

LESSONS

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SHAPING THE FUTURECase Studies in Adaptation and Reuse in Historic Urban Environments. December 2012.

€10 ISBN 978-1-4-64-2721-9

© Government of Ireland 2012

Dublin

Published by The Stationery Offi ce

To be purchased by mail order from Government Publications, Postal Trade Section, Unit 20 Lakeside Retail Park, Claremorris, Co. Mayo

Tel: 01-6476834/37 or 1890 213434;Fax: 01-6476843 or 094 9378964

or through any bookseller

General ContactsLoCall: 1890202021International: +353 1 8882000Web: www.ahg.gov.ieAddress: Custom House, Dublin 1.

This publication is an initiative under the Government Policy on Architecture 2009-2015 Implementation Programme by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Prepared byPaul Keogh Architects

Designed byRed Dog

This publication is printed on paper and board which is produced from pulp sourced from sustainably managed forests.




CONTEXTS

CHALLENGES

SOLUTIONS

LESSONS

SHAPING THE FUTURE

SH

AP

ING

THE FU

TUR

E CA

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ST

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IN A

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ND

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€10 ISBN 978-1-4-64-2721-9


Dublin



Tel: 01-6476834/37 or 1890 213434;Fax: 01-6476843 or 094 9378964





Designed byRed Dog





CONTEXTS

CHALLENGES

SOLUTIONS

LESSONS

SHAPING THE FUTURE

SH

AP

ING

THE FU

TUR

E CA

SE

ST

UD

IES

IN A

DA

PTA

TIO

N A

ND

RE

US

E IN

HIS

TO

RIC

UR

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NV

IRO

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€10 ISBN 978-1-4-64-2721-9


Dublin



Tel: 01-6476834/37 or 1890 213434;Fax: 01-6476843 or 094 9378964





Designed byRed Dog


Contents

3 Foreword

IntroductIon4 shapingtheFuture–settingAppropriatestrategiesInPlace

context8 Introduction11 CorkHistoricCentreActionPlan15 KilkennyLocalAreaPlan19 theLibertiesLocalAreaPlan

urban Structure22 Introduction25 sligoCourthouseBlockUrbanDesignFrameworkPlan29 templeBarFrameworkPlan33 WestportPlan2000,AnIntegratedActionPlanForWestport

PublIc realm36 Introduction39 DublinPublicRealmstrategy43 WaterfordVikingtriangleInitiative47 AbbeyleixsustainableCommunitiesPlan

adaPtIve reuSe50 Introduction55 IrishFilmInstitute,templeBar59 MixedUseDevelopment,Castlestreet,Dublin63 KodakHouse,Rathmines67 WarehouseConversion,Barrowstreet,Dublin71 CoppingerCourt,Cork75 theMainGuard,Clonmel79 theDaintreeBuilding,Camdenstreet83 BaldoyleLibrary87 LifetimeLab,FormerCorkCityWaterworks91 LismoreLibrary95 Livingovertheshop,no.16Capelstreet99 CHq/stackA103 MountpleasantAvenue,Dublin107 theIslandCrematorium111 Fuse,Lennoxstreet115 theHighlanesGallery,Drogheda119 HeritageCouncilHeadquarters,Kilkenny123 AWallForthequeen127 RushLibrary131 WaterfordHealthPark135 Architect’sstudio,Pearsestreet139 BackYard,JohnDillonstreet,Dublin143 DublinDentalHospital147 theMilkMarket,Limerick

aPPendIceS 150 Bibliography152 PracticeProfiles158 PhotoCredits

1

FoReWoRD

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thequalityofourbuiltenvironmentprofoundlyaffectsthequalityofoureverydaylives.thisfactisoneofthekeydriversbehindthedesign,andcontinualregeneration,ofoursurroundings,andisalsothereasonwhysofewofusarepassivewhenitcomestoholdingandexpressingaviewonthequalityofthebuiltenvironmentinourlocalities.

AsMinisterforArts,HeritageandtheGaeltacht,IholdtheviewthatthenaturalandbuiltheritageofIrelandisanationalasset.thisnationalassethasalwaysmadeanimportantcontributiontotheeconomicactivityofcommunitiesatbothlocalandregionallevel.now,thereisagrowingawarenessoftheeconomicpotentialofthehistoricenvironmentandthebenefitsthatarisefrominvestinginourbuilt,naturalandculturalheritage,especiallyforthecommunitieswhicharethecustodiansofthatheritage.

Furthermore,culturaltourismhasbeenidentifiedintheProgrammeforGovernmentasanimportantelementofIreland’stourismproduct,andourbuiltheritageisakeytourismattractioninthatregard.the

protectionandenhancementofourbuiltheritageplaysamajorroleinincreasingIreland’sattractivenessasatourismdestination.Utilisingthisresourcewillassistinunderpinningandadvancingeconomicactivityatalocallevel.thiscanbeachievedbypromotingtheenhancementofourbuiltheritageinthepoliciesincludedineachcityandcountydevelopmentplan.

However,theprotectionandforwardmanagementofthearchitecturalheritageofanareashouldnotbeseenjustasanendinitself.Itshouldalsobeviewedasafoundationforgivingatrulydistinctivesenseofplaceandidentitytoourcities,townsandvillages.Asisdemonstratedintheattachedcasestudies,successfuldevelopmentplanpoliciesforthebuiltheritagearethosewhichhavebeenintegratedintothebroaderplanningcontextandsustainabledevelopmentofanarea.Anintegratedapproachallowingconservationpracticetobepartofdistinctiveandsuccessfulplanningshouldalsoexploreinnovativetechnicalandplanningpracticesapplicableandappropriatetobothhistoricsettingsandstructures.

thisadaptationandreusemanualisatthecentreoftheGovernment Policy on Architecture2009-2015whichprovidestheappropriateframeworkforarchitecturalpolicynationally.IamimpressedbythelevelofinnovativepracticeasoutlinedinthismanualanditscasestudiesandasaresultIcanonlylookforwardtoseeingarenewedcommitmentbyallstakeholderstoutilisingourheritageassetsintothefuturebothinasustainableandresponsibleway.

Jimmy Deenihan, T.D.Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

—32

IntRoDUCtIonShaping the Future – setting appropriate strategies in place

Background

theGovernment Policy on Architecture2009-2015providestheframeworkforarchitecturalpolicynationallyandiscoordinatedcentrallybytheDepartmentofArts,HeritageandtheGaeltacht.Itplacesanemphasisonsustainabledevelopmentandurbandesignandincorporatesarchitecturalheritageinanintegratedmannerwhileencouragingandsupportinghighqualitymodernarchitecture.thisadaptationandreusemanualhasbeendevelopedinresponsetoAction23oftheGovernment Policy on Architecture.

securingthesustainablefutureofourexistingnationalassets-physical,socialandenvironmental-istodayattheheartofpolicyonthebuiltenvironment.sincepublicationoftheNational Spatial Strategyin2002,policies,strategiesandplansatnational,regionalandlocallevelhavefocusedonimperativestorenew,consolidateandstrengthenthenation’scities,townsandvillages–includingobjectivestokeepthemphysicallycompactandcontained.Also,promotingtheirvitalityandviabilityisfirmlyestablishedasakeycomponentinthetaskofdeliveringsustainabledevelopment,economiccompetitiveness,efficientinfrastructureandenvironmentalprotection.

similarly,nationalplanningpolicyprovidesfortheprotectionandconservationofurbanplacesofspecialinterest.sincetheintroductionoflegislationunderPartIVofthePlanning and Development Act2000,asamended,planningauthoritiesarerequiredtoprotectsignificantbuildingsandstructures,whileprovisionismadetoprotectthecharacterofplacesandtownscapes

ofspecialarchitectural,historic,socialandotherinterest-bydesignatingthemasarchitecturalconservationareas.

theseprovisionsechothoseinthemajorinternationalchartersandconventionsonbotharchitecturalheritageandurbandevelopment.sincethe1960s,theinterrelationshipbetweenbuildingsandtheirurbansettings,andintegrationoftheprotectionofarchitecturalheritageintotownplanningprocesses,havebeenkeyobjectivesofeuropeanpolicyonthebuiltenvironment.the1964ICoMosInternational Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites(theVeniceCharter)whichbuiltontheworkofnineteenthandearlytwentieth-centuryconservationists,expandedtheconceptofanhistoricmonumentto‘embracenotonlythesinglearchitecturalworkbutalsotheurbanorruralsettinginwhichisfoundtheevidenceofaparticularcivilisation,asignificantdevelopmentoranhistoricevent’(Article1).Article11statesthat‘thevalidcontributionsofallperiodstothebuildingofamonumentmustberespected,sinceunityofstyleisnottheaimofarestoration’.ItmaybenotedthattheCharterofVenicedifferedfromtheworkofearlierwritersonconservationprincipleswho,sincethe1890s,hadcategorisedmonumentsintotwotypes:deadmonuments‘belongingtoapastcivilisationorservingobsoletepurposes’andlivingmonuments,‘thosecontinuingtoservethepurposeforwhichtheywereoriginallyintended’.HoweverinBritainandIrelandtodayancient/nationalmonumentsandlistedbuildings/protectedstructuresremainprotectedunderseparatelegalcodes.

toanextentsomeofthearticlesoftheVeniceCharterareoftheirtimeandneedtobereadinconjunctionwithmorerecentICoMosdocumentssuchastheBurraCharter(1976andlaterrevisions)andthenaraDocumentonAuthenticity(1994).MorerecentlyICCRoM,asister-organisationofICoMosundertheUnesCoumbrella,hasprovidedaforumforthedevelopmentofideasbeyondtheVeniceCharter’sconceptofauthenticityinpurelymaterialtermstowardsgivinggreaterweighttocommunityauthenticity.

PriortothepublicationoftheVeniceCharter,theIrishLocalGovernment(PlanningandDevelopmentAct)1963madeprovisionindevelopmentplansforplanningauthoritiestolistforpreservation‘buildingsofartistic,architecturalorhistoricinterest’thoughthiswasnotmandatory.Alsoin1963,theparliamentaryassemblyoftheCouncilofeuropetooktheinitiativeinpromotingeuropeanintergovernmentalco-operationforthesafeguardingandthedevelopmentoftheculturalheritageofmonumentsandsites,withaviewtopreparingaeuropeanconvention.Inseptember1975thecommitteeofministersadoptedtheEuropean Charter of the Architectural Heritage.Itsprinciples,incorporatedinadeclarationmadeattheCongressofAmsterdam,heldaspartofeuropeanArchitecturalHeritageYear,highlightedtheneedtointegrateconservationintownplanning,preservegroupsofhistoricbuildingsandtheirenvironment,andtaketheheritageintoaccountasapartofeconomicandsociallife.The Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe(theGranadaConvention)whichfollowedtheseprocesses,wasopenedforsignatureinoctober

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1985.theconventionextendedthedefinitionofarchitecturalheritagebeyondmonuments,buildingsandstructuresof‘conspicuoushistorical,archaeological,artistic,scientific,socialortechnicalinterest’toincludegroupsofurbanorrural,buildingsandsiteswhichare‘sufficientlydistinctiveandhomogenoustoformtopographicallydefinableunits’.

theGranadaConventionwasratifiedbyIrelandin1997,followingwhichtheLocalGovernment(PlanningandDevelopment)Act,1999andtheArchitecturalHeritage(nationalInventory)andHistoricMonuments(MiscellaneousProvisions)Actwereplacedonthestatutebook.

todaytheconceptofthehistoricbuiltenvironmentismuchbroaderthanthatunderstoodbynineteenth-centuryconservationistswhosefocuswaspredominantlyonindividualmonuments,particularlythoseofsignificantscaleandimportance.Itisaplacewherepeopleliveandworkorvisitandstay,andiscomposedforthemostpartofmoremodestbuildingsineverydayuse.ItisthisbroaderenvironmentwhichPartIVofthePlanningandDevelopmentAct,2000,asamended,seekstoprotectbywayoflegislationandguidance.theDepartmentofArts,HeritageandtheGaeltacht’sconservationprinciplesaresetoutinChapter7oftheArchitectural Heritage Protection Guidelines for Planning Authorities(2004,reissued2011).

[1]

[1] CorkLifetimeLab–formerCorkcitywaterworks

CAsestUDIesInADAPtAtIonAnDReUseInHIstoRICURBAnenVIRonMents

—54

Whiletheguidelinesdonotpurporttobealegalinterpretationoftheconventions,acts,regulationsorproceduresmentionedtherein,theiraimistoassistplannersandothersinunderstandingthecurrentguidingprinciplesofconservationandrestoration.theintroductiontotheguidelinesstates(1.1.2)‘sympatheticmaintenance,adaptationandreusecanallowthearchitecturalheritagetoyieldaesthetic,environmentalandeconomicbenefitsevenwheretheoriginalusemaynolongerbeviable.thecreativechallengeistofindappropriatewaystosatisfytherequirementsofastructuretobesafe,durableandusefulontheonehand,andtoretainitscharacterandspecialinterestontheother’.

Morerecently,the2007Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Citiesemphasisesthateurope’sarchitecturalheritageincludesnotonlyhistoricbuildings,butalsopublicspaces.Preservationofthisheritage-anditsurbanandarchitecturalvalues-mustbesafeguarded,thecharterstates,bothforitsimpactonthequalityoflifeofurbanpopulations,andforitsroleasasoftlocationalfactorinattractingknowledge-basedindustries,qualifiedandcreativeworkforces,andtourismtolocateinparticularcitiesandtheirsurroundings.

thisadaptationandreusemanualisintendedtobuildonandaidguidanceonappropriatestrategiesfromthemacrotothemicrourbanlevel,regardingtheconservationandadaptationofplaces.

key principles of urBan reuse

Variousinternationalconventionshaveinformedandinfluencedgovernmentpolicyandlegislationforprotectingthearchitecturalheritage.thesearisefromasustainedattempttoarticulate,atinternationallevel,principlesthatwouldinformdecisionsabouthowtheculturalvalueofthebuiltenvironmentistobetreated.

emphasisonurbandesign,publicrealmrenewalandurbanconservationofplacerequiresaspecificcontextualresponsetoeachproposalandwiththatcarefulconsiderationisneededofeachproposedmoderninsertionornewuse.

themanualencouragesplanningauthoritiestoincludepoliciestopromotequalitydesignintheirdevelopmentandlocalareaplans–andtoimplementthesepoliciesthroughthedevelopmentmanagementprocess.Clearlydefineddesignpoliciesgivegreaterclarityandcertaintytodevelopersandtheirdesignteamsandprovideanagendaforpre-applicationdiscussionandthesubsequentdevelopmentmanagementprocess.

Keyprinciplesofurbandesignandconservationofplacesaresetoutwhichmightformtheframeworkforpoliciestopromotequalitydesigninbothdevelopmentandlocalareaplans.Insummarytheseare:

» tounderstandandaddresstheexistingenvironmentwhichmakesupourcities,townsandvillageswhilerespondingtothiscontextwithappropriateplanningstrategiesatamacrolevelpriortodetaileddevelopmentofproposals;

[1]

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» Usingtheprinciplesofurbandesigntodevelopaninterrelationshipbetweentheopenspacesthatcomprisethepublicrealmandthebuildingsthatoccupyandshapethesespacesbywayofanurban design framework

» thecreationofsuccessfulurbanplacesisnotonlyaboutbuildings:itisjustasmuchaboutthequalityofthestreets,squares,parksandotheropenspacesthatcomprisethepublicrealmandrespondingtothisbywayofqualitative public realm strategies;

» thecontinuedcommitmenttothe‘higheststandardsintheprotection,conservation,andmaintenanceofthehistoricbuiltenvironment’assetoutintheArchitecturalHeritageProtectionGuidelinesbywayofthesympatheticconservation, adaptation and reuseofhistoricbuildings.

purpose of the adaptation and reuse Manual

thismanualisasteptowardstheexaminationofdesignprincipleswithintheplanningpolicyguidanceframeworkoutlinedunderAction21oftheGovernment Policy on Architecture2009-2015bywayofshowingaselectionofexamplesofwhathasbeenhappeninginrecentyearsinIrelandintermsofreuse,fromtheobjectivesoftownandareaplanstobuildingcasestudies.thestudyisnotintendedtobeexhaustivenorisitintendedtosaythatsolutionswhichmaysuitaparticularcaseareuniversallyapplicable,eachcaseisdifferent.theyarepresentedascontributionstothedebate,describingtheaimsandobjectivesofthepartiesinvolved.thepublicationsetsouttoinformplanning

authorities,developersanddesignersthatevidence-basedqualityprincipleswillensurethatfutureplanningofourhistoriccities,townsandvillagesisfocusedonthecreationofvibrant,qualityplaces.

Asshowcasedinthemanual,designneedstobeappliedbyskilledpractitioners.thereisnosubstituteforengagingtherightskillstoachievesuccessfuloutcomes.thedeliveryofahighqualityenvironmentrequiresfirstandforemostaclearvisionanddesignbrief,plusacommitmenttoanoverallqualityagendasharedbyplanningauthorities,developersanddesigners–bothpublicandprivate.theappointmentofahigh-quality,professionaldesignteamisakeystepinensuringsuccessfuloutcomes.Inparticular,integrateddesignteamsshouldhavetheskillsandcompetenciesappropriatetothedevelopment.

suMMary

Heritage-ledregenerationthroughreusepresentsanopportunitytoencouragetheenhancementandprotectionofboththeexistingbuiltheritageandthewiderhistoricbuildingstock.Partofthatprotectionwillencompassrenovationandrenewalinordertoaccommodatenewandcurrentuses,whichinturnshouldenhancethelongevityofthestructuresconcerned.

Inconclusion,thesustainablemanagementandconservationofIreland’sbuiltheritagecanassistinthecountry’scontinuedeconomicrecovery.Incorporatingspecificandcoherentpoliciesinthedevelopmentplanprocesscanassistinthisregard,asoutlinedinthevariouscasestudiesinthismanual.

thisgoesbeyondprotectionofanarea’sbuiltheritageorthepreservationofthecharacterofalocalityasendsinthemselves.thebuiltenvironment,includingstructuresofarchitecturalheritagemerit,hasbeenconstantlyadaptedtoaccommodatenewsocietalneedsandrequirements.thereisaneedtoproperlyintegratethisheritageintofutureplan-makingandforwardplanningstrategies.thisapproachwillsupportlocalcommunitiesintheirquestfordevelopmentandadaptation,whileretainingthequalitiesandvalueslinkedtotheirhistoryandthecollectivememoryoftheirlocality.

[2]

[1] DublinDentalHospital–adaptivereuseof18thcenturytownhouses

[2] CoppingerCourt,Cork–internalcourtyard


—76

ConteXt

Irelandhasinheritedahistoricbuiltenvironmentofexceptionalquality–notonlytheforts,cairns,towers,monasteries,castlesandgreathousesoftherurallandscape,butalsothecivic,cultural,commercialandresidentialbuildingswhichmakeupourcities,townsandvillages.

Inanincreasinglyglobalisedworld,theimportanceof‘placemaking’andlocalidentityisnottobeunderestimated.Basedontheuniquenessofplace,theconceptoflocalidentityisunderpinnedbyanarea’stopography,geomorphologyandnaturalfeatures,togetherwithitsbuiltenvironment-bothhistoricandcontemporary-itsopenspaces,landusepatternsandspatialorganisations,visualrelationships,andvariousotherelements,bothurbanorrural.Localidentityalsoincludessocialandculturalpracticesandvalues,manyofwhichmayappearintangibleandtransientbutarenolessreal,suchassportingevents,culturalfestivalsortownandcountrymarkets.

Asignificantpartoflocalidentityistheexistenceofbuiltheritagefeatureswhichprovideacontinuingsenseofthefamiliar.theymaybefiftyyearsoldortwohundred,buthaveincommonthestateofbeingbothlocalandfamiliar.thesefeatures,bothlargeandsmall,canbeusedasfocalpointstoincrementallybuildanidentitywithinthechangedsettingofrecentdevelopment.Inaddition,astrongsenseoflocalidentityandamanifestsenseofplacewilllikelygiverisetotheambiencethatvisitorsfindattractiveandassistinexpandingthetouristbase.

Itcouldbesaidthatthecityandthetownrankamongman’smostcelebratedachievementsintheworldsofart,music,literatureand

science.InIreland,notwithstandingourdeep-rootedtraditionofdispersedsettlement,thenation’scities,townsandvillagesarethenucleiofboththeirindigenouscommunitiesandtheirlocalhinterlands.eventhemostferventchampionsofourruralheritageacknowledgethatthelikesofeyeries,Birr,Cobh,Westport,KilkennyandCorkarevitallyimportantexpressionsofourhistoryandculture,andthepromotionofthecountryasadestinationforinwardinvestmentand,notleast,tourism.However,thefutureofIreland’shistoricurbanplacescannotbetakenforgrantedwithoutconcertedactionbyallstakeholders–includinggovernment,localauthorities,propertyowners,businessinterestsandcommunitygroups.

securingthesustainablefutureofthesenationalassets-physical,socialandenvironmental-istodayattheheartofpolicyonthebuiltenvironment.sincepublicationoftheNational Spatial Strategyin2002,policies,strategiesandplansatnational,regionalandlocallevelhavefocusedonimperativestorenew,consolidateandstrengthenthenation’scities,townsandvillages–includingobjectivestokeepthemphysicallycompactandcontained.Also,promotingtheirvitalityandviabilityisfirmlyestablishedasakeycomponentinthetaskofdeliveringsustainabledevelopment,economiccompetitiveness,efficientinfrastructureandenvironmentalprotection.

theGovernment Policy on Architecture2009-15isanopportunereiterationoftheimperativetofocusforwardplanningontheneedtointegrateurbanandlandscapedesign,urbanandbuildingconservationandarchitecturalqualityinthecreationofsustainable

[1]

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ConteXt

communitiesandahighqualitybuiltenvironment.thepolicyhighlightstheimportanceoflocationalcriteriaand‘place-making’–placeswiththeirowndistinctqualityandcharacter–ateverylevelintheplanninganddevelopmentmanagementprocess.

Whilethestatutorydevelopmentplanwillcontainoverarchingobjectivesfortheconservationofprotectedstructuresandthepreservationofthecharacterofplacesofspecialinterest,itisofteninlocalareaplans,ornon-statutoryframeworkstrategiesandmasterplans–thatlocalauthoritiessetouttheirkeyvisionsandmoredetailedpoliciesfordeliveringtheobjectivesofhigherlevelplans–includingthoseforthemanagementofchangeinurbanenvironmentsof‘architectural,historic,social,archaeological,socialandotherinterest’.

thecasestudiesfeaturedinthissectiondemonstrateaspectsofplan-makingatthelevelofhistoriccitycentres–The Cork Historic Centre Action PlanandThe Kilkenny Local Area Plan–andatthelevelofanurbanneighbourhood–The Liberties Local Area Plan.theyeachreflectaspectsofbestpracticeinformulatinganoverarchingvisionfortheirrespectivearea,andidentificationofthestrategiesandactionsrequiredtoaddressthedualchallengesofbalancingdevelopmentobjectiveswithheritageprotectioninthedeliveryofhighqualitybuiltenvironmentsandsustainablecommunitiesinhistoricurbanplaces.

Akeylessonisthateachincorporatedtheinputofkeystakeholders–electedmembers,localofficials,serviceproviders,statutorybodies,businessinterestsandcommunitygroups.Also,insteadofbeingmerelywrittenstatements,theysetout

keyplanningobjectivesingraphicformat,including–forexample–guidanceonthedesignofstreets,publicspacesandbuiltform,plusprioritiesfordensityanduses,andtheimportanceofarchitecturalqualityintheintegrationofnewdevelopmentintohistoricurbanenvironments.

secondly,theyhaveeachbeenpreparedbyintegratedandmulti-disciplinaryteams-theappointmentofahighqualityprojectteamisakeystepinensuringsuccessfuloutcomes.Dependingonthescaleandcomplexityofthelocalareaplan,frameworkormasterplan,theprojectteamwillcomprisearangeofprofessionalinputs-includingplanners,architects,engineers,architecturalconservationofficersandlandscape,traffic,archaeology,ecologyandconservationconsultants.

Finally,whilepredatingtheadoptionofthe2009Government Policy on Architecture,theyeachreflectoneofthepolicy’sspecificobjectives:tohavequality-ledprovisionsincorporatedintobothstatutoryandnon-statutoryplansgeneratedbyplanningauthorities,includingobjectivestopromotehighstandardsofarchitectureandurbandesign–theobjectivebeingtoensurethatnewdevelopmentinurbanareasmeetsnationalpolicyobjectivesforthepursuitofqualitydesignandconstruction,andthepromotionofasustainablebuiltenvironment.

[2]

[1] CorkHistoricCentreActionPlan–detailplan

[2] LibertiesLocalAreaPlan–streetview.


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Contextcork historic centre action plan

project teaM:CoRKCoRPoRAtIonAnDURBAnInItIAtIVes

client:CoRKCItYCoUnCIL

date:1994

context

thehistoriccentreofCorkcitycontainsoneoftherichestconcentrationsofbuiltheritageinIreland.effectivelyanislanddevelopmentintheLee,thehistoryofthemedievalcitycanstillbereadinitsurbanplan,builtformandinitsarchitecturalcharacter.Ithasretainedmanyofitshistorictownhouses,somefinemunicipalarchitectureandmanyofthewarehouseswhichsupportedthecity’seconomyintheeighteenthandnineteenthcenturies.Also,withfewexceptions,ithasretaineditsmedium-riseskylineanditsfine-grainurbanstructure.

challenge

Intheearly‘nineties,thehistoriccentreencapsulatedmanyoftheproblemsfacingcitieseverywhere–bothinIrelandandabroad:increasedtendenciesforretailing,commercialandotherdevelopmenttorelocateoutofthecentre,leavingderelictionandblightbehind.similarly,withpeoplemovingtohousinginthesuburbs,theindigenouscommunitiesinthecentrewereindecline,insomecasesleavingonlythepooranddisadvantagedbehind.

theseconditionssetthecitycouncilthechallengeofdefininganewvisionforthehistoriccentre,andthetaskofrevivingitssocialandeconomicvitality,reversingthedeclinewhichhadleftmuchofitshistoricfabricinaprecariousstateofpreservation.

The Cork Historic Area Action Plan set out a vision for regeneration of the city’s historic centre, addressing issues around restoring the area’s economic and commercial vitality, and reversing the decline which had affected the city’s medieval core for generations – putting much of its historic built environment in a precarious state of preservation.


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solution

CommissionedbyCorkCityCouncil,andadoptedasanon-statutorydocumentin1994,theCork Historic Centre Action PlanwasfundedwitheUassistanceundertheConservation of European Cities Programme.theplansoughttoaddressthechallengesfacingthemedievalcoreinanintegratedmanner:notonlybyformulatingaclearvisionforitsfuturerolewithinthemainstreamofCork’ssocialandeconomiclife,butalsobydevelopinginnovativemulti-facetedstategiestoenabletheareatoreachitsfullpotential-socially,economicallyandenvironmentally-andtherebybecomingamoreattractiveplaceforresidents,visitorsandinvestorsalike.

theplanpaidparticularemphasisistotheimportanceofahighqualityphysicalenvironment,basedontheacceptedrealitythatresidentsareunlikelytobeattractedbacktothecitycentreifitoffersapoorqualitypublicrealm.Ifitistobesuccessful,theplanstated,citylivingneedshighqualitystreetsandpublicspaces,coupledwithexemplararymanagementandimprovedsafetyandsecurity.thereforethedevelopmentofapublicrealmstrategywasprioritised-todeliverthehighquality‘european-style’livingenvironmentenvisagedfortheareatosucceedasasustainablecityneighbourhood.

Itrecognisedthatregenerationcouldnotbeimplementedbythepublicsectoralone,andthatamarket-ledapproachwouldbeunlikelytodeliverresultswithoutdevelopmentincentives.theplanthereforeproposedalternativepartnershipmechanismsbetweenthepublicandprivatesectorstopump-primeregenerationprojects-bothtoaccesseUstructuralfundsandtoavailofthedevelopmenttaxincentivesexistingatthattime.Italsousedthelimitedpublicfundsavailabletodeliverkey

demonstrationprojects,therebycreatingtheconditionsnecessarytoattractprivateinvestmentintothearea.

emphasisingthatmixed-useandhigherdensitydevelopmentsupportspeoplelivingclosertotheservicesrequiredforeverydaylife,theplancontainedarangeofstrategiestomakeefficientuseofthelargetractsofvacantlandwithintheurbanfabric.However,italsocontainedclearguidancetoensurethatnewdevelopmentwascompatiblewiththefinegrainurbanstructureoftheareaanditstronglypromotedreuseofthearea’shistoricbuildingstock-particularlyaddressingthechallengeofreversingthechronicunderutilisationofvacantupper-levelfloorspaceinthestudyarea.

theplanalsohighlightedtheneedtopromoteanewattitudetowardsconservationofthearea’sarchitecturalheritage–notonlyforitsownsake,butalsotogivethemedievalcoreanewidentityandtogeneratethesenseofplacewhichwouldbecriticaltothesuccessofthecitycouncil’sregenerationpolicies.tothisend,anumberofdemonstration

[1]

[4]

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ConteXt

projectswereproposed,includingconversionofvacantwarehousespaces,adaptationofupperfloorstoresidentialapartments,plussomekeylandmarkprojectsinvolvingtheconservationandreuseofsignificanthistoricbuildingswithinthestudyarea.

Finally,theactionplanrecognisedtheimportanceofamovementframeworkwhichwouldaddressproblemsrelatedtotheadverseenvironmentalimpactsoftraffic-bothwithinthestudyareaandinthecitycentregenerally.Acknowledgingthatregenerationofthehistoriccorewasdependentonabroaderurbantrafficplan,itneverthelessproposedanumberoflocaltrafficcalmingmeasuresandassociatedimprovementstothepedestrianenvironment.

lessons

Adoptedin1994,theCork Historic Centre Action Planwasaheadofitstimeinaddressingthechallengesfacingthemedievalcore,andindefiningavisiontoaddressthetaskofreversingthedeclinewhichhadeffectedtheareafordecades.Itskeylessonistheneedforanintegratedapproachtoregeneration:involvingallstakeholdersininnovativedevelopmentprocesses;combiningheritageconservationwithsensitiveadaptationofhistoricbuildings;promotingsympatheticcontemporarydesign,infillmixed-usedevelopments;bringingresidentiallifebackbymakinguseofvacantupperfloors;andimplementingenvironmentalimprovementstoimprovethequalityofthepublicrealm.Afurtherimportantlessonisthatmanyoftheplan’skeyrecommendationshavebeensuccessfullydelivered.

The Historic Centre Action Plan set out a vision to restore the social vitality and economic vibrancy of the medieval core.

[1] Interiorofst.Peter’sChurchconvertedtotheCorkVisionCentre

[2] new‘link’staircaseinChristchurchconvertedtotriskelArtsCentre

[3] st.Peter’sChurch–frontelevation

[4] Backlandinfillhousing,northMainst.

[5] ‘Livingovertheshop’inadaptivereuseproject,northMainst.

[2] [3]

[5]


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ConteXt

Contextkilkenny local area plan

project teaM:o’MAHonYPIKe

client:KILKennYBoRoUGHCoUnCIL

date:2004

context

Kilkennycityisdesignatedahubinthe2002National Spatial Strategy;itisthemaincommercial,culturalandresidentialcentreforalargeruralhinterland.Itisalsosynonymouswithheritage;itsprincipalmonuments–thecastle,cathedralandtownhall-anditshistoricfabricandmedievalstreetscapeareuniqueintheIrishcontext.thecityhasavibrantculturalandartisticcommunity,addingtoitsattractivenessasaplacetoliveandwork,andalsoasatouristdestinationforvisitors–bothIrishandinternational.

challenge

the2002Kilkenny City and Environs Development Plan recognisedthatwhilethelargepopulationincreaseenvisagedforthedecadesaheadwouldtakeplaceoutsidethehistoriccity’slimits,thisgrowthwouldneverthelessincreasethedemandforservicesandfacilitieswithinthecitycentre,andthecitywouldneedtoprepareforthesechallengesbypreparinganintegratedstrategyfortheurbancore;onewhichwouldstrikeabalancebetweenaccommodatingthequantumofdevelopmentexpectedandprotectingitsuniquehistoricheritage,whilealsoretainingthevitalityandambiencerequiredtoprovideahighqualityoflifeforitsresidents.


—1514

solution

toaddressthevariouschallengesfacingthecity,KilkennyBoroughCouncilcommissionedastatutorylocalareaplanasthevehicletoprovideaframeworkthatwouldensurethecontinuedvitalityandviabilityofthehistoriccityaccommodatingproposednewdevelopmentwithin,ratherthanoutside,theinnercore,andillustratehowthiscouldbeachievedwithoutnegativeimpactsonthehistoricurbanenvironment–byincludinglanduseandurbandesignframeworksforkeysitesasspecificobjectiveswithinthestatutoryplans.

Adoptedbytheelectedmembersin2005,theLAPconcentratedonanumberofkeythemesincluding,interalia:trafficmanagementinitiativestoimprovevehicularandpedestrianlinkages;preparingland-useandurbandesignframeworksforkeysites;protectingthearchitecturalandarchaeologicalheritage;improvingthequalityofthecorearearetailoffer;enhancingthequalityofthecity’spublicrealmwithanetworkofqualityopenspaces.

Whiletheplanhaddueregardfortheneedsoftrafficforaccessandservicing,itemphasisedthatvehicularmovementmustbeaccommodatedinamannercompatiblewithimprovingthecity’sconnectivityandaccessibilityforall;thehistoriccentre

containsKilkenny’scoreretailareaanditsprincipaltouristtrails,anditmustthereforebebothattractive,safeandconvenientforpedestriansbothableanddisabledandcyclists.

AvitalelementoftheplanwasthearticulationofpoliciestointegrateurbanextensionsandinterventionsintheexistingfabricwithprotectionoftheintegrityofKilkenny’shistoriccore-intermsofuseandbuiltform,plusimprovingthevitalityandviabilityofexistingstreetsandsquareswithappropriatenewuses–particularlyretailandresidentialdevelopment,plusaquantumofleisureusessuchascafés,pubsandrestaurants.

Urbandesignpoliciesaimedatimprovingthecity’spublicrealmwerebasedonanumberofkeyprinciples:pedestrianroutesshouldprovidedirectandconvenientlinkagesbetweentheplaceswherepeoplewanttogo;theyshouldbecomfortable,withfootwayswhicharesafe,well-litandfreeofobstructions;theyshouldbeattractivewithqualitylandscapingandplanting;theyshouldbelegibleandeasytofollowwithexplanatoryanddirectionalsignagealongkeyroutes.

AkeyobjectiveintheplanwasthereinstatmentoftheCastleParadeasamajorcivicamenityspaceforthecity.theParadeprovidesthemainapproachtoKilkennyCastleandisthecity’slargest,mostprominentopenspace.Ithadbecomesomethingofaneyesore,especiallyduetothelargevolumesofcoachandvisitorparkingitcontained.Accordingly,aninternationalarchitecturalcompetitionwasorganisedtosecureaco-ordinateddesignapproachtotheimprovementandre-organisationofthespaceasamajoramenityandcivicspaceforthecity.theParadewas

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successfullycompletedandhaswonprestigiousawardsforitsdesigners-GKMParchitects.

lessons

theKilkenny Local Area Planwasundertakentoaddressthechallengesandopportunitiespresentedbythepopulationgrowthandscaleofdevelopmentanticipatedforthedecadesahead,andtheneedforKilkennyBoroughCounciltoformulateacomprehensivevisiontoguidethisdevelopmentinamannerwhichwouldbothprotectandenhancethevitalityandvibrancyofthecitycentrewithasustainablemixoflandusesandurbandesignpolicieswhichwouldprovideforthegrowthanticipated,whilesafeguardingtheuniqueheritageofthecity.

AnimportantlessonfromtheLAPistheimportanceofsettingoutkeydevelopmentobjectivesforspecifickeysiteswithintheplanarea,andillustratingthesewithurbandesignframeworksindicatingkeyprinciplessuchastheusesproposed,andtheform,scale,heightanddensityofdevelopmentenvisagedforeach.InthespecificcaseoftheParade,theobjectivesintheLAPformedthedesignbriefforthearchitecturalcompetition-objectiveswhichweresubstantiallydeliveredinthecompletedscheme.

[1] ViewoftheremodelledParade–resultofinternationalarchitecturecompetitioninresponsetoaspecificobjectiveintheLAP

[2] RotheHouse–amedievaltownhouserestoredasmajortouristdestinationforthecity

3] MarketCrossshoppingCentre–useofbacklandsiteforinfillretaildevelopment

[1]

[2]

The Kikenny Local Area Plan sought to achieve a balance between preserving its architectural and archaeological heritage, while ensuring the city’s continued vitality and viability as a place to live, work and visit.


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Contextthe liBerties local area plan

project teaM:JoHntHoMPson&PARtneRs

client:DUBLInCItYCoUnCIL

date:2009

context

theLibertiesisoneofDublincity’smostrecognisableurbanneighbourhoods-onewithitsowncharacterandidentity,andastrongindigenouscommunity.theLibertieshasarichconcentrationofbuiltheritage-fromthereligiousinstitutionsofthemedievalera,throughthebreweryanddistillerybuildingsofthenineteenthcentury,uptothephilanthropichousingdevelopmentsofthetwentiethcentury.

the2000transformationofthelandmarkMarketstreetstorehouseintotheGuinnessstorehouseexperience,anddesignationoftheareaashometotheDigitalHub,weresignificantvotesofconfidenceintheLiberties’potentialtobecomeanexciting,attractiveandliveablecityquarter.

challenge

Likemanyinner-cityareas,theLibertiesexperiencedsignificantchangeinthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcentury.thedeclineoftraditionalmanufacturingindustrieschangeditsfortunes,resultinginhighvacancyrates,derelictionandblight,andwithitknock-oneffectsonthearea’seconomyandsocialstructure,whichinturnimpactednegativelyonitsreputationandimage.Inaddition,thelargenumbersofspeculativeapartmentsintheareawereoftenofpoorqualityandinappropriatetotheircontext.

Asaresult,oneofthekeychallengesidentifiedintheLAPpublicconsultationprocesswashowtostrikeabalancebetweenpreservingwhatisvaluableandcherished,usingtheheritageoftheareaasapositiveasset,whilepromotingthetypeandquantumofdevelopmentthatwouldenabletheLibertiestoachieveitspotentialasanattractiveanddynamiccityquarter.


—1918

solution

the2009Liberties Local Area PlansetsoutavisiontoguidetheregenerationoftheLibertiesasathrivingcityquarterandhometoastronginclusivecommunity-withhighqualityhomes,schools,communityandsocialinfrastructure,andstreets,squaresandparksofferinganexcellentqualityoflifeforvisitorsandresidentsalike.

the2009LAPsoughttodefinetheframeworktoachievethesocial,economicandphysicalregenerationofoneofDublin’smostidentifiablecityquarters.ItaimedtodefinethestrategiesrequiredtoachievethesegoalsbyestablishingacoordinatedapproachbasedontheSix ThemesidentifiedbyDublinCityCouncilasintegraltothefuturedevelopmentofthecity:economic,social,cultural,form,movementandsustainability.

WithintheLibertiesthereareanumberofdistinctcharacterareas.theplanidentifieddevelopmentopportunitieswithineach,alongwithkeyurbandesignobjectivestoguidethedesignofnewbuildingsandspaces-includingsmallerinfillsitesandpossibilitiesfortheadaptivereuseofthehistoricbuildingstock.Itsoughttoensurethatthecharacteroftheareawouldbeenhancedbycontemporaryandhighqualitydesigninnewdevelopment–therebycreatingthelegacyofthefuture,whileenhancingtheheritageofoneoftheoldestpartsofDublin.

Inparticular,theplansoughttoensurethatnewbuildingswouldrespecttheirsurroundings,particularlyanyimpactonimportantheritagebuildings,spaces,landmarksandviews.Itallowedforlimitednewtallbuildingsonlywherethesewouldcontributetothecreationof

adistinctiveskylinethat,ontheonehand,wouldrespectexistingviewsandlandmarksand,ontheother,signifythelocationofimportantcivicspacesandactivities.

Inrelationtoheritage,theLAPsetoutavisionoftheLibertiesasaplacewherehistoricbuildingswouldbeprotectedandconserved,notonlyforthemselves,butalsofortheirpotentialtocontributetomakingtheareaagreatplacetolive,workandvisit.Recognisingthatmuchhadalreadybeenlostorcompromisedbyinappropriatedevelopment,oneoftheplan’soverarchingobjectiveswasaproposalforthecreationofanarchitecturalconservationarea.

theLibertiesisseriouslydeficientinopenspaceprovision,andthepublicrealmisnotofthequalityonewouldexpectinthevicinityofIreland’smostvisitedtouristattraction–theGuinnessstorehouse.theplanemphasisedtheimportanceofitspublicrealmstrategy,andproposalstocreateahierarchyofspacesthatwouldreinforcethearea’ssenseofplaceandidentity,andbeattractive,multi-functional,safe,welcomingandaccessibleforresidents,visitors,workersandtouristsalike.

Finally,publicconsultationwasamajorcomponentindraftingtheplan.theprocesscommencedwiththelaunchoftheLiberties Regeneration Project,whichwasattendedbyrepresentativesofresidentsassociations,businessinterests,serviceprovidersandcommunitygroups.AkeyoutcomeoftheconsultationprocesswastheestablishmentoftheLibertiesPublicForumwhichreceivedregularpresentationsonthedraftsoftheplanastheydevelopedthroughouttheLAPprocess–therebyensuringthesuccessfuladoptionoftheplanbytheelectedmembers.

[1]

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lessons

theLiberties Local Area PlanwasadoptedbyDublinCityCouncilinMay2009.Itsetoutavisiontoachievethesocial,economicandphysicalregenerationofthearea,andtore-shapetheLibertiesasanattractiveandliveablecityquarter,whichwouldcontributetoeconomicprosperity-atthelocal,cityandnationallevel.theplanrecognisedthespecialcharacteroftheLiberties,andsoughttostrikeanappropriatebalancebetweenprotectionofitsdistinctcharacterandheritage,andprovidingforthequantumandformofdevelopmentrequiredtosecuretheLiberties’regenerationasasustainableurbanneighbourhood.Preparationoftheplaninvolvedtheintegrationofmanydifferentinputswithinthecitycouncilandthecommunity.ensuringthatalltherelevantstakeholderswereinvolvedattherighttimewasakeyingredientinsecuringthesuccessfuladoptionoftheplan.

[1] ‘Livingovertheshop’adaptivereuseofFrancisst.commercialpremises

[2] LibertiesLocalAreaPlan–mapofLAPstudyarea

[3] ConversionofformerindustrialbuildingstomodernofficeusefortheDigitalHub

[4] Integrationofcontemporarydevelopmentintohistoricsettings

[2] [3]

[4]

The LAP was based on developing a coordinated approach based on the City Council’s Six Themes: economic, social, cultural, form, movement and sustainability.


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Urbandesignhasbeendescribedastheartofgivingformtotheinterrelationshipbetweenthebuildingsandtheopenspacesthatmakeupurbanplaces.However,atamoredetailedlevel,itistheurbanstructure–theinterplaybetweenstreetsandsquares,solidandvoid,blocksandbuildings,routesanddestinations–thatmostdefinestheformandshapeofcities,townsandvillages,andthustheircharacterandquality.

the1987ICoMosCharter for the Conservation of Historic Towns and Urban Areas(theWashingtonCharter)wasdraftedspecificallytoaddressthefactthathistoricurbanplaceswerebeing‘threatened,physicallydegraded,damagedorevendestroyedbytheimpactofurbandevelopment’.Itrecommendsthattheconservationofhistoric

urbanenvironmentsshouldbeanintegralpartofurbanandregionalplanning-andofeconomicandsocialdevelopmentpolicies.Amongthequalitiesspecificallylistedforprotectioninthecharterare‘urbanpatternsasdefinedbylotsandstreets’and‘therelationshipsbetweenbuildingsandopenspaces’–i.e.theurbanstructureofhistoriccities,townsandvillages.

Inthehistoryofurbanism,theurbanstructureofcities,townsandvillageshasbeenshapedbytwobasictypologies-thestreetandthesquare.InIreland,whetherintheorganicinformalityofplaceswithearlyoriginslikeKells,AthenryorVikingDublin,orintherationallayoutsofplannedsettlementssuchasPortarlington,MitchelstownorGeorgianLimerick,thehistoricpatternsofstreetsandsquaresstillformthebackbone

oftheirurbanstructure:streetsprovidetheconnectionsbetweendestinations,bothlocallyandfurtherafield;squaresaccommodatethecivicandsocialeventsthataretheheartofpubliclife;andtheconfigurationofindividualplotsestablishesthescaleandformofthebuildingsthatgiveeachplaceitsownuniquecharacterandidentity.

throughmuchofthelastcentury,thevalidityofthesetypologieswaschallengedastownplanningsoughtalternativestotheunhealthyandovercrowdedconditionsofnineteenthcenturyindustrialisedcities.However,atleastsincethe1961publicationofJaneJacobs’Death and Life of Great American Cities,therehasbeenarenewedengagementwiththevalueofstreetsandsquaresintheshapingofurbanplaces.Herbookhasbecomealandmarkwhoseinfluenceendurestothisday:bothforaddressingtheissuescausingdegenerationinurbanplaces,andforitsprescriptionoftheremediesrequiredtoreversethedecline–diversity,mixeduses,smallblocks,agedbuildingsandconcentrationofpeople.shedevotesanentirechaptertothesubjectofurbanstructure-‘theneedforsmallBlocks’,inwhichshemakesthecasethatsmallblocksandfrequentintersections,i.e.apermeableurbanstructure,areessentialtothevitalityandvibrancyofurbanneighbourhoods.

smallblocksandthe‘fine-grain’urbanstructuretheygenerate,arearguablyalsothemostefficientuseofurbanland,andthebestbalancebetweendensity,daylightandmicroclimate.Whiletherearenofixedrulesontheidealdimensionsforstreetsandblocks,thescaleofgridandbuiltformtypicalofhistoricurbanareashasproventobecapableofgeneratingthedevelopment

[1]

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densitiesandtheconcentrationsofpeoplerequiredtosupporttheirvitalityandvibrancy.Inaddition,theaverageheight-to-widthratiosfoundintheseplacescreatefavourablemicroclimateconditions–i.e.anoptimumcompromisebetweendaylight,solargainandshelterfromprevailingwinds,therebyenhancingthecomfortandattractivenessoftheurbanenvironment.

Intermsofadaptabilityandflexibility,cognisanceshouldbetakenofthesequentialapproachforhistoriccentressetoutintheRetail Planning Guidelines(Departmentoftheenvironment,CommunityandLocalGovernment,2012).smallerblocksandafine-grainstructurecanaccommodatearangeofbuildingtypologies.Whereappropriateintermsofstimulatingtheoverallregenerationofanhistoricurbanarea,sympatheticnewinterventionsmightconsistofoneormoreofthefollowing:individuallargebuildingssuchasofficeorshoppingdevelopments,perhapswithaninternalatrium;perimeterhousingaroundacentralcourtyardgarden;orasensitiveamalgamationofindividualnarrow-frontageplots.Also,small-blockscanbesubdividedintoevensmallerunitswithintersectingpedestrianpassages;ortheycanbeleftvacantasgardensorpublicspaces.Incertaincircumstances,

individualblocksmightevenbeamalgamatedtoprovideforlargerunitsofaccommodation,whichmightotherwisenotbecapableofbeinglocatedinahistoricurbanarea.

Urbanstructurealsodeterminesthemovementframeworkofplaces,andthereforetheiraccessibilityandconnectivity–thosethatareeasytogettoandtomoveaboutaremorecompetitive,moreattractiveandmoresustainable.Governmentpolicysupportsdevelopmentthatisfocusedonlocationsthatareaccessiblebysustainabletravelmodes-publictransport,walkingandcycling.thecontinuedgrowthofprivatemotoringisunsustainableonaccountofitsnegativeimpactsintermsoftrafficcongestion,airpollutionandenvironmentalquality.However,theeconomicdeliveryofqualitypublictransportandinfrastructuredemandscertainthresholdsofdensityandconcentration.Compact,dense,mixed-useandwalkableneighbourhoodswithafine-grainurbanstructurearenowconsideredtobethebasicbuildingblocksinthedesignofsustainableurbancommunities.

thecasestudyprojects–Dublin’stempleBar,sligo’sCourthouseBlockandWestportPlan2000–illustrateapproachestoenhancingtheurbanstructuresoftheirhistoric

locations,largelybasedonthedesignprinciplesoutlined:increasingdensityanddiversityofuses;improvingpedestrianpermeabilityandconnectivity;andexploitingthepotentialofunder-utilisedbacklandsites-andoldbuildingsinparticular.theydemonstratethepotentialofwelldesignedregenerationprojectstodelivergainsatmanylevels:efficientuseoflandandinfrastructure;greatervibrancyinlocaleconomies;betterqualityservicesandamenities;adaptationofexistingbuildingsandstructures;andahigherqualityofpublicrealm.

ManyofIreland’scities,townsandvillagescontainsimilarcentrally-locatedlandswithpotentialtocontributetothesustainableregenerationoftheirlocations.theRetail Planning Guidelinespointoutthatadaptationandreuseofhistoricbuildings–bywayofappropriateinterventions-stimulatingtheoverallregenerationofanhistoricurbanarea,ispreferabletoallowingsuchstructurestofallintodisusewhiledevelopmentisrelocatedtoedge-of-centreorout-of-townlocations.thesequentialapproachsetoutintheRetail Planning Guidelines–andintheaccompanyingRetail Design Manual-recommendsthatplanningauthoritiesshouldbepro-activeinidentifyingpotentialopportunitysiteswhichareconsideredappropriateforfutureretaildevelopmentinstatutorydevelopmentplans,localareaplans,andothernon-statutoryframeworks,strategiesandmasterplans.

[1] operaLane,Cork–mixedusepedestrianstreetconnectingPatrickst.toCrawfordGalleryandoperaHouse

[2] templeBarFrameworkPlan–architect’ssketchindicatingpedestrianpermeabilityandlinkstohinterland

[2]


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Urban Structuresligo courthouse Block urBan design fraMeWork plan

project teaM:nAtIonALBUILDInGAGenCY,sLIGoBoRoUGHCoUnCIL,sLIGoCoUntYCoUnCIL

client:sLIGoBoRoUGHCoUnCIL

date:2005

context

sligowasdesignatedasaGatewayinthe2002National Spatial StrategyandtheSligo and Environs Development Plan 2004-2010identifiedtwoarchitecturalconservationareasrelatingtothecourthouseblock.oneofthese-theCourthouseBlock–wasthesubjectofanurbandesignframeworktoguideitsfuturedevelopment.Comprisingnarrowfrontageterracedbuildingsofvariouswidthsandheights–mostlytwoandthreestorey–theblock’scentrepieceisthefinecourthouse,recentlymodernisedtoprovidecontemporaryfacilitiesandtoconserveitsfineVictorianarchitecture.

challenge

Inthepastdecades,thecourthouseblockcameundersignificantpressuresfromnewdevelopment,thescale,densityandqualityofwhichwasquestionableintermsofconservationofthehistoriccharacterofthearea.Alsomuchofthedevelopmentthathadtakenplacewasundertakenlargelyonanincrementalbasis,withoutanyoverallplanningcontext-includingthealmalgamationofplots-therebyputtingpressuresonthevitalityoftheblockitselfandthesurroundingarea.Inaddition,pedestrianamenityinthevicinityhasbeenimpairedbythesignificanttrafficvolumesonthestreetssurroundingthecourthouseblock.

notwithstandingsligo’sdesignationasaGatewayinthe2002National Spatial Strategy,andtheexistenceofanumberofpriorplans–Sligo Integrated Area Plan(1998),Sligo IAP Urban Framework Plan (2000)andthe Sligo and Environs Development Plan(2004)–in2005itwasfeltnecessarytoprepareafurtherframeworktoprovideguidelinestobalancethedevelopmentpressuresexistingatthattimewiththeoverarchingobjectivetoprotectthearchitecturalheritageofthearea.

The framework focused on a number of core urban design principles, including intensification of the urban structure by increasing pedestrian permeability through the block.

[1] Architect’ssketchshowingintensificationofuseandimprovedpedestrianpermeabilitythroughtheCourthouseBlock

[1]


—2524

solution

theCourthouse Block Urban Design Framework PlanwascommissionedfromthenationalBuildingAgencyin2005toprovideanurbandesignframeworktoguidethefuturedevelopmentofthearea.Itfocusedontheelaborationofanumberofcoreprinciples:conservingthearchitecturalandhistoriccharacter;retainingtheblock’sperimeterbuildings;establishingabuildingheightstrategy;creatingpedestrianpermeabilitythroughtheblock;improvingvehicularaccessandparking;mitigatingagainstplot

amalgamation;protectingexistingresidentialamenities.Undertheheadingsofthesecoreprincilpes,theframeworksetoutarangeofdetaileddesignguidelinesforitsimplementation.theplan’sprovisionshavebeenlargelyincorporatedintothe2010-16DevelopmentPlan.

theplansetouttosuggestaperformancebasisforthefuturedevelopmentoftheblock,ratherthantomandateparticulardesignsolutions.neverthelessitsetoutsomeexplicitrequirementsandpresumptionstobetakeninto

considerationinthedevelopmentmanagementprocessforindividualprojectswithintheplanarea.

Intermsoftheoverallurbanstructureofthecourthouseblock,theframeworkrecognisedprotectionofthecharacterofthehistoricstreetscapeasanintegralpartofitspoliciestoconservethearchitecturalandhistoriccharacterofthestudyarea.Retentionofthecontinuityoftheblock’sperimeterbuildingfrontageswasanoverridingobjective–especiallythoselistedasprotectedstructuresinthestatutorydevelopmentplan.

Whiletheplansoughttofacilitatebacklanddevelopmentwithintheblock,itsoughttorestrictplotamalgamationintheinterestsofmantainingtheoverallcharacterofthearea–particularlyintermsofmantainingactivestreetfrontagesalongtheprincipalroutesandstreets.Wherepermitted,amalgamationwasgenerallyrestrictedtotheblockinterior–toprotecttheurbangrainandsafeguardtheresidentialamenityofthearea.

theframeworksetoutrestrictionsonparkingandvehicularingressandegressintotheinterioroftheblock–toprotectthecharacterofthestreetscapeandtofacilitatefurtherpedestrianisationofstreetswithinandaroundthestudyarea.Wherepermitted,thewidthsofvehicularentranceswererequiredtobeminimisedtoreducetheirvisualimpact,andonnoconditionweretheytobepermittedthroughprotectedstructuresunlessbywayofanexistingopeningorarchwayinthefacade.

Illustrativedevelopmentoptionsintheplansoughttoimprovetheurbangrainbypromotingopening-

[1]

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upoftheblockinteriorwithaseriesofstrategicallylocatedpassages;therebyexploitingbacklandsitesforinfillmixed-usedevelopmentandmakingtheblockmorepermeablebygeneratingpedestrianfootfallalonganetworkofroutesandcourtyards-ofvariousshapesandsizes-traversingtheblockfromnorthtosouthandfromeasttowest.

lessons

theCourthouse Block Urban Design Framework Plancontainskeydevelopmentprinciplesforthefuturedevelopmentoftheblock,plusanumberofschematicinterpretationsoftheprinciples.Mostofthesehaverelevancetosimilarurbanblocksthroughoutthecountry.Itsoughttobalancethevariousopportunitiesandconstraintsfacingmosthistoriccitiesandtowncentres-architecturalconservation,buildingheight,pedestrainpermeability,vehicularaccess,carparking,plotamalgamationandamenityprotection.

Preparedin2005,theplanisanintegralpartofthe2010-16 Sligo and Environs Development Plan.Whilelittleofitsrecommendationshavebeenimplementedonaccountoftheeconomicdownturn,itsrelevanceenduresasaninstructiveexampleofbestpracticeinseekingtofacilitatethedevelopmentandrenewalrequiredtosupportsligo’soverallvitalityandvibrancy,whileconservingtheessentialcharacterandqualityofitshistoricurbancentre,andintensifyingtheurbanstructuretonewtown-centreresidentialandmixed-usedevelopment.

[1] theplansoughttorestrictplotamalgamationintheinterestofretainingtheoverallcharacterofthearea

[2] theframeworkplanrecognisedthatprotectionoftheexistingstreetscapewasanintegralpartofitspoliciestoconservethearchitecturalandhistoriccharacterofthearea

[3] PlanofCourthouseBlockindicatingproposednewinterventionsintotheurbanblock

[2]

[3]


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Urban StructureteMple Bar fraMeWork plan

project teaM:GRoUP91ARCHIteCts

client:teMPLeBARPRoPeRtIes

date:1991

context

onthesouthbankoftheLiffey,templeBaroccupiesacentralpositioninDublin’surbancore.DerivingitsnamefromsirWilliamtemple,theprovostoftrinityCollegewhohadhishouseandgardensthereintheseventeenthcentury,theareafeaturesinhistorymainlyasthe1742locationforthefirstperformanceofHandel’sMessiahinFishamblestreet,andlaterasthevenueforthe1791firstmeetingofthesocietyoftheUnitedIrishmenineustacestreet.Itsufferedsomedeclineduringthenineteenthcentury,butitwasstillathrivingdistrictpriortothecombinedimpactoftwounrelatedbutneverthelesslinkedmid-twentiethcenturydevelopmentswhichseemedtospellitsdeathforever:constructionofthehighlyunsympatheticCentralBankheadquartersandtheplantolocateamajortransportationcentreinthemiddlleofthearea.

challenge

Despitethedeclineandderelictioncausedbythetwinproposalsforatransportinterchangeandnewbankheadquarters–coupledwithresultantdeteriorationofthethearea’sseventeenthandeighteenthcenturyheritageoftownhousesandpublicbuildings–CIe’sfortuitousdecisiontoleasepremisesdesignatedfordemolitiontocreativestart-upindustriesunwittinglycreateda‘leftbank’ambience;thesegeneratedaburgeoningculturalsectorthateventuallygeneratedsufficientpublicopiniontosecuretempleBar’sdesignationasDublin’sculturalquarterduringthecity’stermaseuropeanCityofCulturein1991,withtheexpressedchallengeto‘securetheregenerationoftheareaasavibrantculturalquarterwithamixofuses,ahighqualitypublicrealmandastrongresidentalpopulation’.


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[3]

solution

thegovernmentdecisiontodesignatetempleBarasDublin’sculturalquarterledtothesettingupofapublically-owneddevelopmentcompany–templeBarProperties–todelivertheregenerationprogrammeenvisaged.theprojectwasinstigatedwithanarchitecturalcompetitiontodesignaframeworkplantosteerthefuturedevelopmentandrevivaloftheareainaccordancewiththe‘european’urbandesignprinciplesbeingrealisedatthattimeincitiessuchasBerlin,BarcelonaandGlasgow(thescottish/Irish,butBarcelona-based,architectDavidMackeywasthe‘distinguishednon-irish’memberofthecompetitionjury).

theframeworkplancompetitionwaswonbyGroup91,acollectiveofindigenousandemergingarchitecturalpractices–someofwhichhavegoneontobecomerecognisedinternationalfiguresinarchitecture.AkeyfeatureofthewinningdesignwasitsambitiontointegratecontemporaryarchitecturewiththehistoricurbanenvironmentoftempleBar,inwaysthatwouldbesensitivetothepredominantlyeighteenthcenturyvernacularandthehistoricalandsocialcharacterofthearea.Radicallyatatimeofinternalisedshoppingmalls,theplanproposedaseriesofnewexternalroutesandpublicspaces,andsmallscaleinterventionsfocusedonreinforcingthecharacterofthearea,whileconservingasmuchofthehistoricfabricaspossible.

theregenerationwastobedeliveredbyharnessingpublicandprivatesectorfinancetospearheaddeliveryofthetheproject.takingadvantageoftheavailabilityofbotheuropeanstructuralfundsandlocaltaxreliefregimes,theoverallframework

[1]

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includedculturalinfrastructureprojectssuchasachildren’stheatre,amusicvenueandaphotographiccentre,andprivatedevelopmentssuchasrestaurants,shops,apartmentsanda–withhindsightunsustainable–quantumof‘eveningeconomy’usesi.e.pubs.

theframeworkplanstressedtheneedtoincreasetheresidentialpopulationofthearea,proposingacommunityof3,000citizenslivinginthecity.thesewereprovidedinanumberofground-breakingprojectswhichincludedmixed-useliving-over-the-shopdevelopments,adaptivereuseofhistoricbuildingsandastate-of-the-artlow-energyapartmentscheme.Asubsequentsecondphase–theWestend–extendedtempleBarProperties’explorationofthepossibilitiestopromotehighqualityapartmentlivinginthecity.

Whilethetheplaneschewedanyoverarchingor‘masterplan’approach,itdidmakeaseriesofinterventionsintotheurbanstructureandpublicrealm–aseriesofpedestrianroutesandopenspacesalignedalongtheprincipalaxestraversingthearea–north/southandeast/west–andlinkingintoexistingstreetsandroutesoutsidetheplanarea.Improvedpermeabilitywasaguidingprinciple;backlandlanesandcourtyardswereopeneduptocreatenewfrontagesandsmallpublic–orsemi-public–spaceswhichwereenvisagedasstimulatingstreetactivityandanoverall‘left-bank’ambience.

theTemple Bar Framework Plansetabenchmarkfortheprotectionandconservationofmanyofthearea’shistoricbuildings,incorporatingtheircreativeadaptationandreuse;whetherintheconversionofotherwiseredundantwarehousestructurestonewuses–theGranary,

mixed-useapartmentandcommercialscheme–thePrintworks‘livingovertheshop’development–oritsnumerousandsometimesuniqueculturalinstitutions–suchastheArkChildrens’theatre(theIrishFilmCentrefeaturedinthispublicationwasdevelopedbytempleBarProperties,butundertakenoutsidetheparametersoftheframeworkplan).

lessons

templeBarisfirmlyestablishedasaninternationallandmarkofplan-ledurbanregeneration.theformationofaspecially-constituteddevelopmentauthority,andthecombinationofpublicandprivatefunding–includingeUsupportandlocaltaxreliefs-ensuredthattheprojectdeliveredmany,ifnotall,ofitsstrategicobjectives.Despitecriticisms,mostlyarisingfromtheoverwhelmingsuccessofthearea’stax-incentivised‘eveningeconomy’,theareaenduresasamajortouristandleisuredestination–evenifnottheculturalquarterenvisagedin1991.

Architecturally,theTemple Bar Framework Planisrecognisedforitssuccessfulexecutionofanumberofverifiableandevidence-baseddesignprinciples:integratingcontemporaryarchitecureintoahistoricurbanenvironment;combiningcontemporaryinterventionswithconservationoftheinheritedbuiltfabric;creatingatemplateforhigh-densitymixed-useurbanneighbourhoods;anddemonstratingstrategiestoenhancetheurbanstructureandpublicrealmoftheplace.thequalityofthestreetsandsquares-andhowtheyareusedandconnected–werekeyobjectivesintheregenerationofthearea.

Temple Bar has become a benchmark, both nationally and internationally, of urban regeneration, transforming an area earmarked for comprehensive development into a highly popular ‘urban village’ combining culture, retail, residential and leisure uses.

[1] Cow’sLane–newpedestrianisedstreetimprovingthepermeabilityofthetempleBarWestend

[2] Curvedstreet–anewcutthroughpedestrianroutetointensifytheurbangrainandimprovethepedestrianpermeabilityofthearea

[3] Planofcentralareashowingnewinterventionsintothehistoricurbanfabric

[4] thePrintworks,eastessexst–award-winningmixeduse‘livingovertheshop’developmentconservingandadaptingexistingcommercialpremises

[2]

[4]


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Urban StructureWestport plan 2000, an integrated action plan for Westport

project teaMMItCHeLL+AssoCIAtes

MUIRAssoCIAtesConsULtInGenGIneeRs

JIMCoADYAnDAssoCIAtesURBAnDesIGneRs

DR.BRIAnMeeHAnPLAnnInGConsULtAnt

clientWestPoRtURBAnDIstRICtCoUnCIL

date1997

context

theWestportPlan2000containedastrongconservationpolicysettingoutground-rulestopreservetheessentialqualitiesofWestportasoneofIreland’smostimportantplannedtowns;itencouragedconservationandsensitiverenovationofthetown’sexistingfabric,alongwithobjectivestoensurethatthedesignandscaleofnewdevelopmentwasappropriatetothecharacter,scale,materialsandarchitectureofthetown.

WestportisoneofthefewplannedtownsinIreland,thethirdlargestinCo.Mayo.thetownisofhighvisualandamenityvalue,withfinestreets,spacesandbuildingsofarchitecturalvalue.Westporthasavariedeconomy–itprovidesservicesandamenitiesforawideruralhinterland,itishometoanumberofhigh-techandpharmacuticalcompanies,andithasavibranttouristeconomy.Duringthe1990s,thetownexperiencedunprecedenteddevelopmentpressures–resultinginanincreaseintheresidentialpopulationfrom4,000to6,000.

challenge

Recognisingthepressuresgeneratedbythedemographicandeconomicexpansionofthetownduringthe‘nineties,WestporttownCouncilcommissionedtheintegratedactionplantoaddressgrowingpublicconcernaroundtheimpactsofthisgrowth,andinparticulartoaddresstwokeychallengesfacingthetown:regulatingthetown’sphysicalexpansionintoitsruralhinterland;andaddressingtheimpactofplannedfuturedevelopmentonthetown’shistoriccore.

theactionplanalsosoughttoaddressthefactthaturbandesignguidancewhichwasconsideredtoodetailedforformaladoptionintheDevelopmentPlancouldbepublishedasnon-statutoryguidancetoinformthedevelopmentmanagementprocess.


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solution

theWestport Integrated Action Plan 2000setoutkeypolicies,objectivesanddetailedguidancetoensurethatthegrowthprojectedforthedecadesaheadwascoordinatedinaplan-ledstrategyandthatthefuturedevelopmentofthetown’sprincipalcentralareauses–retail,commercial,tourismandresidential–wasaccommodatedinamannerthatwouldmaintaintheintegrityandcharacterofWestport’sheritage,protectthetown’sarchitecturalqualityandsenseofplace,andstrengthentheseparationbetweenthehistoriccoreanditsruralhinterland.

Policiesforconsolidationoftheurbancoreintheplansoughttodeliverabalancebetweencommercial,tourism,retailandresidentialuses.Itemphasisedtheimportanceofa

significantresidentialpopulationinimprovingboththeurbanenvironmentandthevitalityofthetown–particularlyforfamilyandtourismneeds–anditidentifiedopportunitysitesforsmallinfillschemesandmajordevelopmentswithinthetownlimits.

Proposedimprovementstothetown’spublicrealmsoughttocreateanecklaceofopenspacesandroutes,eachwithitsownidentityandcharacter,butlinkedtogethertoprovideahighqualitypedestrianenvironment,andtoprovideaplatformforimprovingWestportasatouristdestination.theproposedlinkagesandurbanspacesweretoaccommodateamixtureofhighqualityretail,commercial,tourismandresidentialuses.

theplancontainedastrongconservationpolicysettingoutground-rulestopreservetheessentialqualitiesofWestportasoneofIreland’smostimportantplanned

[1] [2]

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towns;itproposedthatthehistoriceighteenthcenturycoreshouldbedesignatedasaconservationareaandgivenspecialprotectionasanurbandesign‘setpiece’.stricttermsofreferenceweresetoutfornewdevelopment.theplanencouragedconservationandsensitiverenovationofthetown’sexistingfabric,alongwithobjectivestoensurethatthedesignandscaleofnewdevelopmentwasappropriatetothecharacter,scale,materialsandarchitectureofthetown.

theplansoughttoindentifykeydevelopmentprojectsrequiredforthetowntoreachitsfullpotential,andproduceaprocurementstrategywhichwoulddelivertheseinaplan-ledcontextbywayofaseriesofdetailedactionplans.thesecoveredkeyareasofgrowthenvisagedforfuturedecadesincludingtourism,retailing,residential,industrialandcommercialdevelopment.significantly,theplansoughttoaccommodatethisdevelopmentinbacklandsitesbetweenthemainstreets,combiningthedevelopmentoftheseunder-usedparcelsoflandwithproposalstoimprovepedestrianpermeabiliythroughthetown,andprovideout-of-sightcarparkingforthecorearea.

Whileconstrainedbythrough-trafficandcongestionduringtheprimetouristseason-aby-passwasalongstandinghighlevelplanningobjective-theplanneverthelesscontainedsignificanttrafficcalmingmeasurestoreducetheenvironmentalimpactsoftraffic.Itcontaineddetailedproposalsforgreeningandrepavingthetown’sprincipalstreets:footpathwidthswereincreased,withtreesononeorbothsides,andnewpavingandstreetfurniturewereproposed.Aquantumofon-streetparkingwas

maintainedandadditionalparkingwasaccommodatedinbacklandsareasaspartofthedevelopmentproposalsforthesesites.

Animportantelementinthedeliveryoftheplanwasthatitwasdevelopedwiththeinputofallstakeholders.Anextensivepublicconsultationprocesswasundertakenintandemwithaseriesofdetailedbriefingmeetingsbetweentheplanteamandtheappointedsteeringcommittee.Itwasfinallypresented,andadopted,bythetowncouncilinDecember1997.

lessons

theWestport 2000planwasavisionarydocumentandaheadofitstime.Itprovidedaplan-ledstrategy,andacontextualframeworkforthetown’sfuturedevelopment,backedupbydetailedurbandesignguidance.Itidentifiedspecificprojectsaimedattheexpansionofthetown’scommercial,tourist,industrialandresidentialbase,whileconservingitsheritagebothintermsofitsurbanstructureanditshistoricarchitecture.WhileWestportisphysicallyconstrainedbyitstopography,theplansoughttoensurethattheurbancorewascontained,andphysicallyandvisuallyseparatedfromthetown’sruralhinterland.today,Westportdemonstratesthevalueofaplan-ledapproach,combinedwithpro-activeengagementbetweenallstakeholders–localauthority,business,heritage,tourismandcommunitygroups.

[1] trafficcalming,environmentalimprovementsandlandscapingtoBridgest.retainedaquantumofon-streetparking

[2] newmixeduseresidentialandcommercialpedestrianrouteconnectingBridgest.tobacklandcarparkingarea

[3] Infill‘livingovertheshop’mixedusedevelopmentretainingtheexistingstreetscapewithnewresidentialcourtyardtotherear

[4] townplanshowingtheurbanstructureofWestport

[3]


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thecreationofsuccessfulurbanplacesisnotonlyaboutbuildings:itisjustasmuchaboutthequalityofthestreets,squares,parksandotheropenspacesthatcomprisethepublicrealmoftheplace.thesearethe‘livingrooms’oftheircommunities,andtheirdesign,managementandusearejustasimportanttotheirsuccessaseveryotheraspectoftheirplanning,designanddevelopment.

todayitisuniversallyacceptedthatawell-designed,well-managedandwell-usedpublicrealmisessentialtothevitalityandvibrancyofurbanplaces.Cities,townsandvillageswithhighqualitystreets,squares,parks,gardens,lanesandpassagesaremoreattractiveasplacestolive,workandvisit,andasdestinationsforresidential,commercial,industrialandculturalinvestment,includingtourism.

the2007Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European CitiesarticulatestheeuropeanUnion’srecognitionoftheimportanceahighqualitypublicrealm,notonlyforitspositiveimpactonthequalityoflife

ofurbanpopulations,butalsoforitsroleasa‘softlocationalfactor’inattractingknowledge-basedindustries,creativeworkforces,andtourismtolocateinparticularplaces.theseconclusionsconcurwithkeyfindingsfromtheUKUrbantaskForce’sresearchinHolland,swedenandDenmark.Its1999finalreportTowards an Urban Renaissanceconcludedthat‘well-designedurbandistrictsandneighbourhoodssucceedbecausetheyrecognisetheprimaryimportanceofthepublicrealm;theshapeofpublicspacesandhowtheylinktogetherisessentialtothecohesionofurbanneighbourhoodsandcommunities’.

similarly,the2006InstituteofPublicHealthreportHealth Impacts of the Built Environmentconcludedthattheattractivenessandsafetyofaneighbourhood’spublicrealmisafactorindeterminingthequalityofpeople’sphysical,mentalandsocialhealth.Placeswithpoorqualityandbadlymaintainedopenspacesdiscouragewalking,cyclingandoutdooractivitiesgenerally;whereas

thosethatareattractive,safeandencouragepeopletogoabouttheirdailyactivitiesonfootorbybicycle–andwithouttheuseofacar–arelikelytogeneratehigherlevelsofphysicalexercise,plusgreatersocialinteraction.

thisconcurswithresearchovermanyyearsbytheDanishurbanistJanGehlontheimpactpublicrealmqualityhasonlevelsof‘socialcapital’foundinurbanplaces,andontheextenttowhichthequalityanduseofopenspacesareinterrelated.InLife Between Buildings: using public space(4thenglishedition,2004)hedocumentedhisfindingsonhowpeopleusespaces,thetypeofactivitiesthattakeplaceinthem,andthedurationoftheseactivities.Hisconclusionsindicatethatonlyessentialactivitiesoccurinpoorqualityspaces,butthatawiderrangeofactivitiestakeplaceinwell-designedones,andthatpeoplespendlongerinthem–thuscontributingtotheirattractivenessandsafetyandwithittheirperformanceasretail,commercial,leisureandculturaldestinations.

similarly,numerousauthortitieson‘place-branding’makethecasethatpublicrealmqualitycanbeoneoftheuniquesellingpointsintheeffortsofplacestoattractbusinessandthetalentedworkforcesrequiredtocompeteintoday’sglobalmarkets:perceptionsofconfidencetolive,workandinvestinanareaareenhancedbythequalityofpublicrealm-plustheinfrastructureandservices-itoffers.ontheotherhand,alowqualitypublicrealm-combinedwithpoormanagementofthephysicalenvironmentgenerally-isoneofthemaincausesofthedeclineofurbancentres,andoneof

[1]

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thegreatestthreatstotheirsurvivalinthefaceofcompetitionfromedge-of-centreandout-of-townlocations.

therefore,sustainable‘place-making’-i.e.themakingofplaceswiththeirownspecificcharacterandquality-isanunderlyingthemewithintheGovernment Policy on Architecture2009-15.Inthecontextofarchitecturalheritageprotection,thisemphasisonlocationalcriteriaandthebuildinginitscontextcorrespondswiththeunderstandingfirstarticulatedinthe1960s,andsubsequentlyinalloftheprincipalinternationalchartersandconventions,thattheconceptofahistoricmonumentembracesnotjusttheindividualwork,butalsothesettinginwhichitsits.the1979ICoMosBurraCharterdefines‘placesofculturalsignificance’toinclude‘site,area,land,landscape,building….groupofbuildingsorotherworks’.theGranadaConventionsimilarlyextendsthedefinitionofarchitecturalheritagetogroupsofbuildings-urbanandrural-andsiteswhichare,interalia,ofconspicuoushistorical,archaeological,artistic,scientific,socialortechnicalinterest.

thecasestudiesillustratedinthissection-The Abbeyleix Sustainable Communities plan, The Waterford Viking Triangle Initiative and The Dublin Public Realm Strategy-areexemplarsindifferentwaysoftherecognitionthatifcities,townsandvillagesaretoremainattractiveaslocationstolive,workandvisit-andasdestinationsforinwardinvestment-theymustfocusoncreating,maintainingandmanagingahighqualitypublicrealmwithinthecontextofintegratedurbandevelopmentpolicies.

Achievingahighqualitypublicrealmrequirestheinclusionofpublicrealmstrategiesinstatutoryandnon-statutoryplans,andahigh-levelrecognitionthatthedesignofbuildingsthatoccupyandshapethesespaces-theirform,scale,proportion,materialandexpression-andtheelementsofthefabricthatdefinetheircharacterandquality–layout,landscaping,surfaces,lighting,furnitureandpublicart-demandasmuchattentionaseveryotherelementoftheplan.strategiesshouldemphasisetheroleofthepublicrealmwithintheoverallvisionandobjectivesfortheplanarea-everythingfromlargeurbanspacestothesmallerlessformalplaceswhichmakecitiesandtownsattractiveandcompetitive.

[1] theKillorglinAreaActionPlancontainedspecificproposalstoimprovethepublicrealmofthetowncentre

[2] Remodellingofeyresquare,Galwayasahighquality,europeanstylecivicspace

[2]


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Public RealmduBlin puBlic realM strategy

project teaM:DUBLInCItYCoUnCIL

client:DUBLInCItYCoUnCIL

date:2011

context

theDublin City Development Plan 2011-17setsoutanoverarchingvisionforthenation’scapitalasasustainable,dynamicandcompactcity;onewithadistinctcharacter,avibrantculture,andadiverseinnovation-basedeconomy.theDevelopmentPlanrecognisestherichnessofDublin’surbanfabric,andparticularlytheimportanceofitspublicrealm-streets,squares,parksandotheropenspaces-totheidentityandsenseofplacewhichcharacterisesthecityinternationally.

theDevelopmentPlanidentifiessixthemeswhichprovidetheframeworkforthecity’sfuturedevelopment:economic,social,cultural,form,movementandsustainability.Underthefourthofthese–form–theplancontainsaspecificobjectivetoproduceapublicrealmstrategytoguidethefuturedevelopmentofthecity’spublicspaces.

challenge

Likemanycities,Dublinfacesmanychallengesinproviding–andmaintaining–ahighqualitypublicrealm.thepublicrealmstrategyarisesoutofagrowingawarenessthatthecity’spublicspaces–particularlyinthesecondtier–aresomewhatlackinginquality,andnotreachingtheirpotentialoverall.thereasonsidentifiedarevariedandinclude:under-investmentintheprovisionandmantainenceofthecity’spublicspaces;poorrecognitionoftheroleofthepublicrealmasanassetwithitsownintrinsicvalue;afailuretomonitortheimpactsofindividualdevelopmentsonthequalityofthepubilcrealmintheirvicinity.

Your City Your Space sets out to provide an agreed vision for the public realm; one that is based on a clear vision of the city’s future development, and bought into by all who design, build, manage and use the city’s open spaces.


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solution

Dublin’spublicrealmstrategyYour City Your Spacesetsouttoprovideanagreedvisionforthepublicrealm;onethatisinspiredbyDublin’shistoriccontextandheritage;thatisbasedonaclearvisionofthecity’sfuturedevelopment;andthatisboughtintobythediverserangeofstakeholderswhodesign,build,manageandusethecity’sopenspaces.WhileDublinCityCouncilhasidentifiedsolutionstothechallengesthecityfaces,italsorecognisesthataclearandcoherentpublicrealmstrategyrequirescollectiveandconsideredagreementonwhatisneededandhowitcanbedelivered.

thestrategybuildsonrecentdocumentssuchasLegible Dublin (2005), Historic Street Surfaces of Dublin (2009), Draft Outdoor Advertising Strategy (2011), The Dublin Streets Project (2012),plusnumerousstatutorylocalareaplansandnon-statutoryframeworkswhich

haveallsoughtinvariouswaystofocusattentiononaspectsofthecity’spublicrealm.However,Your City Your Spaceaspirestobeaunifyinginitiative,providinganumbrellaforthecitycouncil’soverarchingpublicrealmfocus-makingDublincityabetterplacetolive,work,investandvisit.

Your City, Your Space setsoutanactionplanforthedeliveryofanenhancedpublicrealm,includingstandardsforthedesignandmanagementofitsstreets,squares,parksandotheropenspaces.Asafirststep,itincludesanactionplanandworkprogrammefortheimplementationofthefirstphaseofitsproposals.thesearesetoutundertheumbrellaofanumberofguidingprinciplesandalistoffifteenactions–orpilotprojects–whichthecitycouncilseekstodeliveracrossarangeofactivityareas,andwithinatwo-yearfirstphaseofitsimplementationprogramme.

Derivedfromtheoverallvisionsetout,theprinciplesareintendedtoguidespecificresponsestothepublicrealmchallengesthecitycouncilhasidentifed–notonlyindesign,butalsohowthecity’sstreetsandopenspacesareused,managedandmaintained.Initiallyitisintendedthatthestrategywillapplyonlytothehistoric,culturalandcommercialcore;however,itisintendedthatitwillbeupdatedovertimetoapplytothewholeofthecitycouncil’sadministrativearea.thepilotprojectsarealsointendedtoprovidefeedbackandexperiencetoinformfuturereviewsofthestrategy.

Itisintendedthatthestrategywillbetheblueprinttoguidetheworkofthecity’snewlyformedPublicRealmCoordinationGroup,setuptointegratetheworkofthevariouscitycouncildepartmentsresponsiblefordeliveringandmanagingthepublicrealm.ItisalsointendedtoprovidetheframeworkforDublinCityCouncilliaisonwithotherpublicagencies,privatedevelopersandthecity’scitizens.

thepublicrealmstrategyrecognisesthevalueofthecity’shistoryandheritageasuniqueassets,notleastinmarketingDublinasadestinationforforwardinwardinvestment,andattractingthetalentedhumancapitalneededtodrivetheeconomy.Itreinforcesanumberofearlierstudiesaimedatprotectingthecity’sheritageandparticularlyitshistoricstreetlandscapes.However,italsoseekstoensurethathistoricDublindoesnotbecomean‘museumpiece’.Rather,thehistoricurbanfabricrequiressensitiveandwell-designedmoderndevelopment-projectsthatreflectthebestofcontemporarydesignwhilehavingrespectfortheirhistoricsurroundings,andinsodoing,

[2][1]

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balancingthedesignofindividualbuildingswiththeurbansettingsthatcomprisethepublicrealm.

lessons

Your City, Your SpaceisanimportantpolicystatementbyDublinCityCounciloftheimportantrolethepublicrealmplaysincontributingtothecity’sattractivenessandcompetitivenessasaplacetolive,work,shoporvisit.

thestrategyseekstoestablishagreementamongthediversestakeholderswithaninterestinDublin’sfuture:acrossalldepartmentsofthecitycouncil,andamongthevariousexternalagencies,propertyowners,developers,businessesandthegeneralpublic.Itemphasisestheimportanceofacollectivevisiontoaddressthechallengeofdeliveringahighqualitypublicrealm,theneedforbuy-inbyalltodeliveracoherentsetofactionsandpilotprojectswithinafixedlifespan.

[1] thePublicRealmstrategyrecognisestheimportanceofthecity’sarchitecturalheritagetoDublin’sfuture–converted18thcenturytownhouse,Aungierst.

[2] Contemporaryretaildevelopmentintegratedintothehistoricurbanenvironment–Maryst.

[3] o’Connellst.–thePublicRealmstrategyrecognisesthatthecity’sstreetsandsquares,andotheropenspacesarecentraltodefiningthesenseofplacewithwhichDublinisidentifiedinternationally

[4] PlanofthestudyareainDublincitycentre

[3] [4]


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Public RealmWaterford Viking triangle initiatiVe

project teaMLoCUMConsULtInG/CoLLIeRsInteRnAtIonAL

clientFAILteIReLAnD,WAteRFoRDCItYCoUnCIL

date2011

context

WaterfordissaidtobeIreland’soldestcity,withahistorythatcanbetracedbacktothearrivaloftheVikingsin914.originallya‘longport’,thesafeharbourtheestuaryprovidedfortheinvaders’characteristicshipsdevelopedovertimeintoanimportanttradingpost,andlaterintooneofIreland’sprincipalports.

thecityisuniqueinIrelandfortheextentofitssurvivingdefensivewallsandtowers–atotalofsixmedievaltowersandextensivelengthsofthecitywallssurvive.

challenge

typicalofhistoricportcitieseverywhere,Waterfordfacesthechallengeofsecuringitssustainablefutureasthedeclineofitsportfunctionsdeprivesthecityofitsprincipaleconomicbase,therebyleavingitsprincipalphysicalasset–theriveranditsquays–withouttheircenturies-oldtraditionalvitalityandviability.

Atthesametime,theurbanstructureandtheport’smedievalhinterlandhasimposedconstraintsonfloorplatesizesandthescaleofmoderndevelopmentachievableinthehistoriccore,therebyaddingtotheexodusofretailandcommercialactivityfromthehistoriccentreandalegacyofdecline,vacancyanddereliction.

theseandotherchallenges–notleasttheclosureoftheiconicWaterfordCrystalmanufacturingplant–werethecatalystforthecitytoreinventitselfasa‘GatewayCity’withinthecontextofthe2002National Spatial Strategy-bothastheeconomicdriverofthesouth-eastregionandasanexemplarofbalancedspatialdevelopment.

The Viking Triangle is a multi-layered and multi-discipline initiative; comprising conservation, regeneration and tourism development initiatives to create a new identity for the city of Waterford.


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solution

theWaterford City Development Plan2007-13setsoutavisionforthefuturedevelopmentofthecityasaseriesofinterrelatedandoverlappingquarters–bothspatiallyandfunctionally.similarly,proposalsintheWaterford Gateway Innovation Fund Bid - whichwassetupundertheumbrellaofthenss-includetwolandmarkandlinkedprojectsforthehistoriccentre–aniconicpedestrianbridgelinkingbothsidesofthesuir,andtheVikingtriangle‘culturalandheritagequarter’.

theVikingtriangleInitiativeisamulti-layeredandmulti-disciplinedconservation,regenerationandtourismdevelopmentinitiative.Itseekstoexploitthecoincidencethat,withintheVikingtriangle,thereexistsacollectionofbuildingsalignedinchronologicalorderoveraspanof1,000years.theinitiativeaimstore-orderthesecultural

assetsinsuchawaythattakesadvantageoftheircapacitytocreateanewculturalidentityforthecity,byreinforcingexistinguses,andgeneratingnewcultural,artisticandcommunityopportunities.

thestatedvisionfortheareaistocreateadistinctiveculturalandheritagedistrictforWaterfordcitycentre:onethatwillcreateavibrantexperiencethatwillbothattractmorevisitorstothehistoriccore,whilealsoattractinglocalsbackintothecentre.Asacatalystforregenerationgenerally,theVikingtriangleinitiativealsosetsoutto‘makeastep-changeintheoveralleconomicperformanceofthecity’.

ImprovingthequalityoftheVikingtriangle’spublicrealmiscentraltotheinitiative’scoreobjectives.theprojectspecificallyseekstopromoteasenseofneighbourhoodandplace,usinggooddesignandthecreativeuseofpublicspacesfor

streettheatreandmarkets,andmorespecificallybycreatinganoasisofcalmbyimprovingpublicaccesstotheruinsofthemedievalFranciscanfriary.otherproposedimprovementsincludereinforcingthemedievalurbangrain,conservingthearea’shistoricmonuments,creatingnewroutesandenhancingexistingones;improvingexistingopenspaces;implementingacoordinatedstrategyforimprovedlighting,accessibility,signage,streetfurniture,publicartandplanting.theplan’ssocialobjectivesareprimarilyfocusedonpromotingincreasedresidentialoccupancy–especiallyforfamilies,theartisticcommunityandvisitors.Commercialaimsincludedevelopingtherangeofitscommercialoffering,includingafarmers’market,craftindustries,restaurantsandcoffeeshops.

theprojectisintendedtobeavehicletobringaboutinitiativestoconserveandconsolidatethehistoricurbanfabricinadramatic

[1] [2]

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andinnovativemanner;theobjectivebeingtoutilisethearea’sheritagetomaximumadvantageinkick-startingregenerationofthemedievalcoreoverallwhich,inturn,isenvisionedaspump-primingrenewalofthecitycentregenerallyasanauthentictourismattraction-of‘internationalstanding’–andwithsufficientcriticalmasstobecomeadriverfortourisminthesouth-eastregion.

Insummary,thenatureoftheVikingtriangleprojectimpliesthatitisongoingandevolving.Itisthereforenotarigidplan,butaflexible,adaptableapproachthatcanbecarriedforwardintothefuture.However,todelivertheplan’svision,anumberofkeystepswereoutlined:publicinterventions(makingspatialimprovements);privateinterventions(attractingdistinctivebusinesses);andpublic/privateinitiatives(improvement,developmentandmanagement).Behindthese,anumberofpriorityactionswereidentifiedtohelpdeveloptheVikingtriangleinto‘afirst-classdestination’.theseweretargetedfordeliveryinthreephases:1sthalfof2011;2ndhalfof2011;longerterm.

lessons

theVikingtriangleisanimportantcasestudyinillustratingthecrucialimportanceofcreatingacoherentnarrativefortheplace–theinitiativewasenvisagedasboththecatalyst

andacoreelementofthecity’sregenerationplans–tore-brandWaterfordasavibrantandhighqualitycitycentredestination,onethatwouldbeattractivetoresidents,visitorsandbusinessesalike.

theprojectalsoshowsthatthephysicalconservationofabuildingisnotsufficientandisonlythestartoftheprocess.Buildingswillonlysurviveintothefutureiftheycanadapt,andtheapproachhereistomaketheexteriorconservationparamount,butwithsomeinteriorflexibilitythatensureseconomicviabilityofunitsthatarenolongerusefulinthetwenty-firstcentury.

thecityisalivingorganismthatrequiresactivedecision-making,directionandcatalystbythelocalauthoritytogetherwithbuy-inbytheprivatesector.Differentdeliverymechanismsrequiretobeused,notallprojectscanrelyonimmediate

capitalinvestmentandsoslower,lesscostlysolutionssuchasskilldevelopmentandback-to-workschemestoimprovestockcanbeveryappropriate.Constantvigilanceisrequiredtomaintainrigourofdesignstandards.

ItisrecognisedthatinacitythesizeofWaterford,theconcentrationofassetsinthecitycentreisvital.InthisregardtherelocationofWaterfordCrystalalongsidetheVikingtriangleasanattractorcannotbeunderestimated.

[1] ViewoftheBishop’sPalace-theVikingtriangleinitiativecontainsambitiousproposalstoconservethecity’sheritageofhistoricarchitectureandpublicspaces

[2] ImprovingthepublicrealmiscentraltoWaterford’seffortstoreinventitselfasa‘GatewayCity’andtheeconomicdriverofthesouth-eastregion.

[3] WaterfordisuniqueinIrelandfortheextentofitssurvivingmedievalwallsandtowers;theVikingtriangleInitiativeseekstoutilisethisheritagetocreateanidentityfortheVikingtriangleasthecity’s‘culturalquarter’

[4] PlanshowingtheVikingtriangleareaofWaterford

[4]

[3]


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Public RealmaBBeyleix sustainaBle coMMunities plan

project teaM:LoCIURBAnDesIGn,PLAnnInGAnDARCHIteCtURe

AItURBAnIsMAnDLAnDsCAPe

DeBLACAM&MeAGHeRARCHIteCts

client:LAoIsCoUntYCoUnCIL

ABBeYLeIXBUsInessAnDCoMMUnItYDeVeLoPMentFoRUM

DePARtMentoFARts,HeRItAGeAnDtHeGAeLtACHt

date:2009

context

originatingwiththetwelfth-centurybuildingofaCistercianabbey,theAbbeyleixoftodaywaslaidoutinthenineteenthcenturybytheVeseyfamilywhowereresponsibleforitsplannedlayoutanditscruciformplanemanatingfromthemarketsquare–acrescentoftownhousessurroundingtheItalianatemarkethouse,whichwasrecentlyadaptedintoapubliclibrary.

Designateda‘Heritagetown’,a2010studyresultedinmuchoftheurbancorebeingclassifiedasanarchitecturalconservationarea.Inthe2012-18Laois County Development Plan,Abbeyleixisclassedasa‘servicetown’-i.e.townsprovidingretail,residential,serviceandamenityfacilitiesforboththeirlocalcommunitiesandtheirruralhinterlands.

Best known for many years as a traffic bottleneck on the Dublin-Cork road, the town of Abbeyleix has been transformed in recent years by a series of enlightened ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ initiatives to improve the public realm of the town and its overall vitality and viability.

[1] thepublicrealmimprovementstoMarketsquarewereundertakenbytheLocalAuthoritywithsupportofthetowncommunity–carparkingwasrationalised,vehicleaccesswascontrolled,themonumentwasconservedandtheareawaslandscapedasahighqualityurbanspace

[1]


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challenge

LikemanytownsinIreland,Abbeyleixisfacingsignificantchallengestoitsvitalityandviability.Ithaswitnessedsignificantdepopulationoftheurbancoreasnewdevelopmenthasmigratedtoedge-of-centreandout-of-townlocations,andtheleakageofretailspendtolargercentresisthreateningthefutureofthetowncentre’sremainingshops–athreatcompoundedbyitsproximitytotheM8Dublin–Corkmotorway.

Abbeyleixisalsochallengedbytrafficcongestion.notwithstandinganoverallreductioninvehiclenumberssincethebypassingofthetowninthe1990s-andthemorerecentconstructionoftheM8motorway-significantvolumesofheavygoodsvehiclesavoidtollsbytravellingthroughthecentre;andthelimitedcarparkingprovisionismostlyon-

streetalongMainstreet–twofactorswhichdetractsignificantlyfromtheattractivenessofAbbeyleixasaplacetolive,work,shoporvisit.

solution

DespitethechallengeswhichAbbeyleixhasfacedinthelastdecades,thetownhasretainedacoreresidentialpopulationandastrongnetworkofbusinessandcommunityorganisations:thetidytownscommitteeisparticularlyindustriousinmakingimprovementstothepublicrealm,andthebusinesscommunityisactiveinlobbyingonbehalfofthetown’sretailandcommercialinterests.

LaoisCountyCouncil’scommissioningoftheadaptationofthemarkethouseintoanew

townlibrary–andtheassociatedenvironmnetalimprovementstoitssurroundings–havebeenamajorcatalystincreatingarenewedcivicprideandsenseofplaceforAbbeyleix’stowncentre;thelibrarywonconservationawardsfromtheRoyalInstituteofArchitectsofIrelandandtheCivictrustforitsdesignersdeBlacam&MeagherArchitects.

subsequently,theAbbeyleixBusinessandCommunityDevelopmentForum–withsupportfromLaoisCountyCouncilandtheDepartmentofArts,HeritageandtheGaeltacht–setaboutthepreparationofastrategicplanforthetown.seekingtomarry‘bottom-up’and‘top-downinitiatives,theAbbeyleix Sustainable Communities Plansoughttoestablishavisionforitsfuture,alongwitharangeofpoliciesandstrategiestomakethetownamoreattractiveplace.

RelyingonthevibrantcommunitystructureswhichenduredespitethemanychallengesfacingAbbeyleix,theplanaspirestopositionthetownasanexemplarofthosequalitieswhicharetodayunderstoodtounderpinsustainablecommunities:placeswherepeoplewanttoliveandwork,nowandinthefuture;thatmeetthediverseneedsofexistingandfutureresidents,aresensitivetotheirenvironment,andcontributetoahighqualityoflife;thataresafeandinclusive,wellplanned,builtandrun,andofferequalityofopportunityandgoodservicesforall.

Whilethepolicies,strategiesandguidanceintheplansetouttodeliverseveral,ifnotall,aspectsofwhatconstitutessustainablecommunities,thefinalreportfocusesonthosekeyaspectsofthephysicalenvironmentthatmostcontributetomakingplacessuccessful-astrongsenseofplace,

[1]

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ahighqualitypublicrealm,respectforthebuiltheritage,andtheavailabilityofgoodaccessandconnections.

Highlightingthescopeforimprovingthemaintenanceandpresentationofboththebuildingsandopenspaceswhichconstitutethepublicrealm,theplanemphasisestheextenttowhichAbbeyleix’sarchitecturalheritagecontributestothetown’sidentityandsenseofplace,andtheimportanceofprotectingandenhancingthisuniquenessaspartofitsdrivetorealiseitseconomicandtourismpotential.

theplansetsoutguidanceforthedeliveryofitskeyrecommendations,anditoutlinesanumberof‘priority’projectsandactions,including:restoringthe‘crescent’ofbuildingsaroundthemarketsquare;creatinga‘bookend’buildingatthenorthendofMainstreet;formingasouthern‘gateway’ontheCorkroad;andimprovingthequalityofitsopenspaces.

lessons

theSustainable Communities Planhighlightstheimportanceofasenseofplace,respectfortheenvironmentandahighqualitypublicrealminthecreationofsustainablecommunities.Italsorecognisesthevalueofheritage–bothintermsofhistoricbuildingsandpublicspaces–asaresourcetobeconserved,bothforitsownsakeandtorevitalisethetowncentreanditseconomy.

theplanhighlightstheimportanceofcoordinated‘bottom-up’and‘top-down’actionsinthedeliveryofsuccessfuloutcomes:apro-activelocalauthorityandmeaningfulcommunityengagementwereessentialelementsintheproductionoftheplan,astheyareinthecreationofsustainablecommunitiesandsustainabledevelopment.

Finally,theplandemonstratesthevalueofstrategicinfrastructureinvestment;inthiscasepublicrealmimprovementsandadaptationoftheformermarkethousewerecatalystsin‘pump-priming’widercommunityinitiativesfortheregenerationofthevitalityandviabilityofthetown,itscommunityanditslocaleconomy.

[4]

[2]

[3]

[1] Despitechallengesitfacesfromretail,commercialandresidential‘leakage’,Abbeyleixtowncentrehasretainedacoreresidentialpopulationandastrongcommunityspirit

[2] theadaptationofthemarkethouseintoanewtownlibraryandtheassociatedenvironmentalimprovementshavebeenamajorcatalystincreatingarenewedcivicprideandsenseofplaceforthetown.

[3] PlanofAbbeyleixtowncentre

[4] theplanwasdevelopedjointlybytheAbbeyleixBusinessandCommunityDevelopmentAssociationandLaoisCountyCouncil,withsupportfromtheDepartmentofArts,HeritageandtheGaeltacht


—4948

thecasestudiesinthispublicationrespondtothestatementintheArchitectural Heritage Protection - Guidelines for Planning Authoritiesthatconservationofbuildingsandplacesdoesnotinferthattheyarefrozenintime,butthat‘thecreativechallengeistofindappropriatewaystosatisfytherequirementsofastructuretobesafe,durableandusefulontheonehand,andtoretainitscharacterandspecialinterestontheother’.

theGovernment Policy on Architecture alsoreiteratesthestate’scommitmenttothe‘higheststandardsintheprotection,conservation,andmaintenanceofthehistoricbuiltenvironment’.echoingtheArchitectural Heritage Protection Guidelines’ recognitionofthebenefitsof sympatheticconservation,adaptationandreuseofhistoricbuildings,thearchitecturepolicystressestheirvalueasaresourcetobeexploitedintheproductionofasustainablebuiltenvironment,andthat‘subjecttoretainingitsculturalvalue,thecontinuinguseoftheexistingbuildingstockshouldbeanimportantobjectiveinbothpublicandprivatelyleddevelopment’.

Changingtheuseofhistoricbuildingshasnotalwaysbeenfavouredinthehistoryofarchitecturalconservation.WilliamMorris’smanifestoofthesocietyofAncientBuildingscontainsaplea‘toresistalltamperingwitheitherthefabricorornamentofthebuildingasitstands;ifithasbecomeinconvenientforitspresentuse,raiseanotherbuildingratherthanalterorenlargetheoldone’.nevertheless,theprincipleofchangeisnowfirmlyestablishedinpolicy:the1985CouncilofeuropeConvention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe(theGranadaConvention)specifically

commitsmemberstatestofoster‘theadaptationwhereappropriateofoldbuildingsfornewuses’–subjectto‘dueregardbeinghadtothearchitecturalandhistoricalcharacteroftheheritage’.

today’stheoriesregardingprotectionofthearchitecturalheritagecouldbesaidtooriginatefromRenaissancereactionsagainstthewidespreaddemolitionofbuildingsfromantiquity,asexemplifiedbyLeonBattistaAlberti’s‘indignationwhenIseebuildingsdemolishedandgoingtoruinbythecarelessness,nottosayabominableavarice,oftheowners’.

However,currentthinkingcanbetracedbacktopositionsthatdevelopedineuropefromthemid-nineteenthcentury,andparticularlytheinfluenceoftwoparallel,butopposing,linesofthought.ontheonehand,theFrencharchitectViollet-le-Ducpromoted‘faithfulrestoration’-i.e.anidealisedreconstructiontoaconjecturaloriginalcondition,basedonhistoricalresearchandanalogy,andevenusingcontemporarymaterialsandtechniques.ontheother,thetheoryofconservationarticulatedbyWilliamMorrisandhismentorJohnRuskinadvocatedthathistoricbuildingsshouldbeconservedinsuchamannerastoreflecttheirage.Citingtheimpossibilityofreproducingtheauthenticityoftheoriginalinadifferenthistoricalcontext,Ruskinstatedthat‘itisimpossible,asimpossibleastoraisethedead,torestoreanythingthathaseverbeengreatorbeautifulinarchitecture’.

However,Ruskinmodifiedhisviewsinthe1870sacceptingthatintervention,beyondsimplemaintenance,mayberequiredwheresignificantdeteriorationorstructuralfailurehasoccurred.

IntheperiodafterthesecondWorldWar,thesephilosophieswerefurtherdiscussedasconservationtheorysoughttorespondtothechallengeofrepairingthemassivedamagetoeurope’shistoricbuildingstock.Arangeofcontrastingtheoriesemerged-notallofwhichcouldbesaidtoaccordwiththeviewsofeitherLe-DucorRuskin.sometimesdifferentmethodologieswereemployedwithinthesamecountries,andevenwithinthesamecities.

InItalyaschoolofthoughtdevelopedaroundthetheoryof‘RestauroCritico’–essentiallyacompromisebetweentheconservationandrestorationapproaches-basedonacriticalinterpretationoftheoriginalwork,creatingacleardistinctionbetweenthenewandtheold,allowingforthereversibilityofcontemporaryinterventions,andre-establishing,whatoneofitsadvocates,CesareBrandi,calledthe‘potentialonenessoftheworkwithoutcreatingahistoricalfakeoranaestheticoutrage’.Manyoftheprojectsillustratedhereareoftherestaurocriticotype,butitisrecognisedthatnotallconservationprojectsaresuitableforthisapproach.

the1964ICoMosVeniceCharterdrewontherestaurocriticoprinciplesandearlierdocuments.Distinguishingbetweenconservationandrestoration,thetextneverthelessemphasisestheirunityofpurpose:‘tosafeguard(monuments)forfuturegenerations....inthefullrichnessoftheirauthenticity…..nolessasworksofartthanashistoricalevidence’.Whilenotdefiningtheprecisedifferencesbetweenthetwoprocesses(thiswasfollowedupandaddressedintheICoMosBurraCharterof1979),thecharterdoesstresstheimportanceofrespect

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for‘originalmaterialandauthenticdocuments’andexpressionofacleardistinctionbetweenthenewandtheold;restorationmuststop,thechartersays,‘atthepointwhereconjecturebegins,andinthiscasemoreoveranyextraworkwhichisindispensablemustbedistinctfromthearchitecturalcompositionandmustbearacontemporarystamp’.However,itmustberecognisedthatnotallconservationprojectsrequireinterventionsofthisnature,indeedsomeruinousmonumentsarebestleftasruins,whileinmanycasesconservationworkswillnotbecontrastiveandwillintimeweathertomatchtheoldwork.

Adecadelater,ajointUnionofInternationalArchitectsandInternationalCouncilforMonumentsandsitesseminaradoptedanumberofkeyresolutionsinrelationtoThe Integration of Modern Architecture in Old Surroundings.Itstatesthat‘allhumansettlements,iftheyaretoremainlivingentities,mustadapttochangingcircumstances’andthat‘theintroductionofnewelementsintooldsurroundingsisbothfeasibleand,totheextentthatitaffordstheopportunityofenrichingthefunctionalandaestheticcharacteroftheexistingfabric,desirable’.However,thisisonconditionthatmodernarchitectureandpresent-daytechnologymust‘respectthestructural,aesthetic,historical,andsocialqualitiesofthesurroundingsandbesensitivetothelocalvernacular’.

thisimperativetointegratecontemporaryarchitecturewithheritageprotectionisarticulatedintheGranadaConvention’srecognitionoftheimportance‘ofpromotingarchitecturalcreationasourage’scontributiontoeuropeanheritage’andtheneedtodevelopwaysinwhicharchitecturalheritage

[1]

[1] KodakHouse,Rathmines–formerphotographiclaboratoryadaptedtonewuseasheadquartersformarketingandadvertisingagency


—5150

protection‘canbestbereconciledwiththeneedsofcontemporaryeconomic,socialandculturalactivities’.equally,theArchitectural Heritage Protection Guidelinesrecognisethattheconservationofbuildingsandplaces‘doesnotmeanthatastructureisforeverfrozenintime.Goodconservationpracticeallowsastructuretoevolveandadapttomeetchangingneedswhileretainingitsparticularsignificance’.

Whileneitherconservationnorrestorationinthestrictmeaningsofthoseterms,thecasestudyprojects

inthisvolumeillustratearangeofapproachestoexpressingnewinterventionsinacontemporaryidiom,whileprotectingthecharacterandspecialinterestoftheoriginalwork;theyaspiretocombinethenewandtheold,themodernandthehistoric,thepresentandthepastinwaysthatcreateanarchitecturewhichisricherandmoredynamicthaneitheronitsown.Yettheyretaintheessentialvaluesoftheoriginalintactfortodayandforfuturegenerations.However,itmustberecognisedthatthisisnottheonlyvalidapproachtoconservingarchitecturalheritage.

notalloftheprojectsinvolveworkstoprotectedstructures.thoseillustrateddemonstratearangeofresponsestothischallenge:theycombinethenewandtheold,themodernandthehistoric,thepresentandthepastinwaysthatcreateanarchitecturewhichisricherandmoredynamicthaneitheronitsown,yettheyretaintheessentialvaluesoftheoriginalintactforfuturegenerations.

theyare,equally,valuableexemplarsofresponsestotheGovernment Policy on Architecture’semphasisoncreatingasustainablebuilt

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environment.Intoday’sbattleagainstclimatechange,theconservation,adaptationandreuseofhistoricbuildingsresonateswithimperativestoutilisetheworld’sresourcesinwaysthatareenvironmentallyresponsible.Inthisregard,theinheritedbuiltenvironmentisaphysicalresourcewhichisdepletedwheneveranotherwisesoundstructureisdemolished;whereasitssympatheticadaptationandreusenotonlyextendsitslifespanandretainsitsheritagevalues,itconservesmuchoftheembodiedenergyusedinitsoriginalconstruction.

Conservationofhistoricbuildingsthereforehasanethicaldimension,conformingasitdoestotheBrundtlandReport’sdefinitionofsustainabledevelopment:‘developmentthatmeetstheneedsofthepresentwithoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstomeettheirownneeds’.theseresonancesbetweenheritageprotectionandenvironmentalsustainabilitywereanticipatedbyRuskinasearlyas1849.InThe Seven Lamps of Architecture,hestates:‘itisnotaquestionofwhetherweshouldpreservethebuildingsoftimespastornot.theyarenotours.theybelongpartlytothosewhobuiltthemandpartlytoallthegenerationsofmankindwhoaretofollowus’.

[1] theMainGuard,Clonmel–closingthevistafromthemainstreet

[2] entranceportico,theIslandCrematorium,Cork

[2]


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Adaptive Reuseirish filM institute, teMple Bar

project teaM:o’DonneLL+tUoMeYARCHIteCts

BoYDAnDCReeDqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

FeARono’neILLRooneYConsULtInGenGIneeRs

client:tHeIRIsHFILMCentRe

date:1992

context

theIrishFilmInstitute(Phase1:1992.Phase2:2011)isareworkingandopeningupofasetofhistoricbuildingswiththeadditionoftwonewbuildings,arrangedaroundanewpublicrouteandglassroofedcentralspace.

theprojectisaconversionoftheformerquakerMeetingHouseandheadquartersineustacestreet,templeBar.

thequakershadaccumulatedaclusterofoverlappingproperties,whichtheybuiltuparoundtheseventeenth-centuryfoundationsoftheirmid-blockMeetingHouse.Itoccupiesthecentreofacityblockandhasnosignificantstreetfrontage,buthasnarrowroutesofaccessfromeustacestreet,Damestreetandsycamorestreet.

thebuildingaccommodatesallaspectsoffilmculture.Itincludesthreecinemas,thenationalfilmarchive,abookshop,restaurant,bar,classroomsandofficesforvariousorganisations.

thenineexistingquakerbuildingsonthesiteweresurveyedandafullsetofmeasureddrawingsmade.Conservation,conditionandusereportswereprepared.through

analysisbasedonthiswork,andinconsultationwiththeplanningauthority,aproposalwasmadeforselectivedemolitionsandthecarefulinsertionofnewbuildingstohousethecontemporarytwentiethcenturyartofcinemawithinthiscollectionofeighteenth,nineteenthandtwentiethcenturybuildings.theendresultisanintegratedsetofspaceswhereoldandnewaretreatedwithequalrespect.Anewroutecutsthroughthesiteconnectingeustacestreetandsycamorestreet,passingthroughtwonewpublicspaces:theinternal,glassroofedfoyerandanoutdoorspaceforsocialisingandsmokingoverlookedbythearchive,libraryandprojectionbox.


—5554

challenge

thebriefwas,tosomeextent,determinedbywhatwaspossiblewithintheexistingquakerbuildings.Itwasclearthat,withinthebudgetavailable,itwouldnotbepossibletorestoreandrepairthebuildingsfullyandprovidealltheaccommodationrequiredbytheclient.Itwasagreedtogiveprioritytopublicandtechnicalspacesforfilmandtothefoyerandentrancesequence.

solution

somepartsofthehistoricbuildingwereleftalmostuntouched,withtheadditionofbasicservicesandpaint.theiroldwallsandfloorboardsgivecharactertotheoffices.otherareasofthebuildingwererepairedorrestoredwithcare,inparticularwhereitwouldbedifficulttodoworkinthefuturewithoutdisruption,orwheretheextentofdisrepairposedarisk.

Partsoftheexistingbuildingwereideallysuitedtotheproposeduse,bothintheirgeneralcharacterandspatialquality.thetwooriginalcinemasarehousedwithinthewallsofexistingrooms,asarethebarandsomeoffices.newelementshavebeeninstalledwithintheseroomstoaccommodatethenewfunctions.

theprincipalareasofnewbuildingarethefoyer,theprojectionroomandthearchive.

Anewsteelsign-boxwithneonilluminationprojectsovertheoriginaldooroneustacestreet,indicatingtheentrancetotheFilmInstitute.Along,tunnel-likecorridorleadsfromthisentrancetothefoyer.Itslengthisilluminatedbyaladder-likeglass

floorlightinmildsteelwithneonstripsbelowthe25mmglass.Itswallsmakeagalleryforfilmpostersandreviews.

thefoyeroccupiesthecentralspace,withanewhighlevelglassroof.threesidesofthecourtyardareformedbyexistingbuildings.thefourthisanewthree-storeybuildinghousingoffices,restaurant,andinformation/boxoffice.

thematerialsinthewalls,roofandfloorofthefoyerwerechosentogivethesenseofanexternalpublicplace.thefloorislimestone,inconcentriccirclesseparatedbymildsteelbands.thenewsandandcementplasterwallsarecolouredwithnaturalochrepigment.

thelargercinemaishousedintheformermeetingroom,themostsignificantpartoftheoriginalbuilding.thisdatedfromtheearly19thcenturyandshowedevidenceofhavingbeenchangedfrequentlythroughoutthatcentury,withthewallsraised,windowsblockedupandnewonesadded.ourinterventionaddsanotherlayertothelifeofthisbuilding.

thescreenandspeakersarehousedinalargecabinet,thusbuildingnothingpermanentintothearchitectureoftheroom.the

[1]

[2]

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windowsbehindremaininplace,blockedupontheoutsidetoexcludesoundandlight.thescreencabinetcouldberemovedandthewindowsreopenedinthefuture.

Anewbuildingonsycamorestreethousesthearchivalfunctions.Itismadeinsmoothredbrickwithsteelwindowsandconcreteelements.thissmallinfillbuildingistheonlypartoftheFilmCentrewhichhasapresenceonthepublicstreet.Ithasanarrowfronttosycamorestreet,anditslongsideextendsintothesite,formingonesideofanewraisedcourtyard.Adropinlevelacrossthesiteallowsthefilmstoragetobeatstreetlevel,onefloorbelowthepublicaccess,whichislevelwiththeotherpublicfacilities.

thelimestonecladprojectionboxisathighlevelbetweentheexternalwallsofthetwocinemasandthearchiveblock.theslendercolumnswhichsupportitmakeaninformalportico,withablueneonlineonthestonesoffit,connectingtheentrance

toawideflightofstepsdowntothenewpublicspaceofMeetingHousesquareandprovidingshelterforsmokersandotherssittingattheoutsidetables.

thesecondphaseworkwascompletedonasetofnewinterventionswhichprovideasmallstudiocinema,muchbiggertoilets,anupgradetothebarandanewbookandfilmshop.theseadditionsweremadeinthesamespiritastheoriginalprojectandcanbeclearlyread.theyaredesignedtoco-existwiththeoldbuildings;toaddtoandenhancebutnottochallengethem.

[1] thefoyeroccupieswhatwasanexternalyard,itisenclosedwithanewglassrooftogivethesenseofexternalpublicspace

[2] PlanoftheFilmCentreshowingtheextentoforiginalquakerMeetingHousefabricretainedandhighlightingthenewinterventionsrequiredtoadaptthebuildingtoitsnewcinemause

[3] themaincinemaishousedwithintheearlynineteenthcenturyformermeetingroom,themostimportantspaceofthequakerMeetingHouse;allnewinterventionsaredesignedtobereversible

[4] Anewroutecutsthroughthesiteconnectingeustacestreetandsycamorestreet,passingthroughtwonewpublicspaces

[3] [4]

Many parts of the historic fabric were left almost untouched, others were carefully repaired and restored, and where needed, new elements were installed to accommodate their new cinema-related functions


—5756

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Adaptive ReuseMixed use deVelopMent, castle street, duBlin

project teaM:DeBLACAM&MeAGHeRARCHIteCts

JoHnD.sKeLLY+AssoCIAtesqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

FeARono’neILLRooneYConsULtInGenGIneeRs

R.n.MURPHY+AssoCIAtesMeCHAnICALAnDeLeCtRICALenGIneeRInG

client:GoRDonCAMPBeLL

date:1999

context

situatedoppositeChristchurchCathedralandclosetoDublinCastle,intheheartofthecity,thisprominentsiteonthecornerofCastlestreetandWerburghstreetwasoccupiedbyathreestorey,concrete-framedbuildingbuiltinthe1960s.thebuildingwasoutofcontextwithitssurroundingsinitsscale,formandmaterials.ItwassetbackfromCastlestreetandrecessedonthecornerasaresultofa,subsequentlycancelled,road-wideningproposal.theadjoiningbuildingonCastlestreetisafourstoreybrickLateGeorgiantownhouserestoredin1997bytheDublinCivictrust,whilestWerburghChurchbordersthesitetothesouth.theexistingbuilding,whilestructurallysound,wasderelict.

challenge

thechallengeofthisprojectwastotaketheexistingbuildingandintegrateitintothevaryingsurroundingcontextsofCastlestreet,WerburghstreetandChristchurchCathedral.


—5958

solution

Adecisionwastakenearlyinthedesignprocesstoretaintheexistingbuildinginthenewdevelopment.Althoughoflittlearchitecturalmerit,retainingtheexistingbuildingavoidedtheneedtorebuildoneitheroftheboundariesoftheadjoiningsites.Itwasstrippedbacktoitsconcreteframeandextendedtothesouth,eastandontop,toprovidearetailunitatgroundlevel,officesatfirstandsecondfloorlevels,andapenthouseapartmentatthirdandfourthfloorlevels.

thenewworksincludedanextensiontotheexistingbuildingtobringitouttothelineandparapetleveloftheexistingterraceofbrickbuildingsonCastlestreetandtocompletethecornerofCastlestreetandWerburghstreet.Athirdandfourthfloorwerealsoadded.therenderedfaçadeoftheexistingbuildingisretainedonWerburghstreet,whilethenewworksaremadeprimarilyinbrick.

thematerialsusedaregenerallysympathetictothesurroundingenvironment.Blackflamedgranitecladdingisusedatgroundfloorandadarkbrick,consistingmainlyofoverburnswasusedtodiffusethevolumeofthebuildingandcarrytheCastlestreetelevationaroundthecornertoWerburghstreet.theoriginalrenderbuildingwasrepaintedwithasimilarcolourtotheadjacentstWerburghChurch.

Untreatedirokowindowswereusedtosoftentheelevationwithasixmetrehighcornerwindowatthirdflooremphasisingtheprominentcorner,providingaspectforthedoubleheightlivingspacebehind,andechoingtheorielwindowoftheformertudorhouse.

thepenthousewasdesignedtohaveexternalterracestoallcornersofthebuilding,whichexploitthemanyviewsavailablefromthislocationincludingtheDublinmountainstothesouth,ChristchurchCathedraltothewestandDublinCastletotheeast.

[2][1]

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theplanningprocesswasquitestraightforward.thedecisiontoincludeamixtureofdifferentuseswithinthebuilding(retail,officeandresidential)wasinlinewiththezoningobjectivesoftheDevelopmentPlanandhasproventobesuccessfulinthislocation.therewasalsoaclearbenefittothecityincompletingtheconstructionofthisurbancorner,particularlygivenitsproximitytoChristchurchCathedralandDublinCastle.

lessons

theexistingbuildingonthesitewasunsightlyandoutofcontextwiththesurroundingbuildings.thetemptationmighthavebeentoremoveitanddevelopthesitefromscratch.thedecisiontoretainandreuseit,andtoallowthenewbuildingworkstoalmostcompletelytransformtheexisting(thefrontagetoWerburghstreetisnowtheonlyvisibleelementoftheexistingbuilding)isanexampleofonewaytoredevelopanunsightlyexistingbuilding,withoutgoingtotheextremeofdemolishingit.

[1] themixofusesproposedintheadaptationandreuse–retail,officesandresidential–coincidedwiththeDublinCityDevelopmentPlanzoningobjectivesforthesite

[2] thedouble-heightpenthouseapartmenthasexternalterracesonallsideswithviewsoverthecityandbeyond

[3] theexistingbuildingwasoutofcontextwithitssurroundings,intermsofitsform,scale,andmaterials

[4] thechallengeoftheprojectwastotakeanunsightly1960sstructureandadaptittointegratewithitshistoricneighbours–Castlestreet,st.Werburgh’sChurchandChristchurchCathedral

[5] theexistingconcreteframestructurewasretained–thenewelementsaddedtoremakethecornerandincreasethebuilding’sheightweremadeofbrickwithirokojoinery–includingthesixmetrehighprojectingcornerwindow

[4]

[5]

The temptation might have been to demolish the existing unsightly building; the decision was made to retain and reuse it as an exemplary illustration of the potential of adaptive reuse generally.


—6160

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Adaptive Reusekodak house, rathMines

project teaM:PAULKeoGHARCHIteCts

LAWtonAssoCIAtesConsULtInGenGIneeRs

BAsILConRoY+Co.qUAntItYsURVeYoRs

JoHnMCCARtHYFIResAFetYConsULtAnts

client:qUIRKeLYnCHHoLDInGs/CAWLeYneAADVeRtIsInG&MARKetInG

date:1999-2002

context

AlongwiththeBovrilbuildinginRingsendandArcher’sGarageinFenianstreet,KodakHouseisoneofthefewexamplesofArtDecoarchitectureinDublin.Itwasconstructedin1930astheheadquartersforKodak’soperationinIreland,housingwarehousingandprocessinglaboratories.

thedesignisbyDonnelly,Moore&KeatingeandconstructionwascarriedoutbytheDublinfirmMcLaughlin&Harvey.Itisthoughttobeoneofapair–withtheotherinFlorida,UsA.

challenge

WhenKodakdownsizeditsoperations,thebuildingwaspurchasedbyitscurrentownersandcontinuedtooperateasanindependentphoto-processinglaboratoryuptotheendofthe1980s.However,withtheimpendingterminationofchemicalphotoprocessing,itbecameincumbentontheownersquirkeLynchHoldingstoinvestigatealternativeusestosustainthefutureofthebuilding–bothphysicallyandcommercially.

ItwasaroundthistimethattheformerArcher’sGaragewasunlawfullydemolished,onlytobesubsequentlyreinstatedbyorderofAnBordPleanala.KodakHousewasnotlisteduntilitwasaddedtoList2oftheDublin City Development Planaftertherenovationprojecthadbeencompleted.


—6362

solution

theinitialbrieftothearchitectswasrestrictedtotheremodellingoftheupperfloor–thegroundfloorcontinuedinuseasphotographiclaboratoriesuntil2002whenittoowasremodelled.

Preliminarystudiesforthefirstfloorexploredessentiallyresidentialuses–convertingtheopenplanmodularfloorplatetoanumberofloft-stylestudioapartmentswithmezzaninesleepinggalleries.

Duringthepreliminarydesignphases,achanceenquiryresultedinapre-lettingagreementbetweentheownerandfuturetenant,toremodeltheopenplanlaboratoryasheadquartersforoneofIreland’supandcomingadvertisingagencies.thisfortuitouscoincidencecontributedinnosmallmeasuretosecuringasustainablefutureuse–andconservationoftheessentialcharacterofthebuilding,

bothinternallyandexternally.thefuturetenantssoughttoconservetheindustrialqualityandcharacteroftheoriginal,particularlyitssteelstructureandcasementwindows.

themostsignificantinterventionisintheinsertionofanewmezzaninerunningthefulllengthofthefirstfloor.theoldrooflightswerereplacedandthecentralareawasre-roofedwithanewclearspancurvedsteelstructure,thusprovidinganextraofficefloor,withspacebeneathforservicerooms.themezzanineflooralsocreatesarelationshipbetweentheofficeinteriorandtheexternalroofterrace.

themezzanineorganisestheplanintothreedistinctzones:themainopen-planofficeareatothenorth;secondaryopen-planofficeareasandconferenceroomstothesouth;acentralzonecomprisinglibrary,photocopyingandmeetingrooms

beneaththemezzanine.entryandservicesareatopposingendsofthebuilding.

theflatroofisinsulatedexternallysothesteelworkcanbeexposedinternally.theconcretestructurewasdrylinedinternallyandthesteelwindowsrenovated,re-glazedandrenewed.thewoodenfloors–wideboardoakonbattens–canbeliftedtogainaccesstocomputerandcommunicationsservicesbelow;backgroundlightingisentirelybyhalogenuplighterswithtungstentasklightingateachworkplace.

thedesignoftheprojectconcentratesontheexploitationoflightintoadeepfloorplananddifferentiatingbetweenthevarioustypesofspacewithin.theuseofalimitedpaletteofcolourandmaterialsfortheinterventionsfocusesontheexistingstructureandcreatesnewspatialeffectswiththeminimumofmeans.

[1]

[2]

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lessons

Apartfrombeinganexemplarofanindustrialbuildingadaptedforcontemporaryuses,theprincipallessonoftheprojectisindemonstratinganalternativetotheubiquitousandordinaryworkingenvironmentthoughttobethepreferredchoiceoftoday’shightechnologyandservicefirms.Previousadvicefromlettingagentsemployedbytheownersoughttheinsertionofsuspendedceilings,fluorescentlighting,replacementwindowsandfittedcarpets.onthecontrary,thedevelopmentofaspatialmodelandarchitecturallanguageinsympathywiththerobustloft-styleofthe1930soriginalhasprovidedasuitableandappreciatedworkingenvironment.

[1] UsedasKodak’smainlaboratoriesforoverahalf-century,thebuildingbecameredundantwiththeimpendingterminationofchemicalphotoprocessinginthe1990s

[2] KodakHouseisoneofthefewremainingArt-DecobuildingsinDublin;constructedinthe1930s,itwasnotlistedasaprotectedstructureuntilaftertherenovationswerecompletedin2002

[3] Crosssectionshowingthenewmezzaninestructureandnorthlightglazingtothedeepplanofficeinterior

[4] thedesignsoughttocomplementtherobustindustriallanguageoftheoriginal,andofferanalternativetotheubiquitouscarpet,fluorescentlightingandsuspendedceilingenvironmentofmostofficeinteriors

[3]

[4]

The most significant intervention was the insertion of a new mezzanine floor running the full length of the space; the old rooflights were replaced.


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Adaptive ReuseWarehouse conVersion, BarroW street, duBlin

project teaM:DeBLACAM&MeAGHeRARCHIteCts

BRUCesHAWPRoJeCtMAnAGeMentLtD.

HenDRICKRYAn+AssoCIAtesConsULtInGenGIneeRs

MACARDLeMCsWeeneYAssoCIAtesConsULtInGenGIneeRs

BRUCesHAWPARtneRsHIPqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

client:tReAsURYHoLDInGs

date:2000

context

thebuilding,whichisthreestoreyshigh,faceswestontotheGrandCanalBasinintheDublinDocklands.ItisaccessedfromBarrowstreetviaayardtothenorthofthebuildingandisenclosedtothesouthandeastbyamixtureofresidentialandcommercialusebuildings.theexistingbuildingwasderelictbutthemainstructurewassubstantiallyintact.thecastironframesupportingthree-quarterinchsolidtimberfloorswasofnote,aswerethestonerubblewallswithbrickrevealsandthesteelframedwindows,invaryingstatesofrepair.therewereanumberofunsightlymodernadditionstotheoutsideofthebuilding–stairs,lifts,toilets,etc.

challenge

themainchallengeoftheprojectwastoincorporateintothebuildingalloftherequirementsofamodernoffice,withoutdetractingfromthecharacteroftheexistingwarehousespace.


—6766

solution

Anemphasiswasputonmaintainingasmuchoftheoriginalbuildingfabricaspossible.themodernadditionswereremoved,returningthebuildingtoitsoriginalrectangularform.thesolidmasonrywallswereleftexposedbothinsideandoutside.theseweresand-blastedtoremovepaintandplasterandabreathablesealerwasappliedtobothsides.Damp-proofingworktothemwasrequiredatgroundlevel,primarilyatthegablefacingontothecanal,andachemicaldampproofcoursewasinjectedatgroundlevel.somewindowopeningshadbeenblockedupandthesewere-opened,withbrickarchesre-builtasrequiredusingreclaimedbricks.theroofwasstrippedbacktoitsstructure,andthesteelworkbrushedtoremoverust,primedandpainted.existingtimberpurlinsandraftersweretreatedforrotbyaspecialist,withnewtimberssplicedinasrequired.theroofwasfinishedinnaturalslate.theexistingsteelframedwindowswererepairedwherepossible,orreplacedwithW20steelwindowstomatch.Allwindowrevealswereplasteredinternallywithawaterresistantrender.

newinterventionswerekepttoaminimumandintendedtocomplementandcontrastwiththeexisting.Anewcoreincludingkitchens,toiletsandancillaryserviceswasinsertedattheeastendofthebuilding.Itisplannedasasquareelementrisingthrougheachfloorofthebuilding,positionedindependentlyoftheexistingstructure.Itisplasteredandpaintedwhite,clearlyidentifyingitasnewanddistinctfromtheexistingexposedmasonrywalls.themainstairservingthebuildingrisesbetweenthisnewcoreandtheexistingeastwall.theremainderoftheplanisleftasopenoffice

space,withlightweightglassandplasterboardpartitionsusedtoformindividualroomswhererequired.

Inordertobringthefiresafetystandardsofthebuildinginlinewiththecurrentbuildingregulations,theundersideoftheexistingtimberfloorswascladwithanindependentplasterboardenclosuretoprovidetherequiredseparationbetweenfloors.thisallowedtheexistingtimberfloortoberetainedandforwiringtodeskstoberunbelowthefloor.

A25mlongrooflightwasaddedalongtheapexoftheroof,tonaturallylightthetopfloorofficespacefromabove.

externallyblackpaintedsteelbalconieswereaddedtothewestfacade,cantiliveredoutoverthecanal.Anopensteelstaircaseoutsidethebuildingprovidesalternativemeansofescapefromtheofficefloors.

thebuildingislocatedinanareazoned‘toprovideforthecreationandprotectionofenterpriseandfacilitateopportunitiesforemploymentcreation’.Itsuseforofficeaccomodationwasinlinewiththisobjective.theapproachofretainingandreusingasmuchoftheexistingbuildingfabricaspossiblewasfavouredbythePlanningAuthority.

[1]

[2]

The emphasis was on retaining as much of the original fabric as possible; new interventions were kept to the minimum and designed to both complement and contrast with the original.

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lessons

theaimoftheprojectwastoconservethissimplewarehousebydemolishingallmodernadditionsandrestoringitskeyfeatures,stonewalls,timberfloors,steelwindowsandsteelstructure.theprojectputemphasisonretainingandre-usingasmuchoftheoriginalfabricofthebuildingaspossible,andtreatingnecessarynewinterventionsasdistinctandclearlyseparatefromtheexistingstructure.

theappropriatechoiceofuseforthebuildingisalsoimportant.Usingitasofficeaccomodationallowedittobelargelyretainedasclearopenspace,whichmaintainedalotofthecharacteroftheexistingwarehouse.Analternativeuse,suchasresidential,whichrequiresmoresub-divisionofthespace,wouldworklesswellinthisregard. [1] thestonewalls,timberfloorsandsteelwindowsoftheoriginalstructurewereretainedand

conservedintheadaptivereuseofthewarehouse

[2] theexistingwindowswereretainedandrepairedwhereverpossible.Wherenot,theywerereplacedwithW20steelcasementwindowstomatchtheoriginals

[3] themainelementsofthebuilding’soriginalfabric–floors,walls,windowsandroofstructure–wereconservedandrestored,andnecessarynewinterventionsweretreatedasseparateanddistinctfromtheoriginal

[4] Floorplanshowingtheinsertionofanewservicecoreaccommodatingkitchens,toiletsandancillaryservices

[5] thewarehousewasconservedandadaptedtoitsnewusebyremovingallaccretionstotheoriginalstructure

[3]

[5]

[4]


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Adaptive Reusecoppinger court, cork

project teaM:MAGeeCReeDonKeARnsARCHIteCts

nestoRKeLLYConsULtInGenGIneeRs

C.A.sMItH+AssoCIAtesqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

PAULHoUston+AssoCIAtesLtD.

client:PRIVAte

date:2003

context

Pope’squayiscomposedofanassortmentofeighteenthandnineteenthcenturyterracedbuildingsfacingsouthacrosstheRiverLeetothe‘island’centreofCorkcity.thesitehadfiveexistingresidential/retailbuildingsonthequayside,includingonelateeighteenthcenturyresidencerequiringconservation,withoutbuildings,somesmallerhousesandgardenssteppingupthehillbehindinseveralterraces.twopedestrianlanesclimbedthroughthesite,HillLaneandCoppingerLane,thelatterlinkingthroughtoshandonstreet.

theshandonareaisanappealingenclaveofmostlysmallscalehousingclusteredaroundthehill,andunderthe‘shadow’ofthedistinctivesteeple.themainstreetshaveamixofusesreminiscentofacountrytown,andtheimpressivemonumentsoftheformerButterMarketandtheFirkinCraneDanceCentrestandtestamenttotheimportanceofthebuttertradeinthepast.theareaischaracterisedbythesenseofcommunityevidentinthedenselyinhabited,steppedlanescrisscrossingthehill,reminiscentofanothertimeandmemory,wherenarrowstreetsframeunfoldingvistasorsuddenlyopenuptosurprisingviewsoverthecity.


—7170

challenge

Housingmustre-establishitselfasthevitalreinforcingingredienttothesustainableurbancommunity.theprovisionofdesirablelivingsolutionsthatareparticulartoandunderstandwhatconstitutes‘home’,intheIrishpsychewillattractresidentswhowillreclaimandreconnectwiththeircity.InCoppingerCourt,workingwiththehistoricalgrainoftheareaallowedforadensebutsympatheticallyscaledhousingprojecttodevelopfromtheexisting‘roots’oftheshandon/Pope’squayneighbourhood.

thebriefwassimplytoprovideasmuchresidentialaccommodationaspossibleonthisbrownfieldsite,andtotryandachievethiswhilestillretainingthequay-frontbuildingsintact,aspreferredbytheplanningauthority.

Fromthisbriefcamethechallengetoinvestigatetheprinciplesandrequirementsofdesirablelongtermurbanlivingandtoreinforcetheconnectionwiththeexistingcommunityandurbanfabric.thiswouldnotjustbeaboutretainingthelanewaysandexistingquay-frontbuildings,butworkingtoascaleandgrainthatwasinkeepingwiththecontext.

Allapartmentsandhouseswouldhavefrontdooraccess,eitherfromthequayfrontorlaneways,andeachunitwouldbeindividuallydesigned,wherenecessary,tosuititslocationandorientation.thisapproachavoidsthealltoofamiliar,andoftenunsatisfactory,‘lift-corridor’typescheme,andallowsforacomplexlayeringofaseriesofpublic,semi-publicandprivateexternalspaces.

[1]

[2]

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solution

theslopingsectionwasusedto‘unlock’thefulldepthofthesite,andminimisetheverticaltraveldistancefromperceivedgroundtothresholdlevels,bystackingunitsatstepsinthesection.

theinsertionofaplinthtoseparatecommercialusesandcarparkingfromtheresidentialareasgivesapedestriancharactertotheresidentialzone.theexistinglanewayshavebeensubstantiatedandnewwalkwaysandsteppedlinksopenedupbetweenthem,creatinganexperienceofunfoldingvistasasonewalksthrough.

Asingleliftisprovidedbetweenthecarparkatquaysidelevelandanexternalstreetthreelevelsup,providingdisabledandgeneralaccesstothehigherlevelunits.

thebuildingsarelaidoutinaseriesofterracesandfocalpointpieces,ofvaryingsizeandshapetodefineboththequalityoftheinternalspacesandtheequallyimportantexternalspaces.Inter-linkedsemi-publiccourtyardgardensinthecentreoftheschemearedirectlyaccessiblefromtheprivatelivingrooms.thesegardensgivebreathingspaceandassistnaturalintegrationbetweentheresidents.Privategardenterracesopeningfromlivingroomsareeitherindentedorotherwisescreenedtogiveprivacy.

thesouthfacingsitehasbeenusedtofulladvantagewithemphasisonopeningstothesouth,eastandwest.surfacescapturechangingsunlightpatternsthroughouttheday.

Useofrenderandsometimberelementsgiveanatmosphereofdomesticityandzincroofinghasallowedflexibilityofform,givinganinterestingandinhabitedroofscape,whichallowscontrastbetweennewandold.thequay-frontbuildingshavebeenrefurbishedusingnewsashwindows,naturalslatesandlimemortardash.

thenineteenthcenturyresidencereceivedspecificconsiderationtocomplywithconservationrequirements.Itsimportanceisreinforcedbyretainingitsoriginalreargardenandcreatinganaxialviewwithinthenewdevelopmenttoitsrearelevation.

lessons

thisprojecthasgroundeditselfinthehistoryofthesite.thearchitecturalapproachhasreawakened,throughcarefulselection,existingfabrictoberefurbished,reusedandreinvented.thisprocessinturnhasallowedthecontemporaryarchitecturetofinditsownselfassuredidentityintheexpressionofthenewwork.

thestrengthofthisprojectliesintherecognitionoftheimportanceoftheresidentintheevolvingcity.thepersonal‘frontdoor’,andindividualsenseofownership,tendstocontributegreatlytothelongtermsuccessofresidentialprojects.

[1] theexistinglanewayshavebeensubstantiatedandnewsteppedwalkwaysopeneduptocreateanexperienceofunfoldingvistasasonewalksthrough

[2] thebuildingsarelaidoutinaseriesofterracesandfocalpointpiecesofvaryingsizeandshapetodefineinter-linkedsemi-publiccourtyardgardensinthecentreofthescheme

[3] Groundedinrespectforthehistoryandtopographyofthelocation,boththecontemporaryinterventionandtheexistingfabricarecombinedinaself-assurednewidentityforthesite

[3]

Housing must re-establish itself as the vital ingredient in making sustainable urban communities; creating desirable urban living conditions is the solution to getting people to reclaim and reconnect with their city.


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project teaM:MARGARetqUInLAnARCHIteCts

PUnCHConsULtInGenGIneeRs

oVeRY+AssoCIAtes

GeoCKAVAnAGH+Co.CHARteReDqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

client:nAtIonALMonUMentsseRVICe/oPW

date:2004

context

theMainGuardwascommissionedbyJamesButler,1stDukeoformond,asthecourtandadministrativecentreofthePalatinateofCountytipperary–afeudalstructureestablishedin1328.ormondwasanimportantfigure,beingthreetimesLordLieutenantandresponsibleforthecreationoftheDublinquays,theRoyalHospitalandthePhoenixPark.

the1675dateofthebuildingisestablishedbydocumentarysourcesandbycoats-of-armsbearingthedatesetintothefaçade.WhenthePalatinatewasextinguishedin1714,itbecameanAssizesCourt.By1810,ithadpassedintoprivateownershipandundergoneradicalalterationinClonmel’scommercialboom.Bythe1980s,thebuildingconsistedofaspirit-grocery,apubandlivingaccommodation.ItwasinadangerousstateandwasacquiredbyClonmelCorporationin1986.

theMainGuardstandsattheverycentreofClonmelontheaxisofthebroadmainstreet,facingtheneo-GothicWestGate,anineteenthcenturyrebuildoftheoldwestgateofthewalledtown,whichclosesthevistaattheotherend.

ResearchontheMainGuardbeganin1990byMargaretquinlanaspartofapostgraduateprogrammeatUCD.Guidedbydocumentaryresearch,investigationrevealedthatsubstantialpartsoftheseventeenthcenturybuildinghadsurvived,concealedwithinthelaternineteenthcenturyfabric.thisdiscoveryofpre-1700fabricbroughtitundernationalMonumentslegislation.

challenge

oneofthemainchallengeswasthedilemmafacingClonmelCorporation,whichhadboughttheMainGuardasaramblingcomplexindangerousconditionandintendedtosellittoadeveloperunderits1990UrbanRenewalscheme.thesitedesignationwasbasedonaForasForbarthareportwhichsuggestedthatonlytheupperfrontwallhadsurvivingoriginalfabric.thediscoveryoftheoriginalfabricchangedeverything.

theconditionofthebuildingwasamajorfactor–howtokeepitstanding?Whatformshouldtheinterventionstake–securethenineteenthcenturyformasitstoodorunpeelthelayersbacktoseventeenthcentury?

Adaptive Reusethe Main guard, clonMel


—7574

thesettingofthisRenaissancebuildingwasofgreatsignificancebuthadbeenaltered.Howwasthisalterationtobehandledintherelationshipwithadjoiningbuildings?

theinsertionofnewworkintoaseverelydistortedbuilding,thehandlingofrainwateronthefrontfacadeandfindingmatchingstoneweresomeofthelesserproblems.

solution

nationalMonumentslegislationnowappliedtotheMainGuardandmadetheUrbanRenewalschemenon-viable.In1994,ClonmelCorporation,inagenerous,forward-lookingact,transferredthebuildingtotheofficeofPublicWorksatnocost,andaprogrammeofexcavation,conservationandrestorationbeganwiththeaimofdevelopingthesiteasavisitorcentre.

theBoroughengineeranddefactoplanningofficer,JimKeating,whohadfacilitatedthestudyofthebuilding,waskeyinthisprocess.Asnationalmonumentswereexemptfrom

planning,noplanningapplicationwassubmittedbuttherewasongoingbriefingandconsultation.

theseventeenthcenturyversusnineteenthcenturyformofthebuildingwasthemajorethicaldecision.theprimarysignificanceofthebuildingwasseentolieintheseventeenthcenturyformandsetting.theresolutionofthestructuralproblemscouldalsobebestmetbyre-establishingtheoriginalstructuralform.thenineteenthcenturyradicalalterationwasnota‘validcontribution’(Article11Venice Charter)butaimedatmaximisingfloorarea.thedecisiontoreinstatetheearlierformwasalsosupportedbytheBurraCharter’sArticles17,18and19,whichdealwithrecoveryofsignificance.

theoptionofretainingthenineteenthcenturyconfigurationwasconsideredbutdiscarded,asitwouldhaveentailedthevirtualobliterationofthesurvivingelementsoftheoriginalinfavourofthepreservationofastructure,whichitselfwouldhaverequiredthereplacementofmuchdecayedmaterial.

theimmediatesettingwasreinstatedtosomedegreebytheacquisitionandpart-demolitionoftheinfillbuildingstothesouthandeast.thisallowedthebuildingtoappeartobefreestanding.

Decisionsonthedistortionweretorepairanythingbrokenbuttokeep,andmergeinto,theexistingdeformations.Littleintherepairworkcouldbemadeplumborlevel,requiringgreatskillfromthenationalMonumentscraftspeople.

Inallinterventions,carewastakentoavoidspeculationandtoensurethatnewelementswereclearly

[1]

[2] [3]

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[4]

identifiableasbeingofcontemporaryconstruction.noevidenceofinternaldetailingsurvivedandnoattemptwasmadetorecreateit.

theoriginallimestonemouldedcillssurvivedthe1810alterationsandarenowrestoredtotheiroriginalpositions,off-levelduetothedeformationofthemasonry.thewindowopeningsandnewlimestonesurroundsarebasedonevidenceuncoveredduringthework.noclueswerefoundastotheformoftheoriginalwindowssothenewwindowsaremodern,designedtobeinkeepingwiththecharacterofthebuilding.soundtimberintherooftrusseswasretainedwithnewtimberpiecedinwherethedecaywasadvanced.timberandleadwereusedinthenewdeeplyrecessedinfillfacades,havingasoftnesswherenewmeetsold.

lessons

theoverwhelminglessonisthedangercausedbylackofknowledge.theMainGuard,apartfromitsfrontwall,wouldhavebeenlosthaditnotbeenchosenasaresearchtopic.

Fabricanalysis,hand-in-handwithdocumentaryresearch,recoveredtheoriginalformofthebuildingwhichwasdeeplyhiddenattheoutset.

thesecondlessonwasthatsecondarysourcescanbemisleading.themanypuzzlesaboutthebuildingweresolvedbyresearchinprimarysources.DonatusMooney’sFranciscanhistoryof1615;theoriginalormondinventoriesofthe1670/80s;anunpublishedosmapof1846givingcredencetoasemi-diagrammaticmapof1690andasentenceina1778englishtraveller’stale;allcombinedtoestablishformandsignificance.

thirdly,itwasveryclearthatthewhole-heartedsupportofthelocalauthoritywasvitaltothesuccessoftheproject.

MuchofthesignificanceoftheMainGuardliesinitssetting.theinsertionofthissimple,classicallyinspiredbuildingtransformedthe

publicrealmofthemedievaltowninamannercharacteristicofRenaissanceinterventioninexistingcityfabric.theprojectionofthebuildingintothemainthoroughfarecreatedasymmetryandanaxialrelationshipwiththeWestGate.

thereinstatementofthearcadehastransformedthepublicspaceofthetown,re-establishingarelationshipthathadbeenlostinthenineteenthcentury.IthasputtheheartbackintothetowncentreandrestoreditsearlyexpressionofenlightenedcivicgovernancethatembodiestheidealsofRenaissanceurbanplanning.

[1] thenorthendofthearcadeprojectingintoMitchellst.

[2] Meetingofoldandnewfabricinthereturn

[3] sideviewfromthenorthwiththebackdropoftheComeraghfoothills

[4] Firstfloorcontextplan

[5] thestructurebeforeworkbegan

In all interventions, care was taken to avoid speculation and to ensure that new elements were clearly identifiable as being of contemporary construction.

[5]


—7776

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Adaptive Reusethe daintree Building, caMden street

project teaM:soLeARtHARCHIteCts

BURoHAPPoLD

GARDIneRAnDtHeoBoLDqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

client:DAIntReeLtD.

date:2005

context

theprojectcontextisthebusycommercialstreetandbacklandservicelanesofCamdenstreet,abustlingmarketstreetinDublin’ssouthcity.Camdenstreetisunusualinthecityinthatitretainswhatfeelslikeanalmostmarkettownambience.thisisperhapsduetoitsgenerouswidth,uniformityofbuildingfrontageheight–threestorey–andtheunusualvarietyofcommercialactivities–shops,marketstalls,residentialandinstitutional–alongit.thesiteisanaccumulationoftheoriginalstreetfrontbuildingandtheseparateplotbehinditalongwithtwoadjoiningplotsonPleasantsPlace.theoneandtwostoreywarehousesandshedsalongthelaneareanintegralpartofthesetting.Buildinglinesrunnorthsouthalongthestreetandlane.Buildingsareconsistentlythreestoreystothestreetandlargelyonetotwostoreysonthelane–withoneexception,afourstoreyhistoricschooloppositethesite.

challenge

theclient’sbriefwastocreatean‘oasisinthecity’,aplacetoliveandwork,thatwouldbemixeduse,vibrantandcuttingedgeinitsuseofecologicalmaterials,passivestrategiesandactivetechnologies.

themaindesignchallengewastoreusetheexistingbuildingonCamdenstreet,givingitduerespectandensuringthatitwasnotoverpoweredbythebiggerbuildingtoitsrear,creatingsomethingthatwouldbecomeitsown‘place’inthecity.Floortoceilingheightsintheexistingshopwerequitelowandenlargingthemcarriedtheriskofconflictwithoriginalwindowopeningsorfallingoutsidethede-factoheightdatumextantonCamdenstreet.

Anotherchallengewastodevelopasolutionthatoptimisedthenorthsouthbuildingline,whichmilitatedagainstutilisingsolargainforresidences,andthedesiretocreatepassivesolarapartments.

themainplanningchallengesweretwo-fold–convincingtheplanningauthoritythatPleasantsPlacewasnotamewslaneandshouldn’thavetheseguidelinesimposeduponit;andmakingtheargumentthatanewfourstoreybuildingonalaneofpredominantlytwostoreyshedswas


—7978

appropriateandcouldbeachievedwithoutcompromisingtheamenityofneighbouringproperties.

othermoredetailedchallengesincludedworkingwithinthespansanddimensionsoforiginalfaçadeandfabric,windowopenings,cornicelinesetc.;accommodatingcommonsewersandcombinedservicesfromneighbours;andrealisingagroupsolutionforservicesatwhatwasaquitemodestscale.

solution

Designsolutionswerefoundthroughphasingtheconstruction,echoingthethreeoriginaloriginalplotsinthe

newbuildingfootprintandinfoldingthedifferentusesoverandthrougheachother.

toCamdenstreet,thestrictheightlimitationwasthestrongestinfluenceronthedecisionstakenindesigningtheretrofitofthehistoricbuilding.theplotlinesoftheassembledsitestothelaneattherearalsoimposedthemselvesonthecompositionofthenew,largerbuilding.

thehistoricbuildingonCamdenstreetwasthoroughlyrenovatedwithpartialreplacementoffabricincludingsomefloors.originalwindowopeningsandstoreylineswerematchedascloselyaspossiblethoughforeconomiesofscaleitwasconsiderednecessarytousetheroofspaceasresidentialaccommodation.

thisnecessitatedraisingofpartoftheridgewhichistheonlychangetothebuildingenvelopewhenviewedfromthestreet.Giventheneedtoaddbathroomsandkitchenstoeachfloor,somechangesinspatiallayoutoneachfloorwerealsoinevitable.theoutcomeisabalancingoftheconflictsbetweenprovisionofmaximumaccommodationandthedictatesoftheoriginalhistoricbuilding’sscale,layout,fabricandparticularlyheight.

Forthelargerbuldingtotherear,theoriginalplotlinesascribeddivisionsinthenewlayoutwhichensuredthenewbuildingechoesthescaleandgrainofthepre-existingstructures;thesouthernmostplotbecametheopenspacecourtyardhostingthepubliccaféandbicycleshedcumartinstallation.ItworksasaroutelinkingPleasantsPlacetoCamdenstreetduringbusinesshoursandalsoservesasasecretgarden.themiddleplotbecomesreadlableatfirstfloorlevel,whereitfunctionsasasemi-privatesunnyterrace–theorganisingspacefortheresidentsofthenewbuilding.

theexistingbuildinglinetoPleasantsPlacewasacceptedasthemainelevationforreasonsofurbandesigncoherence,andtheinherentdisadvantageitpresented,beingatrightanglestothesun,wasturnedintoapositivebylocatingstairwellandnon-residentialelementsalongit.Dwellings–needingheating–werelocatedtothesouthinthesunandhighupinthesection,andnon-residential–needingcooling–wereplacedtothenorthandlowerdowninthesection.

Whilecertaineconomiesofscaleofdwellingwerelostwhenaplanningapplicationforafifthstoreywasrejectedinfavouroffourplus

[1]

The client’s brief was to create ‘an oasis in the city’; a place to live and work, that would be cutting edge in its use of environmental sustainability strategies.

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basement,acriticalmassofactivitieswasmaintainedbyomittinganycarparkingonsite,thusunlockingflexibilityandspace.Instead,bicycleswereprioritisedandthebicycleshelterenergisedwithoriginalworksofsculpturebasedonfoundobjects.

thesevenapartmentsinthenewbuildingareindividualinlayout,eachrespondingtotheirplaceinthecomposition,thesolarandviewopportunitiesavailableandtheirdifferentsizes.Anintentiontomakethemfeelmorelikestackedhousesthanapartmentsisachievedbyensuringhallwaysandbathroomshavenaturallightandthatmosthavelargeexternalprivatespaces.

themainreuseandconservationsuccessesarethatavibrant,sunny,mixedusebuildinghasbeencreatedwithoutwholesaledestructionofthecharacterandscaleofthearea’sbuiltcontext,andthattheexistingbuildingonCamdenstreetwaslargelyreused.

lessons

technicallessonsrangedfromprocesstodetail–eachapartmenthavinganindividuallayoutledtohigherbuildcostsanddidnotutilisetherationallogicoftimber

frameasmuchasitcouldhave;andspecificationoflargelynaturalmaterialsthroughout,includingforexternalenvelopes,rantheriskofaneedformoreregularmaintenance–prioritisingthisinthebudgetcouldhaveensuredweatheringwasmoreconsistent.

thebuildingisunusualinanumberofways,butitisperhapstheblendingofusesandthecarvingoutofanewroominthecity’sspatialmatrixwhereresidents,officepersonnelandpapercraftspeoplemixwithcaféloungersandshoppersinalivingexampleofconvivialcitythatisitsuniquecontribution.

[1] theDaintreeBuildingcomprisesarenovatedbuildingtothefrontandanewfour-storeybuildingincludingagroundfloorcafétotherear

[2] theprojectcombinesamixtureofresidential,retailandofficeusesutilisingstate-of-the-artenvironmentalstrategiesintermsofitsconstructionmaterialsandenergystrategy

[3] PlanshowingrenovatedbuildingtoCamdenstreetwithnewmixedusebuildingtotherearlane

[4] FacingCamdenstreet,themixedusedevelopmentconservesthestreet-frontbuilding,includingreinstatementofagroundfloorretailunit

[2]

[3] [4]


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Adaptive ReuseBaldoyle liBrary

project teaM:FKLARCHIteCts

DAVIsLAnGDonPKsqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

MoYLAnConsULtInGenGIneeRs

MCARDLeMCsWeeneY+AssoCIAtesConsULtInGenGIneeRs

client:FInGALCoUntYCoUnCIL

date:2005

context

thelibraryoccupiedtworoomsofadilapidatedformerRICbarracksonthestrandRoadattheapproachtoBaldoylefromsutton.theMallwasatriangleofgrassatthegableofthelibrary.Itwaschainedofffromthefootpathanddidnotinvitevisitorsorsuggestthepossibilityofuse.Furtheralongthecoastthechurchofst.Peterandst.Paulsitsinanopenparklikespace,markingthecentreofBaldoyle,andwastheonlycivicorurbanindicatorforthevillage.

thelibrarybuildingitself,amodestandrobustnineteenthcenturytwostoreybuildingwasinreasonableconditionstructurallybutinternallywasinaverypoorstateofrepairduetoalackofmaintenanceandguttersleakingovermanyyears.Partofamatchedpairitwasbarelynoticedandmadenoresponsetoitscivicfunctionnortoitslocationbesidethesea.Itwasunmarkedandindistinguishablefromthetwostoreyhouseswhichsurroundit.

challenge

thedecisionbyFingalCountyCounciltorefurbishandupdatethelibrary,aswellastoprovideaLocalAreaofficefortheCouncil,presentedtheopportunitytonotjustrefurbishtheexistingbuilding,buttoreassessitsrelationshiptothevillage.thechallengewastoredefinetheexistinggreenspaceasaforecourttothelibraryandLocalAreaofficeandmarkitslocationwithintheubiquitoussuburbansprawl,betweenitatoneendandst.Peterandst.PaulChurchattheother.thebuildinghadtosignalitspublicfunction,tosupportawiderangeofcomplementaryactivitiesandtoinviteusebyasmanyresidentsaspossible.

theexistingbuildingwastobereanimatedandextendedinamannerthatrespectedbotholdandnew.Indoingsotheconstrainednatureofthesiteandtheproximityofneighbourstotherearhadtoberespectedandissuesofpotentialoverlookingorovershadowingtobeaddressed.theopportunityalsoexistedtotakeadvantageofthestunningandeverchangingviewsovertheseatoIreland’seye.


—8382

solution

Initialassessmentofthebuildingsuggesteddemolitionbutonbalancethepositivepresenceofthebuildingintheurbancontext,itshistory,andtheenvironmentalbenefitsofreuseledtothedecisiontomaintainandextendit.theofficeandlibraryaccommodationarelocatedintheexistingshell,circulation,toiletsandlargerspacesthatwouldnotfitwithinthenarrowexistingbuildingarelocatedinanewextension.

Ablankfirstfloortotheextensionavoidsoverlooking,acompactformavoidsovershadowingandasubstantialcirculationcontentprovidesaccesstonewandexistingaccommodation.thisisenshrinedintheconceptofamanipulatedtubewhichisfoldedandbentaroundtheexistinglibrary,producingaformthatsignalsthepublicnatureofthebuildingbyitssingularityratherthanthroughexcessivescale.

thenewconstruction,formsaloopwhichbeginsandendswithapublicgatheringspacefocusedonIreland’seye.startingattheMallwhichallowsdirectaccesstothebuildingfromapublicspaceratherthanfromthebusyroad,andendingatthemeetingroomatfirstfloor,wheretheviewformsthebackdroptopublicmeetings.

theMallisremadeasapavedcivicspacewhichcanbeusedforeventsandallowsthefunctionsofthelibrarytoextendbeyondthebuilding.Itrunsunderthecantileveredfirstfloormeetingroomtoprovideanexhibitionspacewhichcanbeseenfromoutsideevenwhenthelibraryisclosed.Itformsacounterpointtotheparkwhichsurroundsthechurchtherebybracketingthevillagebetweenpublicspaces.

[1]

[2]

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newandexistingconstructionsaregivendifferentbutcomplementarylanguages.theexistingbuildingwasrefurbishedexternallybutduetothestateofdisrepair,wasrebuiltandreorganisedinternallyinasympatheticcontemporarymannerwhichallowedforafunctionallayoutandanupgradeoftheenergyperformance.thepublicnatureofthebuildingissignalledbystonecladdingtothethenewtube,whichinternallyisarobustreinforcedconcretestructuresubdividedfunctionallybytheinsertionofafoldedplaneoftimberboards.therenderedwallsandslateroofoftheoriginalstructurecontrastwiththeflat-roofedstonecladnewextension,whileinternallythenewconcretetubewithitstimberliningcomplementsthesimpleplasteredspacesoftheoriginalbuilding.

lessons

thisprojectallowedtheremakingoftheimageandunderstandingofthevillageofBaldoylethroughretainingwhatwasusefulinthestructureoftheexistingbuildingandaddingwhatwasrequiredwithnewaccommodation,remakingwhatwaswornoutintheMallandtheinterioroftheoriginalbuilding.theoriginallibrarywasamodestbuilding,notlistedorofparticularhistoricalimportancebutitformedanintegralpartofitscontextandwasrespectedandunderstoodforitsphysicalandculturalvalue.thefactthatitisretainedismoreimportantthanthedetailofit.theintegrityandconsistencyoftheapproachtotherefurbishmentattainsgreatersignificancewhencontrastedwiththeequallyrigourousnewextension.

[1] thefunctionsofthelibraryextendfromunderthecantileveredfirstfloormeetingroomtoprovideanexhibitionspacevisiblefromthestreet

[2] thenewandexistingconstructionaregivendifferentbutcomplementarylanguages

[3] Floorplanshowingnewextension‘wrapped’aroundtherenovatedexistinglibrarybuilding

[4] theprojectdesignaspiredtoallow‘theremakingoftheimageandunderstandingofthevillageofBaldoyle’

[5] Architect’ssketchindicatingthe‘foldedtube’concepttointegratethenewinterventionswiththeoriginalfabric

[3]

[4]

[5]

The existing building was a modest building not listed for protection or of any particular importance, but it formed an integral part of its context.


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project teaM:JACKCoUGHLAnAssoCIAtesARCHIteCts+ConseRVAtIonConsULtAnts

PRoJeCtMAnAGeMentLtD.

BeRnARDseYMoUR+AssoCIAtesLAnDsCAPeARCHIteCts

client:CoRKCItYCoUnCIL

date:2004-2005

context

the‘Lifetime Lab’project,avisitorandeducationalcentrebasedaroundthethemeofsustainableliving,wasundertakenbyCorkCityCouncil,inassociationwithUniversityCollegeCork,withpartfundingbyeeAeFtAstates,FinancialInstrumentoftheeuropeaneconomicArea,inordertopreserveandreuseimportantlandmarkbuildingsandtocoincidewithCorkCity’sroleastheeuropeanCapitalofCulture2005.

Priortothecommencementofthisprojectin2003,theformerCorkCityWaterworks,designedbysirJohnBenson,hadremainedunusedandlargelyunmaintainedforfiftyyearsbutnonethelesshadsurvivedremarkablyintact.

thesiteanditsassociatedbuildingsisincludedonboththeRecord of Protected StructuresandtheSites and Monuments Record.Followingdetailedresearchandrecordingoftheformerwaterworksbuildings,thesitewasconfirmedasthebestpreservedVictorianmunicipalwatersupplycomplexinIreland,andtheoldestcontinuously-usedmunicipalwatersupplyinstallationinthecountry(inusefrom1760’s).ofarchitectural,historical,scientific,andsocialsignificance,thecomplexalso

includesthe1907enginehousewhichcontainsinsitutheonlysurvivingenginesoftheirtypeinIreland.

challenge

theprojectbrief,asdefinedintheCork City Development Plan,calledfortheformerCorkCityWaterworkssitetoformthefocalpointoftheSustainable City Project,toberedevelopedintoavaluableeducational,heritageandtouristattractionwhichwouldpromoteawarenessofenvironmentalissuesandenhanceCorkCityasacentreofenvironmentalexcellence.

theclientbriefrequiredtheprinciplesofsustainabledesigntobeappliedtotheconservationandadaptationofthecomplexfornewuseaseducationspaces,offices,meetingroomsandinteractiveexhibitiondisplaysonthethemesoftheenvironmentandsustainability.Giventhelocationofthesiteandthedifferentfloorlevelsofthebuilding,providingtheaccessforallrequiredbythebriefwastoprovechallenging.

theconditionofindividualbuildingsonthesiterangedfrompoortoextremelydilapidated,withtheprincipalproblemsrelatedtowateringresscausedbydamagedrainwater

Adaptive ReuselifetiMe laB, forMer cork city WaterWorks


—8786

goods,brokenrooflanternsandmissingslates.thedistinctivebuildingfabriccomprisingbrickworkandlocalredsandstoneinterspersedwithbandsoflimestonewasinneedofattentioninmanyareas,particularlywherethesandstonewasbadlydelaminating.

Inkeepingwiththebrief,theprojectrequiredanapproachanddesigntoconvertexistingindustrialbuildingstofullyaccessible,comfortable,usablespaceswithnewelectricalandmechanicalserviceswhilenotcompromisingtheirhistoricalandarchitecturalcharacter.Inaddition,akeycomponentoftheworkwastheretentionoftheexistingbuiltindustrialheritageincludingtheearlytwentiethcenturysteamplant.

solution

Decisionsoninterventionsintothehistoricfabricweremadewiththeaimofretainingthemaximumamountofhistoricfabricpossible,andrespectingtheexistingspaces.thecontractworksincludedstoneworkandbrickworkconservationandrepointing,usingtheoriginaltuck-pointingtechnique,restorationandrepairoftimberwork,roofre-slatingwithnaturalslates,leadworkrepair,applicationofnewlimerender,repairofcastironrailings,limestonestepsandgranitecobblestonesandprovisionofnewlandscaping.

electricalandmechanicalservicesincludedusingrenewableenergysources,andincorporatinggeothermalheatpumps,solarwaterheatingandphotovoltaicpanels,andhydropowergeneratedonsite.theexistingbuildingsarenaturallyventilated.

Forthenewelementsmodernmaterialswereusedtodifferentiatethemfromtheexisting.Zincsheetingwasusedtothenewentrancelobbywiththenewliftshaftformedinanexposedconcretehavingaglazedfaceoverlookingtheriver,ensuringthattheinterventionswereclearlyidentifiable.

thisfreestandingliftwasprovidedatthenewentryforecourthavingatimber-cladpedestrianbridgetotaketheliftusertothetopoftheexistingstairs,sothatalluserscommenceandcompletetheirjourneyatthesameplace.theconvertedbuildingsarenowfullyaccessible,withtheexceptionofthehistoricenginehouse,whereanew,cantileveredviewinggallerywasprovidedfromtheaccessibleupperlevelallowingvisitorstoviewthesteamplantinthelowerareaofthebuilding.

lessons

theendresultoftheextensiveworkprogrammeatthewaterworkssiteistheconservationandadaptationofacollectionofdilapidatedhistoricstructureswithinaneglectedsiteforasustainablenewuse,withoutcompromisetotheirhistoricintegrity.thenewroleofthesiteinpromotingtheconceptofsustainablelivingand

[1] [2]

The marriage of the principles of conservation with the requirements of sustainability was the most demanding yet successful element of the project.

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environmentalawarenesspresentsanopportunityforthepublictovisitapreviouslyinaccessibleareaofCork.

themarriageofprinciplesofconservationwiththerequirementsofsustainabilitywasthemostdemandingyetsuccessfulelementintheproject.thebuildingswerepushedtotheirlimitstoachievethemaximumenergysustainabilitywithoutthelossofcharacterandsignificance.

theverydefinedobjectivesofthisCityCouncil-drivenprojectallowedthedesignteamtofullyengagewithbothplannersandtheconservationofficerfromtheoutsetandtoagreecommongoalsandprinciples,whileformulatingtheappropriateoperationandmarketingofthecentreatanearlystageallowedthearchitectstofinelytunethebuildinglayoutstothatbrief.

[1] Decisionsoninterventionsintothehistoricfabricweremadewiththeaimofretainingthemaximumamountofhistoricfabricpossible

[2] theconditionoftheexistingbuildingsrangedfrompoortoextremelydilapidated–mostlyduetoproblemswithwateringress

[3] Planshowingnewinterventionsintotheexistingcomplex;newelementsaredifferentiatedfromoldthroughtheuseofmodernmaterials

[4] Researchconfirmedthattheformerwaterworkswasthebestpreserved–andoldest–municipalwatersupplycomplexinIreland

[3]

[4]


—8988

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project teaM:sHAFFReYAssoCIAtesARCHIteCts

MALACHYWALsHAnDPARtneRsConsULtInGenGIneeRs

MULCAHYMCDonAGHAnDPARtneRsqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

GeRRYGeAnYenGIneeRInGConsULtAnts

client:WAteRFoRDCoUntYCoUnCIL

date:2005

context

theformerChristianBrothersMonasteryinLismoreisprominentlysitedonthebrowofthegentlyrisingWeststreetandatthejunctionofthreeroads,whichdefinethistriangularsite.themainfacadeformallyaddressesthearchitecturallysignificanttownofLismore.theoriginalshallowU-shapedbuildingdatesto1871andisoftheprevalentGothicstyleofecclesiastical/educationalarchitectureofthistime.thistwostorybuildingwasenlargedc.1920,theextensionadoptingthearchitecturalexpressionoftheearlierpart,howeverconstructedinmassconcreteasopposedtothewarmlocalsandstoneoftheoriginal.thereisatriangulargardentothefront,whichemphasisestheformalityofsettingandsite.

UnusuallyformostcountiesinIreland,Waterford’slibraryheadquartersislocatedinLismore,notthecountytownofDungarvan.Agrowingimperativeforimprovedbookstorage,bookprocessingandotherrelatedfacilities,addedtotheneedtoprovideaonestopshopandcivicofficescoincidedwithadecliningresidentialcommunityofChristianBrothers,leavingthemonastery’sfutureuncertainandatrisk.Inthelate1990’sWaterfordCountyCouncilacquiredthebuildingasanewhomeforthelibraryheadquartersandAreaoffices.thebuildinghousingthelibraryheadquartersatthattime,itselfafinetownbuilding,wassoldandhassincebeenwellrestoredasanofficeandprivatehome.

Adaptive ReuselisMore liBrary


—9190

challenge

theexistingmonasterybuildingwastoosmalltoaccommodateallthefacilitiesandfunctionsofthenewuses,inparticularthelargevolumesrequiredforthestorageofbooks.Further,thehistoricbuildingcontainedprincipallycellularroomsofamodestsize.However,alargehigh-ceilingedroominthegroundfloorofthe1920’sextension,withaseriesofdualaspectwindowsgivinggenerousnaturallightandventilation,suggesteditselfasasuitableroomforthetownCommissionersandthewelllitcirculationspacesinthehistoricbuildingallowedforflexibilityofroomlayoutandaccess.

theprincipalchallengewashowtohandle,architecturally,thelargevolumesoftheextension,withinthecontextofastronglycoherentexistingarchitecturalexpressionandcompact,symmetrical,arrangementsoftheoriginaland1920’sbuilding.

thelatterextensionhadfollowedtheoriginalinstyle,albeitadoptingmodernmaterialsandconstructionandwasaconsiderablysmallerextensiontowhatwasnowneeded.

Anotherchallengewastomaintaintheprimacyofthehistoricbuildingwhileensuringfunctionalityandaccessibilitywereequallywellserved.

solution

Bookstorageandprocessingrequiredspaceslargerthanwhatwasavailablewithinthehistoricbuildings,withoutincurringmajorintervention.these,alongwithstaffcanteenandtoilets,areaccommodatedinthesinglestorylinearextension,whichextendsalongtheeasternboundaryofthetriangularreargarden,alsorunningalongsidethemainentrancetoLismorefromFermoy.eachfunctionisexpressedvolumetrically,

andmaterially,withalternatingcopperandlimeplasterfinishestoreducetheoverallreadingofmassandformandallarejoinedbyatimberandglasscirculationlinkwhichopensoutontothesouth-facinggarden.sedumroofingisusedforthelimerenderedsections,otherwisethecoppercladdingfullycoverstheseelements–theviewsoutfromthefirstfloorwindowsofthehistoricbuildingareanimportantconsideration.

thehistoricbuildingprovidesthemainpublicandofficefunctionsandanaccessiblesecondaryentranceandnewliftensuresallpartsofthebuildingarefullyaccessible.Generallyalighttouchhasbeentakenwithregardtotheexistingbuildings,retainingthehistoricplanformwhichprovidesextremelypleasantnaturallylitandventilatedrooms.Asmalldelight,whichoftenhappenswhenworkingwitholderbuildings,wasthediscoveryofacharmingpaintedceilingwhichhadbeencoveredoverandnowenhancesthecountylibraryoffice.

lessons

Understandingtheintrinsicarchitecturalandurbanqualitiesofthehistoricbuildingandcontext,informedasolutionwhichdirectedthelargescaleandmoreprivateelementsofthelibraryheadquarterstothenewbuilding(extension)andaccommodatedthemorepublicandcellularofficeuseswithintheexisting.thusthehistoricmainentranceremainstheprincipalentranceandthiswasasimportanttoservetheprevailingurbanlogicofsiteandsetting,theprominenceandcentralityofthemainentrance

[1]

[2]

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isasignificantvistawithinthetown,asitwastosatisfywellestablishedconservationprinciples.

theextensiveuseofnaturalcoppercladdingforthenewextensionwaschosenforitsvisualandtemporalcharacteristics,aswellasdurability.InAutumnthematurebeechtreeswhichlinetheoppositesideoftheFermoyentranceroad,mergeincolourwiththecopper-tonedelementsoftheextension.overtime,thesevisualrelationshipswillchangeasthecopperitselfchanges.

thedecisiontoadoptacontemporaryidiomforthenewextensionwasnotmadeattheoutset,ratheritevolvedasthemostsatisfactorysolution,followinganumberofexploratoryinvestigations,tointegratingtheparticularlylargevolumespacesrequiredbytheprogramme.Contrastmaynotalwaysbetheappropriatesolutionwhenaddingtohistoricbuildings,concernforanoverallintegrity–orcoherence–ofarchitectureisimportant.Inthatway,integrationwithinthewidersettingmustalsobeconsidered.

[1] Bookstorageandprocessingrequiredspaceslargerthanwhatwasavailablewiththeoriginalbuildingstructure

[2] theextensiveuseofnaturalcoppercladdingforthenewextensionwaschosenforitsvisualandtemporalcharacteristics

[3] Understandingtheintrinsicarchitecturalandurbanfunctionsoftheoriginalbuildinganditscontextinformedthedesignsolution

[4] Concernforanoverallintegrity–orcoherence–ofarchitecturalexpressionandintegrationofthenewandoldwithinthewidersettingwerekeyconsiderations

[2]

[4][3]

The decision to adopt a contemporary idiom for the new extension was not made at the outset; rather, it evolved as the most satisfactory solution.


—9392

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project teaM:ARCHIteCts–o’BRIAInBeARYARCHIteCts

stRUCtURALenGIneeRs–DeCLAnCoLLIeRAssoCIAtes

seRVICesenGIneeRs–DoMInICFAYAssoCIAtes

qUAntItYsURVeYoRs–AnDReWnUGent+AssoCIAtes

FIReConsULtAnts–FIResAFetYenGIneeRs

client:PRIVAte

date:2006

context

CapelstreetisoneofthemosthistoricallysignificantstreetsinDublinCity,laidoutinthelateseventeenthandearlyeighteenthcenturies;originallyaresidentialstreetbutsubjecttoconsiderablechangesintheinterveningcenturies,itisnowenjoyingsomethingofarevival.thestreetwentintogradualdecline,withmostbuildingsespeciallyatthesouthernend,beingconvertedtoretailuse,withgroundfloorsandrailingsmakingwayforcommercialshopfronts,andwithconsiderablederelictionandvacancy,particularlyontheupperfloors.

no.16Capelstreetconsistedofanoriginalnineteenthcenturybuilding,muchaltered,offivestoreysoverbasement,andarearearlytwentiethcenturyextensionofsimilarfootprint,offourstoreysoverbasement.Duetothecomplexhistoryofthesitetherearextensionhadarangeofwindowsinbothpartywalls.

challenge

theupperfloorswereopenfloorplatesresultingfromthebrickpier,steelbeamandtimberjoistconstructionthatwasemployedintheextension.thisformofconstructionwasalsoretrofittedintotheVictorianshell,resultingintheremovalofalltheoriginalinternalwallsandanyoriginaldetailatthattime.theexistingfootprintmeanttherewasnolighttothemiddleoftheplan,particularlyintherearofthefrontbuilding.thelocationoftheonlystairstotherearofthebuildingresultedinunsafetraveldistancesandtherewasnoopenspaceonthesite.

Adaptive ReuseliVing oVer the shop, no. 16 capel street


—9594

solution

theworkstono.16Capelstreetinvolvedthereuseofthefourupperfloorsofafivestoreyoverbasementbuildingtoprovideloft-styleapartments,andworksatgroundfloorandbasementleveltoallowtheexpansionoftheexistingretailunit,andtocreatesharedcommunalfacilitiesfortheresidentsoftheupperfloors.theworksqualifiedforthe‘livingovertheshop’(Lots)taxincentivescheme.theworkswereundertakenpriortotheestablishmentoftheCapelstreetArchitecturalConservationArea.

thetwofundamentalissuesoflackofdaylightinthecentreoftheplan,andofpoorlyplacedverticalcirculation,weresolvedbycuttingouttwostructuralbaysofthetwentiethcenturyextensionwhereitabuttedtheoriginalbuilding,providingaseparatinglightwellandcorridor

linkbetweenthefrontandrearapartments,andbyplacinganewsteelframedstaircaseadjacenttothislinkinacorneroftherearstructure.thisdividere-establishedthedistinctionbetweentheoriginalbuilddepthandthelaterextension.

thefrontapartmentswerearrangedtoallowoneofthebedroomsoperateasastudyconnectedtothelivingroomviathekitchen-apartiallyglazedconnectingscreenallowsavisualconnectionthroughthedepthoftheplanfromcourtyardtostreet.therearapartmentsweregenerallyarrangedwithaL-shapedlivingdiningkitchenspacerunningalongthesouthern,easternandnorthernfacades.

thecourtyardcutoutwassteelframedandcladinfibrecementpanels,thethicknessoftheassemblybeingvisibleattheexposedjunctionswiththeexistingbrickwork.eachapartmenthasabalconyopeningintothecourtyard.theprincipalamenityspacefortheresidentsisthenewrooftopdeckedgardentotherear,screenedbymetal-framedopalglasspanels.

Minimalworkwasundertakentotheexterioroftheexistingshellasitwasgenerallyingoodcondition,withtheexceptionoftheexistingflatroofswhichwereentirelyreplaced.Internally,theexistingjoistsandsteelbeamswerestrengthenedwhererequired.Acousticandfireseparationstandardsweremetbyemployingadoubleceilingsystem,withtheupperfireceilingcompletelyimperforate.theceilingheightsweredeterminedbytheexistingbuildingwhichintheusualeighteenthandnineteenthcenturymannerdecreaseasonerisesthroughthebuilding,from3.7metresatfirstfloorto2.4metresonthetopfloor,withthehigherceilings

onlowerlevelscompensatingforlowerlightlevels.Finishesandfittingswerechosenwithregardtoquality,durabilityandeconomy.Brightlycolouredrubberflooringonacousticunderlaywaschosenforalltheupperfloorsforitseaseofmaintenanceandlightreflectancevalue.thecommunalstairs,builtoffasinglecrankedUCsection,offwhichsteelplatetreadsbalance,linkstheentrancehallandcommunalfacilitieswiththeroofgarden.

[1]

[2]

The scheme demonstrates the potential for distinctive, contemporary living accommodation on the upper floors of city centre buildings.

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lessons

theschemehasdemonstratedthepotentialfordistinctivecontemporarylivingaccommodationintheupperfloorsofcitycentrebuildings,includingbuildingsthathavealongandcomplexhistoryofextensionandalteration.suchbuildingsmayallowagreaterfreedomofintervention,becausewhathaspreviouslybeenlostcannotbereclaimed,whileatthesametimerequiringsensitivitytomakesenseofthestoryofthebuilding.ItalsodemonstratesthevalueofthecarefullytargetedtaxincentivessuchastheLotsscheme,withoutwhichtheschemewouldnothavebeeninitiated.

[1] Becausethebuildinghadbeenpreviouslyalteredandextended,therewasgreaterfreedomofinterventionincreatingcontemporarylivingaccommodation

[2] Laidoutinthelateseventeenthandearlyeighteenthcenturiesasaresidentialstreet,CapelstisoneofthemosthistoricallyimportantstreetsinDublin

[3] theplanwasformedbycuttingouttwobaysofanearlytwentiethcenturyextensionabuttingtherearoftheoriginalhouse,therebycreatingaseparatinglightwellbetweenthetwo.

[4] UndertakenpriortotheestablishmentoftheCapelstreetArchitecturalConservationArea,theworksqualifiedfor‘livingovertheshop’taxreliefincentives

[5] Apreviousexemplarof‘livingovertheshop’conservationinitiativebyDublinCityCouncil

[3]

[5]

[4]


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project teaM:MICHAeLCoLLInsAssoCIAtes

ARUPstRUCtURAL+seRVICesenGIneeRs

ReR(PARIs)FAçADeConsULtAnts

BRUCesHAWPARtneRsHIPqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

client:DUBLInDoCKLAnDsDeVeLoPMentAUtHoRItY

date:2007

context

CHq(formerlyknownasstackA)wasconstructedaround1820toadesignbyJohnRennie,therenownedscottishengineerwhowasresponsibleforthetobaccoDocksinLondonaswellasHowthandDunLaoghaireharbours.thegroundfloor,intendedforthestorageoftobacco,hasbrickexternalwallsenclosingavastspaceofapproximately7,000m2withasophisticatedcastironframesupportingaslatedroofandglazedlanternlights.Basementvaultscomprisestonewallsandbrickarchesdesignedforwinestorage.

overtheyears,thebuildinghashadagreatvarietyofuses,mostmemorablyin1856forabanquetfor3,000veteransoftheCrimeanWar.Changesinuseresultedinalterationstothebasicbuildingfabricincludingtheinternallayoutandpenetrationoftheexternalwall.themostsignificantalterationwastheremovalinthenineteenthcenturyofover4mofthe

southendofthebuildingtoallowforthewideningofthequayanditsreplacementwithaplainbrickwall.Poormaintenanceintheearlypartofthetwentiethcenturycausedfurtherdeteriorationofthefabricandstructure.WhentheDDDAtookonresponsibilityforthebuildinginthe1980s,itwasvirtuallyderelictandunused.Largeareasoftheslatingweremissingandpartsofthebasementvaultswerepermanentlyunderwater.

challenge

studiesonhowtoconservethebuildingwerecommencedinthemid1990s.thegreatestchallengesweretherepairandcleaningofthecastironframeandtheneedtoinsulatetherooftoallowthebuildingtobeoccupiedratherthanjustusedasanunheatedstore.thecastironstructurehadbeenpaintedinalead-basedpaint,theremovalofwhichpresenteda

Adaptive ReusechQ / stack a


—9998

safetyhazard.therewasnoaccesstothebasementvaultsfromwithinthebuilding.theeliminationofthewaterinthevaults,involvedtheinvestigationofundergroundVictorianculvertsandfloodvalvesthatpreventedtheLiffeyfromfloodingthebuildingat

hightide.theoriginaltuckpointingoftheexternalbrickwallshadbeenrepairedovertheyearswithsandandcementmortar.therewasnomeansofescape,ventilationorprovidingbuildingservicesofanykindinthebasementvaults.

solution

theDDDAundertookanumberofstudiesofpossibleusesforthebuildingincludingexhibitionspaceforanumberofdifferentthemesrangingfromtransportandmaritimetoartandinteractivescienceandtechnology,combinedwithanelementofcommercial/retailuse.Intheenditwasthecommercial/retailusethatwasadoptedandpromotedforthemajorpartofthegroundfloorwithrestaurant/hospitalityuseforthebasementvaults.

theplainbricksouthwallwasreplacedbyaplanarglasswallsetbacktoallowthevaultstobeseenfromstreetlevelandtoallowdaylightintothevaultsandreinstatethebuilding’sconnectiontotheriver.Anentrancedoorhassubsequentlybeenprovidedinthesouthfaçadeinresponsetotheconstructionoftheseano’CaseyBridge.Anewglazedstructureonthewestfaçadefacingst.GeorgesDockprovidedaccessbystairsandliftstothevaultsfromoutsidethebuilding.ontheeastfaçade,allofthenecessaryserviceentrances,fireescapes,loadingbaysandbuildingserviceswerehousedincompactplantroomsconstructedoutsidethebuildingenvelope.Distributionofventilationandotherbuildingservicestothevaultswasachievedbycastinghorizontalductsintotherubblefillingoverthebrickarches.theseconnecttheplantroomsontheeastfaçadewitheachvaultthroughoutthebuilding.Alloftheelementsoftheinterventionstructuresareselfsupportinginlightweightconstructionandcaneasilybeadaptedtootherusesinfuture,withoutaffectingthehistoricstructure.

[1]

Finding practical solutions to technical problems was challenging but not impossible; finding compatible and sustainable new uses continues to be the biggest challenge for the future of the building.

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thereplacementofbrokenelementsofthecastironstructureandcleaningoftheoldlead-basedpaintrequiredthatthebuildingbeenclosedinatemporarysealedenclosureinwhichdustparticlescouldbecontained.thetemporarystructurespannedoveronethirdoftheentirebuildingandwasre-locatedastheworkwascompleted.thesand-cementpointingwasrakedbyhandfromthebrickworkandre-pointedwithtuckpointing.

lessons

thisisoneofthemostimpressiveandimportantbuildingsofitstypeinDublin.Itsvastscaleandintricatedetailingareauniqueexpressionoftheeleganceanddurabilityofcastironasastructuralsystemandatestamenttotheskillandcraftsmanshipoftheperiod.theworksthathavebeencarriedoutbytheDDDAwillensurethatthebuildinghasbeenconservedinamannerthatallowsittobeusedforavarietyofactivities.Findingpracticalsolutionstotechnicalproblemswaschallengingbutnotimpossible.Findingnewcompatibleandsustainableusesforthebuildinginthepresentadverseeconomicclimatecontinuestobethebiggestchallenge.

[1] theexistingbricksouthwallwasreplacedbyaplanarglasswall,setbacktoallowthevaultsbeseenfromstreetlevelandtoallowdaylightpenetrateintothelowerlevel

[2] WhentakenoverbytheDDDAinthe1980s,thebuildingwasvacantandvirtuallyderelictduetoneglectandlackofmaintenance

[3] Allelementsofthenewinterventionareoflightweightconstructionwhichcanbeadaptedtootherusesinfuturewithoutaffectingtheoriginalhistoricstructure.

[4] overtheyearsthebuildinghashadavarietyofuses;in1856ithousedabanquetfor3,000veteransoftheCrimeanWar

[4]

[2] [3]


—101100

[4]

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project teaM:DonAGHYAnDDIMonDARCHIteCts

DoWnesAssoCIAtesConsULtInG+CIVILenGIneeRs

client:PRIVAte

date:2007

context

theprojectistheconservationandadaptationofaprotectedstructureanditsgardenfortwenty-firstcenturyinhabitation.Builtcirca1840thehousewasthelastinfillinthisDublinterraceandissmallerinscalethanitsearlierneighbours,whichoccupiedlargersites.theoriginalplotextendedtoamewslanetotherear.thisoriginalcurtilagehadbeencurtailedbytheseparatesaleofthemewssitethuscuttingthehouseofffromthelane.

challenge

thechallengewastoconservethesignificantfabricofthehouseandtheintegrityofitsplan,whileadaptingitssectioninordertocapitaliseonitseast-westorientation.Whiletheoriginalhouseprovidedwell-proportionedreceptionrooms,thisresultedinadarkbasementkitchenwitha2.1metreceilingheight.therewasnobathroomaccommodation.thehousewasalsoremotefromitsgardenwhichhadonlypreviouslyrelatedphysicallytoservantbasementlevelrooms.thebriefwastostudyhowbesttoprovidefornewresidentstoreinhabitthehouse.

Adaptive ReuseMountpleasant aVenue, duBlin


—103102

solution

theprojectfocusesonmakingsmallexcisionsandadditionstoprovideservicedroomswhichcantakeadvantageofsiteandaspectwithoutcompromisingtheplanofthehouse.theoriginalreturnisretainedanditsspacesusedforservicestohouseandgarden.theprimaryinterventionistoremovetheflooroftherearreceptionroom.thisliberatesthelowerroomsfromtheiroppressedsectionandopensuptheprospecttothechurchdometothewest,drawingsunlightdeepintotheplan.thebasementbecomesaliving,diningandkitchenspacewiththefrontreceptionroomatentrylevel,amezzaninedrawingroomconnectedvisuallytothenewspaceandthegardenbeyondthroughabalconywithlargeshutters.

Withthefloorremoved,therearwallisopenedupwithadoubleheightglazedoakscreentothegarden.An‘outhouse’iscreatedattherearboundarybybuildinganewwallofthebrickremovedfromthebackofthemainhouse.thisnewroomisroofedbyspanningandcantileveringacastconcreteslab(plantedroof)betweentheexistinggardenwalls.Itbecomesacave-likeretreatwithaspectbacktothehouseandgardenviaaglazedpivotdoor.Iftheownersacquirethevacantmewssitethebrickwallcanberemovedleavinganopenshelterlinkingcourtyardgardenandorchard.

thelackofupstairsbathroomwasaddressedwithaversionofthetraditional‘thunderbox’perchedattheeavesofthehouse,asalightweightelementframedoffanoakfloorstructureandcladincopper.thestructureisexecutedwithoutsteelwork,restingontherearwallandtiedbacktothestairwalls.Anew

rooflitopen-treadoak-plywoodstairs,litfromarooflight,extendsfromtheexistingstairsandupwardstoanatticstoreroom.

Groundisexcavatedinthefrontyardtoprovideabicycleshelterandthespoilusedatthereartoconsolidate

thelevelchangebetweenpavedcourtyardandgarden.thisisthencompletedwithmonolithicgranitesteps,extendingthetraditionofcut-and-fillonwhichtheseterracehousesweregrounded.thegardenstepsdowntothenewlivinglevelwhichformsthelungoftheproject.

[1]

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lessons

theprojectdemonstratesthathousesneednotbeover-extendedinorderforthemtoaccommodateevolutionofuse.theintegrityofanexistingstructuremaybeconsolidated,augmentedandenhancedbycarefullyoperatingwithinitsconstraints.Inordertooperatesurgicallyandeffectively,theformandphysiologyofastructureanditscurtilagemustberecorded,studiedandunderstood.thestructurethereforeinformsthewayitisworkeduponandthewayitmightbeinhabited.

successfuladaptationofinheritedurbancontextsreliesonunderstandingtheimmediatebuiltfabricandmakingadjustmentsinrelationshiptoboththestructureathandandthewiderborrowedlandscape.

Conservingthegardenaspartofthehouseandurbanlandscapeisintegraltosustainablereuse.ReferencetotheDublinCityCouncil:Lower Rathmines Road Conservation and Urban Regeneration Studyunderpinsandreinforcestheapproachtaken.

Whilethegardenstructureisnotontheoriginalmewssite,butinthegarden,someofprinciplesfromtheConservation and Urban Regeneration Studyapplytothe

approachtakeninbuildingthegardenroominamodernidiomsupportedbytheoriginalgardenwallsandbuiltfrommaterialsfoundandreusedonsitewithasedumroofpresentingaplantedelevationtothewindowslookingdownfromtheterraceatupperlevels.

theapproachtakenisoneofexercisinggreatcareinthebalancingofnewinterventionswiththeintegrityandsignificanceoftheexistingstructure,includingitscurtilage,inordertoaccommodatenewinhabitationthroughconsideredarchitecturaladjustments.

[1] theabsenceofanupstairsbathroomwasaddressedwiththeadditionofaversionofthetraditional‘thunderbox’perchedofftheeavesoftherearelevation

[2] Builtinthe1840s,thehousewasthelastinfillstructureinaterraceoflargeradjoininghouses

[3] Crosssectionshowingthehouseandnewgardenstructure.

[4] Anewroof-litopen-treadstaircaseofoakplywoodconstructionextendsfromtheexistingstairs

[2]

[4][3]

The approach was to exercise great care in balancing new interventions with the integrity and significance of the existing structure.


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project teaM:MAGeeCReeDonKeARnsARCHIteCts

ARUP

MICHAeLBARRettPARtneRsHIPqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

MULLInDesIGnAssoCIAtesLAnDsCAPeARCHIteCts

client:LoUIsAnDKAteRonAn

date:2006-2007

context

RockyIsland,asmallislandinCorkHarbour,isaninspiredlocationtositeacrematorium.thesitehadtherequiredindustrialzoningwitheasyaccessfromCorkCityandasuitablyscenicsetting.oninspection,agunpowderstore,dated1808,wasrevealed,withgreatpotentialforconversiontothenewuse.

Historicalresearchestablishedthattheislandwasoriginallyapointedrockoflimestone.thestonewasextensivelyquarriedforuseonthemilitaryandnavalworksthroughoutCorkHarbourandtheresultantholeswerethenre-inhabitedwithapairofgunpowderstores.thesewerecomposedofaseriesofparallelbrick-vaultedspacescontainedwithinthesunkencourtyards.oneofthesebuildingswasdestroyedwhenapairofconcretebridgeswasconstructedin1966,tolinkHaulbowlineIslandtothemainland.Howeveronestoreremainedrelativelyintact,reachedbyapassagewaycutthroughtherock.

thephysicaluncoveringofthefabric,andtheprocessofsurveyinganddrawingit,ledtoanunderstandingoftheconstructionanduseofthegunpowderstore,instillingconfidenceintotheworkthatfollowed.

challenge

thechallengewastotakethismilitarybuildingwiththepurposeofdestroyinghumanlifeandreinventitwithnewmeaningasaplaceforthecelebrationofhumanlife,withaspiritoftranquillitythatthelivingcouldmarkandrememberthedepartureofthedeceasedwithdignity.Itwastobesuitableforfinalritualsforalldenominations,bespiritualandyetavoidanyreference,intentionaloraccidental,toreligioussymbolism.

Adaptive Reusethe island creMatoriuM


—107106

solution

theapproachtotheislandarrivesonahighplateaulookingovertheharbour.theroutewindsdownanavenuelinedwithnewscotspinesandalongthewater’sedge.theoriginalgateway,withitsclassicallimestonesurroundmarkstheentrancetoawindingstonecobbledpathwhichleadsthroughacave-likepassageintothefirstcourtyard,

wherethesoundofwaterfallingintoanewpooltakesthemindawayfromtheoutsideworld.onesideofthiscourtyardisformedbytheimposingcutstonefaçadeofthemainbuilding.theopeningtothecentralbrickvault,nowthemainspiritualspace,hadpreviouslybeenbroken,allowingitsfurtherwidening,givingeasypassageofthefuneralcortege.theentranceisasymmetricallyframedinnewwhitemarble.Internally,thebrickwork

hasbeencleaned,revealingawarm-coloured,texturedbackdrop.Arhythmofnichesalongonesidehasbeenscreenedwithcastglassandbacklit.thecentralrecesshasbeenwidenedtoprovideasettingforthecatafalque.thebackdroptothecatafalqueisasand-blastedglassscreen,day-litfrombehindbyanewopeningintheroofwhichfloodslightintotherepository,givingamysteriousglow.Anewexithasbeentunnelledfromthesecondcourtyardopeningadramaticviewovertheharbour.

thematerialsusedforthenewworksareinformedbynineteenthcenturymilitarybuildings.Chunkyoakshuttersweremadefortheexternalopenings.Copperandglasslanternsinthepassagesarebasedonanineteenthcenturydesign.newmaterialsareintroducedandarehonestlyexpressedtocomplementtheexistingstructure,asseenintheacousticpanels,requiredtoreducethereverberationtimeinthespiritualspace.thesearesetintodeliberatelyweightysteelframeswithcraftedhinges,allowingsubdivisionofthespacetocreateamoreintimateenclosureforsmallgroups.othermaterialssuchasseashellsandquartzchipsinpolishedconcretearetoevokethoughtfulnessandmemory.thedesignofsomeelementsinvolved

[1]

[2]

The challenge was to take this military building, with its purpose of destroying human life and reinvent it with a spirit of tranquility as a place for the celebrating of life.

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collaborationwithartistssuchasthelocalmarblepieceinsetintheexternalcatafalquebythepool.

lessons

WeareataveryinterestingmomentinthehistoryofCorkHarbour,asthetransitionfromnaturalharbour,tostrategicmilitaryhub,toindustrialandcommercialharbour,isnowbeingimaginedagain.Itishopedthatthesuccessofthisprojectwillencourageandinformotherworkstothesignificanthistoricmilitaryinfrastructureoftheharbour.Althoughthesebuildingscanseemrigidintheirlayouttheycanbere-imaginedinamyriadofdifferentwaysandpertinent,privatelyfundedprojectscancontributemuchtotheprotectionofimportantarchitecturalheritage.

[1] RockyIsland,asmallislandinCorkHarbour,wasaninspiredlocationforacrematorium;combininganindustrialzoningwitheasyaccesstothecityandasuitablyscenicsetting

[2] Researchindicatedthatthelimestoneislandwasextensivelyquarriedfornavalandmilitaryconstructionworks,andtheresultingholewasinhabitedwithapairofgunpowderstores

[3] thedesignprinciplewastokeepthestructuralinterventionstoafewstronggestures,strippingthebuildingtoitsoriginalformandinhabitingthespacesinaneasilyreversiblearrangement

[4] thematerialsusedforthenewworksareinformedbythenineteenthcenturymilitaryarchitectureandhonestlyexpressedtocomplementtheexistingfabric

[3]

[4]


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project teaM:BoXARCHIteCtURe

LoHAn+DonneLLYConsULtInGenGIneeRs

FLYnnMCnALLYMCKeLLPARtneRsHIPqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

client:FUse

date:2007

context

theclient,anexpandinggraphicdesigncompanyownedtwosmalladjacentbuildingsonthecornerofsyngestreet,aresidentialterrace,andLennoxstreet,amixofcommercialandresidential,inDublin8.theproposalwastodemolishthepoorlyconstructed1950scommercialpremises,inordertoextendtheofficespaceoftheremainingbuildingwhich,althoughnotaprotectedstructure,providesalinktotheexistingfabricofthestreet.

thesitewasnarrow,20.5x3.5metres,andwasaleftoverspaceatthejunctionofthetwostreetswiththecommercialpremisesonLennoxstreetonceoverlookingacanalbasin.the1950sbuildingwasananomalyintheexistingstreetscapeasitwasindisrepairandsubjecttovandalism.thenewproposalwasintendedtocontributetotheurbanfabricofthisstreetandthenewelevationaltreatmentrespondstoboththeneighbouringbuildingsandtheurbancontextofthesite.

Adaptive Reusefuse, lennox street

[1] Architect’sdrawingillustratingtherelationshipofthenewextensiontotheoriginal1950scommercialbuildingonthesite

[1]


—111110

challenge

thebriefwastoprovideamodernofficebuildingtomeetcurrentbuildingstandardsandacreativeworkingenvironment;increasetheefficiencyofthebuildingandprovideadditionalfunctionalspaceforagrowingcompany;andcreateahierarchyofprivateandpublicspaces,withdesignatedprivateoffices,openplanworkingspacesandaclientmeetingroom.

27syngestreethasbeenpartofaresidentialstreetsinceitwasconstructed.Unliketheoppositecorner,no.30,wherethearchitectureturnsthecorner,no.27hasanexistingsidegardenandendgableconditioninstead.IncontrastLennoxstreet,betweenLennoxPlaceandKingslandParade,isa

commercialstreet,threestoreyshigh,withshopsatgroundfloorandaccommodationover.thepredominantbrickusedintheseearlierpropertieswasabrownDolphin’sBarn.theareaoppositethesite,wherethecanalbasinonceexisted,wasbuiltatalaterstageandconstructedinaVictorianstyleusingredbrick.theoncesidegarden,now27Asyngestreet,hadapoor,moremodernstructureinredbrick,(circa1940/50’s),withpebbledashingatfirstfloorlevel,anentranceoffsyngestreet,andbesidethisasinglestoreyover-basementderelictstructure.thechallenge,fromaconservationpointofview,washowtorepairastreet,tieinapoorredbricktwentiethcenturyadditionatoddswiththegeneralstreet,andresolvethedifferentparapetheightstocreateasympatheticmodernbuilding.

solution

thesitewaslongandnarrowandthelocationoftheentrancewaskey.thedecisionwasmadetomovetheentranceontoLennoxstreet,beingmoreappropriatethantheresidentialnatureofsyngestreet.Movingtheentrancealsomaximisedthespaceavailableandcreatedadoubleheight,toplitspacewiththecirculationbehindawallconcealinghowonemovesthroughthedifferinglevels.thenewelevationproclaimstheextensiontobeamoderninterventionthroughitscontemporarystylewhilstusingcontextualmaterials.thenewfacadeinterlocksthreedimensionallywiththefaçadeoftheretainedbuildingtocreateacoherentcompositionofnewandold.onanurbanscalethenewextensionacknowledgesitspositionasabuildingwithaviewtothecanal.thelineoftheadjacentparapetlevelisbrokenasthenewbuildstepsupslightlyrepeatingacondition,whichoccursfurtheralongthestreet.

Brickwasselectedtocladtheextension,referencingtheexistingmaterialoftheretainedbuilding,withthenewbrickworkrespondingtothetonesoftheneighbouringbrickbuildingsonLennoxstreet.thenewentranceisdefinedbyarecessedlargeopalglassscreenandadjacenttimberdoor.therecessemphasisesthesenseofentranceandre-appropriatesthelanguageoftheadjacentshopfrontsonLennoxstreet.thebrickskinispuncturedbyglazedopeningsinformedbytheinteriorspaces.theglazedbandatstreetlevelprovidesclerestorynaturallightingtothebasementarea.thisglazedbandwrapsaroundthecornerverticallytoacknowledgethelanewayand,inconjunctionwitha

[1]

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windowabovethesidedoor,providesadditionallighttothebasementareaintheafternoon.

Atgroundfloorlevel,alargepicturewindowprovidesaviewtothestreetfromthemeetingroom.thiswindowhastimberventilationpanelstoeachside,andexternallythebrickskinisdetailedtoconcealthispanelsothewindowappearsasasimpleglazedopening.Internalglazedscreensareusedtobothendsofthemeetingroomandbasementtoprovideviewstothedoubleheightvoidswithinthebuildingandtothestreetbeyond.thisvisuallinkbetweenlevelsprovidesasenseofhowthiscomplexbuildingworksandorientatestheoccupant.

Atfirstfloorlevel,rooflightsabovealightshelfprovidereflectednaturallighttotheopenplanworkspace,viewsareprovidedbyalargecornerwindowandthreeslitwindowsprovidemorefocusedintimateviewsandallowincreasedoccupantcontrol.

thecombinationoftallvoids,carefullypositionedrooflightsandclearinternalglazingscreensensuresnaturallightentersallareasofthebuildingfrommultiplesourcesandtheoccupantshaveasenseofopennessandspacewithinthisrelativelysmallbuilding.theverticalglazingatthestairwell,definesthelinkbetweentheoldandnew,andprovidesaconsistentvisualreferencetotheexternalsurroundings.externallythisglazingdefinesthebreakbetweenthetwobuildings,enhancingtheinterplaybetweenoldandnew.

lessons

thesitewaspossiblythelargestchallengeanditssizemadeitverydifficulttoconstruct.Fromadesignpointofviewperhapsthebestlessonlearntwasthatinitialresearchandstudyingofthecontextwereinvaluable.Withestablishedstreetscapesthereareverysmalldetailsthatatfirstglancegetmissed,butwithsometimespenttheselittledifferencesbecomeevident–brickcoursing,chimneydetailsetc–andtransferintothedesignandaidintheintegrationofamodernbuildingintoanestablishedcontext.

[1] thenewelevationisexpressedasamoderninterventionwhichutilisescomplementarymaterialstocreateacoherentcompositionofnewandold

[2] Atgroundfloorlevel,alargepicturewindowprovidesaviewtothestreetfromthemainmeetingarea

[3] Acombinationofvoidsandcarefullyconsideredrooflightsensurethatnaturallightentersthedepthofthebuilding

[2]

[3]

The proposal was designed to contribute to the urban fabric of the street with a new intervention responding to the adjoining buildings and the local context generally.


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project teaM:MCKeVIttARCHIteCts

MCCABeDeLAneYConsULtInGenGIneeRs

DeLAP+WALLeRLtD.

JMqsqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

client:DRoGHeDABoRoUGHCoUnCIL

date:2008

context

theFranciscanorderhasbeenapresenceinDroghedaforover750years.theFranciscanChurch,knownlocallyas‘theHighLane’wasconstructedin1829.thelateGeorgianGothicchurchisbuiltintoasteepslopethatrisesfromthesouthriverquaytowardsLaurencestreet,architecturallythemostsignificantstreetinthehistorictown.thechurchhastheuniquefeaturesofentrancesatgroundandatchurchgallerylevel,themainstreetaccessfromLaurencestreetbeingontothedeeprearchurchgallery.

theFranciscansdecidedtoclosethechurchandtheadjoiningresidencein2000andduringthenexttwoyearsmeetingswereheldwithrepresentativesofthecommunitywithaviewtodecidingonanappropriatefutureuse.Droghedawasfortunatethatamunicipalartcollectionhadbeenassembledbetween1940and1960.theFranciscansdecidedtogiftthebuildingtothepeopleofthetownasavenuetohousetheartcollection.

challenge

thepropertyhadbeenmaintainedingoodrepair.thechurchisbuiltonatPlanwithgalleriesineacharmandthechallengewastoovercometheproblemoffragmentedaccessandprovideasubstantialexhibitiongalleryfloorattheLaurencestreetlevel.themainfloorandnaveofthechurchisset4.5metresbelowtheLaurencestreetlevel.thechallengewasalsotocreateacontemporaryartgalleryspacewhileretainingfeaturesoftheexistingbuildingincludingthegalleriesandthethree-baytudorGothicreredoswithlargemouldingsandcolonettesrisingtopinnacles.

Adaptive Reusethe highlanes gallery, drogheda


—115114

solution

thesolutionwastooverlaythegallerieswithafloatingfloorofsufficientareatoserveasalargeexhibitionspaceatLaurencestreetlevel.theDevelopmentCommitteehadalsopurchasedanadjoiningresidentialbuildinglocatedonthestreeteastofthechurch.Visuallyrelatedtothedesignofthereredos,thefacadeofthisbuildingconsistsofthreebaysoftwostoriesexpressedasthreegiantblindpointedarchesframingsquareheadedwindows.thisbuilding,togetherwiththesiteofanalreadydemolishedsacristydirectlytotherear,providedasitewhichcouldaccommodatetheservicesnecessarytoanartgalleryincludinglift,toilets,kitchenstoresandplant.thisspacenowprovidesacafeandcraftshopatstreetlevel.

Itwasconsideredimportantthatthebuildingwouldprovidelettablecommercialunitstosubsidisetherunningcostsofthegallery.theflooroftheoriginalchurchprovidedalowergalleryspacewhichiswonderfullyarticulatedbytheexistingclustershaftsthatsupportthedeepbackgallery.

Asuspendedplenumceilingbelowthatoftheoriginalplasterceilingdistributesservicesandlightingtotheuppergallery.thisspaceisnormallysubdividedwithmovablewallswhichprovidegreatflexibilitytogalleryexhibitions.thegallerycanbeenteredthroughthecraftshopfrontonLaurencestreetorthroughthenineteenthcenturychurchgateswhichdirectthevisitoracrossabridgelikeramprisingfromstreetleveltothefloorlevelofthenewgalleryfloor.

[1]

[2]

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lessons

theoriginalfabrichasbeensubstantiallyretained.theapproachhasbeentooverlaytheexistinganditisconceivablethatthenewinsertionscouldberemovedandthebuildingreturnedtoitsoriginalform.

theinteriorwhenviewedfromthefrontofthereredosexplainsthebuildingandshowsalltheoriginalchurchgalleryfrontstuckedunderthenewlayeroffloor.theexistingreredoswhichcanbeviewedfrombothgalleryfloorsbecomesanintegratedsculptureinthespaceandisquiteathomeintheredesignedspace.Contemporaryelementsareharmoniouswiththetraditional.themidnineteenthcenturywindowsrecordunusualsaintsmostcolourfullyandalsoremaininplace.oldandnewcoexisthappily.

thisprojectaltersacherishedbutredundantchurchandreturnsitasaworkingbuildingtothecommunitythatproudlyfundedandbuiltit.

[1] theapproachtotheconservationoftheoriginalfabrichasbeentooverlaytheexistingwithnewinsertionswhichcouldbereversedifrequiredtoenablethebuildingreturntoitsoriginalform

[2] Droghedawasfortunatethatamunicipalartcollectionhadbeenassembledbetween1940and1960.theFranciscansdecidedtogiftthebuildingtothepeopleofthetownasavenuetohousetheartcollection

[3] thisprojectaltersacherishedbutredundantchurchandreturnsitasaworkingbuildingtothecommunitythatproudlyfundedandbuiltit

[3]

This project alters a cherished but redundant church and returns it as a working building to the community that proudly funded and built it.


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project teaM:ConsARCDesIGnGRoUP

oPWARCHIteCtURALseRVICes

oPWCIVILAnDstRUCtURALenGIneeRInGseRVICes

oPWMeCHAnICALAnDeLeCtRICALenGIneeRInGseRVICes

oPWqUAntItYsURVeYInGseRVICes

oPWPRoJeCtMAnAGeMentseRVICes

client:tHeHeRItAGeCoUnCIL

date:2006-2008

context

theformerBishop’sPalaceislocatedwithinthehistoricst.Canice’sCathedralcomplexofKilkenny.thesitewasthesubjectofaConservationPlanin2000bytheIntegratedConservationGroup.specificconservationpoliciesweredrawnup,significantelementsidentifiedandsubsequentproposalsweremadewithreferencetothisdocument.theoriginalcoreofthebuildingisamedievaltowerwithanadjoiningvaultedhall-house.therewerealterationstothefabricinthesixteenth,seventeenthandeighteenthcenturiesincludinganextensiontotherear,whichhousestwofineroomsatgroundandfirstfloorlevel.Intheearlynineteenthcenturyanexistingdormerfloorwasremovedandathirdflooraddedabovethemedievalhallsgivingthepresentarrangement.

ConsarcDesignGroupwasresponsiblefortheinitialdesignandplanningapplicationforthechangeofusefromBishop’sPalacetoHeadquartersfortheHeritageCouncilalongwithassociatedinternalworksandprovisionofanewpavilionandservicesbuilding.theofficeofPublicWorksbecameinvolvedfromprojectdevelopmentstagetocompletion.

challenge

thebriefwastoprovidemodernoffice,meetingandconferencefacilitieswhileexpressingtheuniquehistoricphasesofarchitecturaldevelopmentofthebuilding.thepavilionwasconceivedasacontemporarybuildingusingmodernmaterialsandtechnology.Universalaccesswastobeprovidedthroughoutandfireissueshadtobeaddressedforasinglestaircasebuilding.

theHeritageCouncilwishedtodemonstratethat‘itisentirelyappropriatethatanoldbuildingcanbeextendedinamodernarchitecturallanguage,inahistoricprocessofevolutionthatreflectsthemultiplelayersofevidenceofchangethatweretobefoundinthis,asinmanyother,olderbuildings’.WorksweretobeachievedwithintheConservationPlanframeworkandinaccordancewithacceptedprinciplesofconservation.thehistoricbuildingwasnottobereturnedtoanyonephaseofitsvarieddevelopmentbutfeaturesofsignificanceorexposedduringthecourseofworkswouldbeassessedanddecisionsmadeastohowtheyshouldbepresentedintheoverallbuildingcontext.newinterventionsweretobereadassuch

Adaptive Reuseheritage council headQuarters, kilkenny


—119118

anddesignedinamodernidiomtorespectandenhancethecharacteroftheexistingbuilding.

solution

theinvestigationprocesscommencedbytheConservationPlanwascontinuedthroughouttheproject.Workswerestructuredtoallowfabricassessmentstobecarriedoutinadvanceofthemaincontract.theserevealedinterestingandchallenginginformationaboutthephaseddevelopmentofthebuildingandresultedinanumberofchangestotheoriginalproposals.

externalsandcementrenderfromthe1960’swasremovedbyhandexposingvariousperiodsoflimestoneconstruction.Medievalopeswithchamferedsurroundsandarare

seventeenthcenturyoakwindowwereamongfeaturesrevealedandincorporatedintothedesign.extensivemasonryrepairswerealsocarriedout.

openingupworksidentifiedpotentialserviceroutes.Cableswererunthroughexistingvoidsandwirelessfittingsusedwherepossible.Floormountedpedestalunitswerewiredfromthefloorvoidandarelowimpactandreversible.

structuralrepairsandfirecompartmentationwererequiredthroughout.Lathandplasterceilingswerecarefullycleanedandafirebarrierwasfixedtotheprimarystructure.Asecondaryescapestairwasprovidedtotheleastvisiblesouthwestelevationtoprovideanalternativeescapefromthetopfloorandgableroomonthefirstfloor.therewasphotographicevidence

ofaVictorianstairandbalconyarrangementtothefirstfloorinthislocation.thespiralstairwaskeptawayfromthebuildingandsupportedbyacolumnandconcretebase.

thebalustradeofthefinelydetailed1730’sstaircasewassignificantlylowerthanpermittedbyregulationsforaworkingoffice.Amodernsecondaryhandrailwasfitted,independentoftheexistingjoinerytoretainitshistoricarchitecturalclarity,andthiscanberemovedwithminimalimpact.

themainentrancerampisoflocalKilkennylimestonewithsteelhandrails.Kilkennylimestonehasbeenusedthroughouttotieboththehistoricandmodernstructuretogether,honedoninternalfloorsandflamedinexternalarea.Claddingtothenewpavilionbasehasasawcutfinish.

lessons

Researchbeforetheprojectisundertakeniscritical.theexistenceoftheConservationPlaninthiscasewasinvaluableasaguidingdocumentfordecisionsandthiscontinuedtoevolvethroughouttheprocessasmoreinformationbecameavailable.

Accesstoabroadrangeofspecialistadviceisnecessaryforaholisticunderstandingofthebuildingfabric.Itisalsoessentialtohavespecialistcontractorsinvolvedwhounderstandhistoricconstructionandprinciplesofconservation.

Aprogrammeofopeningupbeforeanyworksareundertakengreatlyimprovesthequalityofdecisions

[1]

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madeandmechanicalandelectricalroutesshouldbefullyconsideredatthisstage.

theabilityofallinvolvedtoviewtheworksasacontinuingprocessisvital.Beingopentodiscoveriescanprovideopportunitiesforelegantsolutionstodesignchallenges-forexample,theexposureofthehistoricbrickpavingandwallsonthegroundfloorprovidedastructureforrampstoaccommodatelevelchangeswithinthebuilding.thebrickfloorandmedievalmasonrycannowbeenjoyedbyallvisitingthepavilion.

theprojecthassuccessfullymettherequirementsofmodernofficeusewithinacomplexhistoricsetting.thethoroughnessofresearchandthecreativeworkingrelationshipbetweentraditionalskillsetsonsitehasenabledtheprojecttopresentnewandexcitingevidenceofthebuilding’sevolutionwhilepreservingoriginalfabricandhistoriccharacter. [1] thebriefwastoprovidemodernoffice,meetingandconferencefacilitieswhileexpressingthe

uniquehistoricphasesofarchitecturaldevelopment.

[2] theoriginalcoreofthebuildingisamedievaltowerwithanadjoiningvaultedhallhouse.therewerealterationstothefabricinthe16th,17th,18thand19thcenturies

[3] Floorplan:thepavilionwasconceivedasacontemporarybuildingusingmodernmaterialsandtechnology

[4] theformerBishop’sPalaceislocatedwithinthehistoricst.Canice’sCathedralcomplexofKilkenny

[2]

[3] [4]

The Heritage Council wished to demonstrate that an old building can be extended in a modern language, in a historic process of evolution that reflects multiple layers of evidence of change.


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project teaM:DenIsBYRneARCHIteCts

RoGeRCAGneYAssoCIAtesConsULtInGenGIneeRs

Keno’ConnoRAssoCIAtesqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

LUCAsenGIneeRInGseRVICesLtD.

client:CARRoLLsIRIsHGIFtstoRes

date:PHAse1–2005-2007

PHAse2–2007-2009

context

situatedinthehoteldistrictadjacenttoDublin’smainbusstation,anend-of-terracepairofLateGeorgianbuildingswereinverypoorcondition,withno.33,theendbuilding,beinginanadvancedstateofdereliction.thisbuildinghasaveryfinesideelevation,unusualfortheGeorgiantype,ontoDeverellPlace.Itconsistsofamagnificentfullgableofsixteenblankwindowscompletewithbrickflatarches,granitecillsandatour de forcelowersidewall,pilastered,rusticatedandnichedinRomancement,builtin1900forthearrivalofthequeen.thesideelevation,monumentalinscaleincomparisontothelocallyprevalentGeorgiandomestic,providestheshortsidestreetwithamemorableurbanpresence.thenewownerwishedtorenovateandrestoretheexistingbuildingsandtoconstructnewadditionstomaximisefloorspaceforspeculativeuse.

challenge

thetaskwastoinsertamodernbuildingoffourstoreysoverdoublebasementsontoasmallurbansitetocombinewiththerefurbishedGeorgianbuildingsandamonumentaldecoratedsidewallinordertoprovideanefficientlayoutformarketablespace.theexistingtwoadjoiningbuildings,oneanear-ruinandtheotherasmallhotel,weretoberestoredandupgradedtomeetcurrentstandards.thearchitecturalchallenge,beyondthefunctionalitiesofthebrief,layinknittingtogethertheoldandnewpartstoproduceacoherentwholethatsimultaneouslyaddressedthedifferingfront,sideandrearurbancontexts.

Adaptive Reusea Wall for the Queen


—123122

solution

theexistingtwostoreyrearreturnstothefrontbuildings,asymmetricalpairofsidepavilions,suggestedhowthenewconstructionsmightcompleteanewcourtyardwhilstpreservingtheintegrityoftherestoredqueen’swalltotheside.thenewbuildingvolumewascarefullydesignedtoprovideasymmetricalcompletiontotheinternalcourtyardandtorecedefromthelineoftheretainedwall.thebuildingstrategywasdiscussedandagreedwiththeplanningauthorityconservationofficer.thenewwingsconnecttheexistingbuildingstothenewfourstoreyrearmewsbuildinginasynthesisofoldandnew.Anewlineofclerestoreywindows,positionedabovethequeen’swall,integratetheoldandnewpavilionsunderamodernglazedcornice.thenewbuildingconfrontstherearoftheexistingbuildingswithasingleopening,acolossallyproportionedversionofthetraditionalGeorgianwindowthatspeakstotheoriginalacrossthecourtyardandplaysaknowinggameofscale.thecurrentusesofthebuildingsareofficeuseforno.33andthetwonewlowerrearfloors,withhoteluseforno.34andthethreenewupperrearfloors,inaninterlockingarrangement.

thefirstphasecomprisedrefurbishmentworkstothefrontbuildingsconsistingoftherebuildingofthetopfloorandroofofno.33,includingthecompletereinstatementoffloors,walls,ceilings,doorsandwindows,andthecleaningandre-pointingofallfacadestono.33andno.34.no34remainedinuseasahotelthroughouttheworks.

Duringphasetwothequeen’swallwasstabilisedandproppedtoallowtheexcavationworksforthenewbuildingstotakeplace.the

newbuildingisfacedinbrickandlimemortarwithcopperwallandroofcladdingtothecourtyard.thequeen’swallwascarefullysurveyedandrestoredusingRomancementplastertomatchtheoriginal.

lessons

thebuildingsofthecitypossessmanygradationsofvalue.Itisuniversallyunderstoodthatthemonumentsandmajorpublicbuildingsmustberetainedandcherished,butthesolid,moreordinarybuildingsthatprovideabackgroundfortheseset-piecesareprofoundlyaffectedbycircumstantialissuesoffashion,economicsandtiming.thiscanrenderthemvulnerabletopredatoryforces,butasitisthesebuildingsthatprovideacitywithitsessentialcharacter,theircontinuousincrementalimprovementisprobablyasimportantasthegrandurbangestures.

thisprojectdealtwiththerehabilitation,adaptationandreuseoftwoordinarybuildingsandone

[1]

[3]

[2]

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extraordinarywall;awallthat,liftedbydecorationfromthemerelyfunctional,makesaplaceoutofasidestreetandanelevationfromverylittle.thischaracterwasretainedandamplifiedbytherestorationofthestrongsurfacemodellingandbythecarefulcontrolofthenewworksinrelationtothesidestreetandwall.thesenewworkswerelimitedtoanewglasscorniceandaminoropening,withthenewfourstoreyvolumerecessedbehindandrelatingmainlytotherearlane.

thenewworksweredesignedtobe‘loosefit’;theyhadnopre-determineduseduringconstructionandwerereadytobecomeapartments,officesorcommercialspaces.InthissensetheycouldbeconsideredtobeanalogoustotheGeorgianroomtypology,thatmostusefulandflexiblecivicbuildingblock.

[1] thetaskwastoinsertamodernbuildingoffourstoreysoverdoublebasementstocombinewiththerefurbishedGeorgianbuildingsandamonumentalsidewalltoprovideanefficientlayoutformarketablespace

[2] thearchitecturalchallengeofthebrieflayinknittingtogethertheoldandnewpartstoproduceacoherentwholethatsimultaneouslyaddressedthedifferingfront,sideandrearurbancontexts

[3] theend-of-terracepairofLateGeorgianbuildingswereinverypoorcondition,withno.33,theendbuilding,beinginanadvancedstateofdereliction

[4] newworkswerelimitedtoanewglasscorniceandaminoropening,withthenewfourstoreyvolumerecessedbehindandrelatingmainlytotherearlane

[5] Planshowingtherelationshipofnewtoold

[6] thisprojectdealtwiththerehabilitation,adaptationandreuseoftwoordinarybuildingsandoneextraordinarywall

[4]

[5] [6]

Many civic improvements were undertaken for Queen Victoria’s visit to Dublin in April 1900. The side wall at 33 Gardiner Street Lower is one such project. It has now been restored to commemorate a private gift to public grandeur.


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project teaM:MCCULLoUGHMULVInARCHIteCts

CYRILsWeettqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

BARRettMAHonYConsULtInGenGIneeRs

MCARDLeMCsWeeneYAssoCIAtesConsULtInGenGIneeRs

client:FInGALCoUntYCoUnCIL

date:2006-2009

context

thisprojectforgesameaningfulsynthesisbetweenoldandnewthroughthemakingofalibraryinadisusedchurchinasmalltownbythesea.

Veryoftenthesearethebuildingsthatcanbestprovideafocusfortheanimationorcreationofpublicspaces,largelybecauseofthecollectivememoriesandassociationsthathavegrownuparoundtheirusebysuccessivegenerations.thismakestheretentionofthespecialinterestofsuchstructuresofparamountimportancewhenadaptingthemtonewrequirements.

stMaur’sChurchdominatesthevillagegreenatthewesternedgeofRush,atownthatisessentiallyonelongstreetwithoutalegiblecentre.thechurch,builtin1835,wasdeconsecratedinthe1980sbutremainedinuseasoneofthetown’sfewpublicbuildings,initiallyservingasalocalartscentreuntil2007,whentechnicalproblemswiththebuildingfabriccalledforacomprehensivereassessmentofitsfuturebytheowners,FingalCountyCouncil.theCouncil’splanwastoretainasmallartscentre,whileprovidingRushwiththelibraryitneverhadandameetingplaceforthetown’smanyclubsandsocieties.thenewlibrarywasalsointendedtoanchorthecommunity’sculturalquarteraroundChapelGreen,whichincludestheruinsofawindmill,ayouthcentreandasmalltheatre.

Adaptive Reuserush liBrary


—127126

challenge

thechallengewastoinvestigatetheexistingstructure,aprosaiccontainerofspace,readyforchange,withaparticularconcernfortherescueandrepairofsomeratherordinarymaterialsandtomakeadistinctivemoderninterventiontosupportthenewuses.thedesignteamwasalsoonthelookoutforevidenceofanearlier,eighteenthcenturyPenalchurchthatwasbelievedtobeonthesite.

solution

thenewworksmightinsteadhavebeenanadditiontotheexistingstructurebutthearchitects,whohavewrittenwidelyonthepalimpsestictraditioninIrisharchitecture,rejectedthisapproachinfavourofprotectingthespecialinterestofthestructure.thismeantretainingthebuilding’sstatusasagenericurbanmonumentinthetownand,inoppositiontothezeitgeistwithitsrejectionoftheemotionalbaggageofIreland’sclericalpast,embracingstMaur’sbrutemonumentalityofformandhardnessofexternalfinishes.so,althoughthechurchhadoriginallybeenrenderedexternally,thisearlieralterationwasalsorespectedandretained.theonlychangestotheexternalappearanceofthestructureareintheformofsmallcluestothetransformation:aglowinglanternperchedontopofthebelfryandasculpturalpieceofsignage(ametalbook)ononegable,replacingamissingfinialcross.theroofwasrepairedusingnaturalslates,theGothicceilingcarefullycleaneddown,thesurvivingmonumentspiecedtogether,windowsreleaded,thetypicalwoodgraineddoorsandlobbiesconserved,thevalueof

ordinaryelementsofreligiouslifetakenasvaluableinthemselves.thearchitectscallthisexercising‘anabsenceofexcludingjudgement’,anattitudethatwaskeytoretainingthecharacteroftheplacetheyfound.

theinteriorwaspaintedwhiteonalimeplasterbase,luminous,aghostofitself,withafew,carefullyselected,smallsectionsleftbaretoexposetheunderlyingmaterial.theextensiveceilingvoidwasfilledwithplantand

[1]

Extending the active use of small public bulidings is vital to maintaining the social life of rural towns, particularly where the original function has ceased.

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insulation,thegroundfloorwithcablingandheatingservicesbutthewallswereleftalone.ArchaeologyrevealedtheplanofthePenalchurchbeneaththe19th-centuryfloor.theoldwallswereincorporatedintotheproject,visiblethroughglassinthefloorneartheentrance.thecruciformplanwasre-utilisedasanarmatureforthenew.thewestdoorremainedasthelibraryentrance;thechancel,strippedtoitsbrickworkcore,madeacolourfulfoundspaceforartatthenaturalfocusofthebuilding;andsecondaryfunctionswerelocatedinanetworkofsidechapelsandsacristies.Aconfessionalcubiclebecameaboothinwhichtolistentomusic.Likeagiantpieceofwalnutfurniture,playingonmemoriesofgalleriesinPenalchapels,thelibraryswellstofillthenavebutdoesn’timpingeonthecrossingspace,whichremainsopenforcollectiveuse.

lessons

theprojectinvolvedalayeredresponse,firstlybyrespectingandconservingtheexistingfabric,secondlybyharnessingthe‘sense’oftheexistingarchitectureandthirdlybymakinganinterventionthatformedspacesallowingalibrarytofunction,tobecompletedbybooks,furnitureandpeople.oldandnewarebothcherishedequallyandgainbytheirproximity,withexistingelementsoverlaidratherthanobliterated.thisworkisaboutmakingordinarypublicbuildingsinsmallcommunities,butitcontainsthepossibilityoffresharchitecturalexpressionthatcanbeparticular,ofteninsmallways,andyetmakeanhonourablepactwiththepast.

[1] theprojectinvolvedalayeredresponse;respectingandconservingtheoriginalfabricandmakingnewinterventionstoformspacesthatallowedthechurchfunctionasalibrary

[2] oldandnewarebothcherishedequallyandgainbytheirproximitywithexistingelementsoverlaidratherthanobliterated

[3] theonlychangestotheexternalappearanceofthestructureareintheformofsmallcluestothetransformation:aglowinglanternperchedontopofthebelfryandasculpturalpieceofsignageononegable

[2]

[3]


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project teaM:DHBARCHIteCts

FRAnKFoXAnDAssoCIAtesConsULtAntenGIneeRs

LAWLoRAnDPARtneRsqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

RAMsAYCoXAssoCIAtes

sHeRIDAnAnDAssoCIAtesFIResAFetYConsULtAnts

MILIAtsAoUssIs-MADDoCKLAnDsCAPeARCHIteCts

client:DR.MARK+MRseDeLRoWe/tHeRoWe-CReAVInPRACtICe

date:2007-2009

context

thePresentationConvent,Waterford,wasdesignedbyA.W.n.Pugin.Itisanausterebuildingofgreatarchitecturalclarityandwasverycloselybasedonhisidealmonasteryplanasproclaimedinhis‘truePrinciples’.

originallylocatedinaruralenvironmentabouttwokilometresfromthecitycentre,itisnowsurroundedbysuburbandevelopmentandacomplexofprimaryandsecondaryschoolbuildings.thesitewasdividedupafteritssalebythePresentationorderin2005.thestill-undevelopedlandonthewesternsidewasacquiredbyWaterfordCityCouncil.theremainder,onwhichtheconventbuildingsits,includessufficientamountsofareatothewestandsouthsothattheoriginalsettingcanstillbeappreciated.thecurrenturbancontextincludestheadjoiningoldschoolbuilding,nowsolicitors’offices,andafunctioningprimaryschoolfromthe1940s.oppositeistherearofthestandtoWalshPark,thelocalGAAgrounds.

thebuildingisaprotectedstructurewitharatingofnationalimportance.thelocalauthority’splanningandconservationofficerswerecloselyinvolvedattheearlydesignandplanningstages,asweretheheritageadvisoryservicesofthethenDepartmentoftheenvironment,HeritageandLocalGovernment.

Adaptive ReuseWaterford health park


—131130

challenge

thebriefcalledforarangeofcommunitymedicalfacilitiesaroundtheanchortenanciesofaGPpracticeandapharmacy.Itwasveryimportantthatthepractice’slocalclient-basewouldbehappytomovetothenewpremises,somucheffortwasfocusedoncreatinganattractivesocialspaceforwellbeing.therestorationofthebeautifulandimportantchapelwithitsintactroodscreenwasalsoapriority.

theforemostchallengeinthistypeofprojectalwaysrelatestotheinherentcontradictionintryingtotransformsomethingwhichhasaverypronouncedcharacter

withoutadverselyaffectingthatcharacter.Anotherchallengewasthetransformationofaclosed,monasticbuildingintoanopen,publicone.thisincludedtheneedtohaveaclearinternalorganisationalandspatialsequence,andtheneedtoopenuptothestreetandtothesurroundingcommunity.ontotheoriginallayerofmeaningisaddedanewlayerinresponsetothebuilding’schangedstatus.Itisnolongeraconventandschool,itisnowacommunityhealthfacility.onlytheminimumamountoffabricwasremovedinordertomaketheneworganisationallayoutclearandintelligibleandmanydifferentoptionswereconsideredastohowbesttoreusethishistoricfabricinatransformativeway.

solution

onlyminimalchangesweremadetotheinternalfabricoftheconvent,andmostofthesearereversible.Greatcarewastakentoensurethattheadditionsdidnotencroachontheimportantviewsofthewesternfaçade,oneofPugin’sfinestandmostsophisticated,sothatthebuildingcanstillbeunderstoodinitstraditionalcontext.thiswaspossiblebecauseofaclearseparationbetweenthetypesofusewhichtheexistingbuildingcouldaccommodate.theconsultationroomswere

locatedinthe‘cellular’layoutoftheexisting,whilenewstructures,thetwonewwings,accommodatethemoreheavilyservicedareasof‘non-compatible’usessuchasthephysiotherapyroomandthepharmacy.

themainphysicalchangestotheexistingbuildinginvolvedtakingdownthealready-alteredgabletoformanewreceptionspace;breakingthroughtheendwalltolinkittothecloister,andtheinsertionofanewstairsoffthecloisterforfiresafety.thisnewentranceaxisalsoextendsoutasfarastheslievekealeRoad,linkingtheHealthParktothemainrouteintothecityandthesurroundingresidentialareas,andsupportstheprinciplethatallnewaccessshouldbeopenandtransparent.thereceptionspacebecomesthehubfromwhichaccesstothepharmacy,theemergencyGPserviceortheconsultationroomsviathecloisterreceptionishandled.Alloftheseservicesarevisibleatpointofentry.theareatothefrontofthebuilding,wheremostofthesechangestookplaceisthelocationforthenewwingsformingtheurbanset-piecetothepublicdomain.

RemovedfabricsuchasthemasonryofthegabletostMary’swasreusedasthecladdingmaterialforthenewwings,butinawaythatmaximisedthequantities(eachstonewascut

[1]

[2]

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inhalfthusdoublingtheamountofstoneavailable)whilemarkingthetransformativeprocessofthisreuse.thecut-faceofeachstonewasusedasthefinishedsidesothatdifferenceoftexture–forthesamematerial–becameanimportantelementintheappreciationofoldandnew.Almostallofthismaterialwasreusedonsite.

lessons

theopportunitiespresentedbythebuildingitselfwereusedtoemphasisecraftasawayofmakingacreativelinktothepast,by‘summoningupthespiritofthedeadworkman’toparaphraseJohnRuskin.theintroductionofcraftintothedesignprocessbecamecentraltothetenderandsitestagesandallowedgreaterflexibilitywhendealingwithissuesarisingonsite.Architects,especiallyintheconservationcontext,musttakeonthemantleofthepromotersandguardiansofcraft,requiringthemtoworkmorecloselywithcontractorsandtradespersonsatdetaileddesignstageandduringtheconstructionprocess.

[1] onlyminimalchangesweremadetotheinternalfabricoftheconvent,andmostofthesearereversible

[2] Greatcarewastakentoensurethattheadditionsdidnotencroachontheimportantviewsofthewesternfaçade,oneofPugin’sfinestandmostsophisticated,sothatthebuildingcanstillbeunderstoodinitstraditionalcontext

[3] Removedfabricsuchasthemasonryofthegabletost.Mary’swasreusedasthecladdingmaterialforthenewwings

[4] Amajorchallengewasthatoftransformingaclosedmonasticbuildingintoanopenpubliconewithconnectionstothestreetandthesurroundingcommunity

[3]

[4]

An open, collaborative approach in the early stages, particularly with the planning and conservation services of Waterford City Council and the then DOEHLG was one of the keys to the project’s success.


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project teaM:HenRYJ.LYonsARCHIteCts

BRUCesHAWPRoJeCtMAnAGeMentLtD.

ARUPConsULtInGenGIneeRs

VMRAConsULtInGenGIneeRs

ARtHURGIBneY

LInDsAYConseRVAtIonARCHIteCts

FeACFIResAFetYConsULtAnts

BILLInGsDesIGnAssoCIAtesLtD.

client:MAGennIsPRoPeRtYLtD.

date:2009

context

51-54PearsestreetaccommodatesthenewdesignstudiosofHenryJ.LyonsArchitectswithinanewsixstoreybuildingonatighturbansitewhichpreviouslyhousedHealy&sonsmetalworkshopandfoundry.

thebriefwastoprovidegenerousstudiospacetohousetheexpandedpracticeandadditionalsupportfacilitiesinabuildingwhichwouldpromotecollaborationanddialogue.thekeyobjectiveswereprovisionoflight,spaceandcommunicationbetweenoccupantsinanenvironmentallyresponsivebuilding.theseparametersledtothedevelopmentofabuildingwheredrawingstudios,meetingroomsandsocialspacesareorganisedaroundamodestbutdistinctiveatriumdesignedtobetheheartofthebuilding,butwhichalsoplaysavitalroleinthebuilding’ssustainabilitystrategy.thebuildinghasbeendesignedtoachieveanA3BeRratingandaBReeAMVeryGoodrating.

challenge

thedevelopmentinvolvedextensiverefurbishmentworkstotheprotectedstructures,builtinaneoclassicalstylec.1840toaccommodateahouse,workshopandoffices.thebuildingswereadaptedandalteredovertheyearsandanextensivestuccobaseandentablaturewereappliedtounifythethreebuildingsinc.1899.significantpartsofthefrontandrearfaçadeswererenderedinthemid-twentiethcenturyobscuringthelegibilityoftheterrace.Internallytheaccommodationwassetoutascellularofficestothestreetwithancillaryspacestotherear.thefrontroomshavevaryingdegreesofqualityrangingfromhighlyornateandexoticappliedstuccointhefirstfloorboardrooms,toveryplainandutilitarianroomsonthesecondfloor.theprotectedstructuresaredistinctiveintermsofbeingasurvivingexampleofabusinesspremisestypicalofthisstreetandsurroundingareas.

Adaptive Reusearchitect’s studio, pearse street


—135134

solution

thedesignfullyutilisestheexistingentrances,cellularofficesandcirculationwaysoftheprotectedstructuresandintegratesthemwithanewcontemporarybuilding,withfivelargedrawingstudioslocatedtotherear.externally,thenewdesignpromotesthevisualunityoftheprotectedstructures,contributingto

theregenerationofthestreetscapewhilegivingexpressiontothenewbuildingtotherear.

theexistingdistinctiveentrancearchwayisusedasthemainentrancetothebuilding,leadingdirectlytothenewfourstoreyatrium.Asecondaryentranceisprovidedtothewestoftheprotectedstructures.theatrium,whichistraversedbylightsteelandtimberbridges,isthecentral

organisationalfeatureallowingforaneaseofcommunicationbetweenalllevelsandinparticularbetweentheoldbuildingandthenewextension.theatrium,withitsdistinctivelimewashed‘rear’façadeallowsthecharacterofthenineteenthcenturybuildingstopermeateandinfluencethecharacterofthenewstructuretotherear.newlifts,stairs,verticalrisers,sanitaryfacilitiesandserviceareaareprovidedinthenewfabricallowingforaminimallevelofinvasiveworkintheoriginalbuildings.

Anewfaçadeiscomposedoftherefurbishedprotectedstructuresandamodestnew5.5metreinfillsectiontothewestmatchingboththeexistingparapetinheightandtherhythmofthestreetinwidth.thenewinfillsection,withitspolishedstonelouvresinstalledoverafullyglazedfaçade,wasdesignedtoofferaglimpseofthecontemporarystructureandactivitytotherearandprovidetransitioninscaletothelargeradjoiningbuilding.

thefaçadesoftheexistingbuildingshavebeenrefurbishedbyremovingthenon-originalcementitiousrendertono.51andre-pointing

[1] [2]

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andrepairingthebrickworkwhichwasuncoveredbeneath.originalslidingsashwindows,doors,railings,granitecillsandotherfeatureswerecarefullyrepairedandrefurbished.thenorth,rearfaçadeofthenewbuildistotallyglazedbringingevenlighttothedrawingstudios.thisfacadeisanactiveelementofthebuilding’snaturalventilationsystemwithautomatedopeningsectionsallowingforcontrolledheating/coolingandventilation.theairdrawninthroughthefacadeisexpelledthroughhighlevelopeningsintheglazedroofoftheatriumwhichhasopenablesidesectionscreatinga‘stackeffect’regulatingairqualityandtemperaturechanges.

lessons

thelevelofinvasiveworkintheoriginalbuildingswasminimisedbyorganisingtheaccommodationtomakebestuseoftheirexistinglayout.

theoldandthenewareequallybalancedandsitcomfortablynexttoeachother,linkedacrossthecentralatriumwhichprovidescleararticulationbetweentherefurbishedprotectedstructuresandthemodernstudios,whilebringinglightandventilationintotheheartofthebuilding.theuseofasimplerestrainedmaterialspaletteincludingboardmarkedconcrete,oakandMDFjoinery,steelbalustradesandslidingscreenscomplementexistingmasonrywalls,paintedjoineryandlimerenderoftheoriginalbuildings.

[1] theoldandthenewareequallybalancedandsitcomfortablynexttoeachother,linkedacrossthecentralatriumwhichprovidescleararticulationbetweentherefurbishedprotectedstructuresandthemodernstudios

[2] theatrium,withitsdistinctivelimewashed‘rear’façadeallowsthecharacterofthenineteenthcenturybuildingstopermeateandinfluencethecharacterofthenewstructuretotherear.

[3] thefaçadesoftheexistingbuildingshavebeenrefurbishedbyremovingthenon-originalcementitiousrendertono.51andre-pointingandrepairingthebrickworkwhichwasuncoveredbeneath

[4] theexistingfrontroomshavevaryingdegreesofqualityrangingfromhighlyornateandexoticappliedstuccointhefirstfloorboardrooms,toveryplainandutilitarianroomsonthesecondfloor

[5] thedesignutilisestheexistingprotectedstructuresandintegratesthemwithanewcontemporarybuilding,withfivelargedrawingstudioslocatedtotherear

[3] [4]

[5]

The development integrates a terrace of three mid-nineteenth century protected structures with a contemporary extension formed about a new atrium, providing clear articulation between the existing and new fabric.


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project teaM:BoYDCoDYARCHIteCts

CAseYo’RoURKeAssoCIAtesConsULtnGenGIneeRs

client:PRIVAte

date:2010-2011

context

no.58issituatedatthecornerofJohnDillonstreetandHanoverLane,partofaterraceoffoursinglestoreyartisandwellingsconstructedbetween1899and1904intheLibertiesareaofDublin’sinnercity.originally,threeroomed,itsarchitectureissimpleindesign.thehouseisconstructedinbrickwitharenderedrearfaçade.Aflatroofedadditionwasconstructedinthe1970s,whichcontainedakitchenandbathroom.thisadditionoccupiedmostofthebackyard.thehousewasseriouslydilapidatedneedingcompleteupgradingandrefurbishment.

challenge

toconservetheurbanfabricandthecharacterofthestreet,thevolumetricintegrityoftheexistinghousewastoberetained.Internallyhoweverthedimensionswereveryrestrictive–theareaoftheexistinghousewasonly30m2–andtherewasaneedtoincreasethesizeandarrangementofitsrooms.

Adaptive ReuseBack yard, john dillon street, duBlin

The project demonstrates how the existing urban housing stock can be reinvented and adapted through innovative architectural design in order to sustain changing lives and communities in our inner cities.


—139138

solution

Asthesimple,longandnarrowformofthehousewasliked,itwasdecidedtostepoutoftheexistingplantore-createtheback yardanduseitasinternalspace.Aseriesoflargerooflightsprovideanuninterruptedviewoftheskyandfloodthisspacewithnaturallightgivingtheoccupanttheperceptionthathe/sheisoutside.thisnewbackyardcontainsthediningarea,kitchenandbathroom.eachoftheseroomsisdividedfromthenextbysatinanodisedaluminiumcladdoorsandscreens.thehouseisenteredthroughoneoftheseviaanewfrontentrance,offHanoverLane.

themainservicesforthehouseareheldinalongblackboxwhichisplacedintheyard.FinishedinFormicaandpowdercoatedaluminium,itaccommodatesbanquetteseating,kitchenunits,thebath,thebinstoreandboilerultimatelyformingpartofthenewmodernfaçadeontoHanoverLane.Itisalsothemainsourceofartificiallightinthehouse.

thefloorandwallsofthenewback yard arefinishedinterrazzowithaggegrateschosentomatchthegranitecillsoftheexistinghouse.Mirrorshavebeenusedinvariouslocationstofurtherextendandexpandtheoccupants’perceptionofspace.

thefootprintoftheexistinghousecontainsthelivingarea,themasterbedroomandasecondbedroomorstudy.Allstorageisintegratedthroughthickeningthewallswithwardrobes.Alargechimney-breastwasremovedtoprovidemorefloorareabuttheexistingchimneywasretainedandsupportedabovetheceilinglinewithprovisionforitsfutureusewithagasstove.theinsulation,

[1]

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blinds,mechanicalandelectricalservicingtotheseroomsareheldwithinanewthickinternalwhiteplasterboardliningtothehouse.

lessons

thisprojectattemptstomaketheordinaryextraordinary,adaptingasmallartisandwellingofthenineteenthcenturyintoalight-filledcontemporaryhome.Conservationandadaptationoftheexistinghousingstockcanbeinventiveandexciting.Asarchitects,wemustusethearchitectureofthepast,understandit,playwithit,buildinitandontoit,usingthemostuptodatedesignandtechnologiessoastore-inventitformodernlife.Wemustalsohoweverrecogniseandrespectitsinherentqualities.Ifwedo,wecanlinkbothsotheycomplementeachotherandworktogethertomakeanewarchitectureofinherentreciprocityandquality.

[2]

[3]

[4]

This project attempts to make the ordinary extraordinary, adapting a small artisan dwelling of the nineteenth century into a light-filled contemporary home.

[1] Aseriesoflargerooflightsprovideanuninterruptedviewoftheskyandfloodthisspacewithnaturallightgivingtheoccupanttheperceptionthathe/sheisoutside

[2] toconservetheurbanfabricandthecharacterofthestreet,thevolumetricintegrityoftheexistinghousewastoberetained

{3}thenewextensionis‘steppedout’totherearofthelong,narrowformoftheexistingplan

[4] Architect’sdrawingshowingthe‘layering’oftheexistingandnewelementsworkingtogethertomakeanewarchitecture


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project teaM:ARCHIteCts–MCCULLoUGHMULVInARCHIteCts

BRenDAnMeRRY&PARtneRsqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

o’ConnoRsUttonCRonInstRUCtURALenGIneeRs

HoMAno’BRIenAssoCIAtes

client:BoARDoFDUBLInDentALHosPItAL

date:2007-2010

context

theprojecttookonfivecontiguoushousesincentralDublinandconvertedthemasoffices,seminarroomsandrooftoplibraryfortheDublinDentalHospital.thefivebuildingswereprotectedstructuresundertheDublin City Council Development Plan.FourwereessentiallyGeorgianwithlaterstreetfacades;onewasafivebayVictorianshopwithresidentialaccommodationoverhead–allhadundergonesignificantchangeandadjustmentthroughtheirliveswithamixofperiodandlaterdetail.Whiletheyretainedatypicalarrangementofplansseparatedbyspinewalls,therewerealreadysomehorizontallinkagesbetweenthem.thebuildingsweretypicalof‘ordinary’Dublinhouseswithinthecanalring.onehouse(no.2)hadabowedrearelevation,moresignificantdecorationandastaircasesetcentrallyintheplan.

challenge

technically,thefivehouseshadmanyoftheproblemsassociatedwithstructuresoftheirage,theresultofpoormaintenanceandadhocalterations;windowswereinpoorrepair,floorboardsmissing,alteredfireplaces,outbreaksofwetanddryrot.Inaddition,thebuildingswereavailablefromfirstflooruponly,therewasnomainentryatgroundlevel;otherusesandtenantsoccupiedthesespaces.Developingtheprojectwasaninterestingurbanchallenge,withtheavailabilityofsiteaccesstotherearavaluableasset.thebrief,andtheplanningprocess,requiredthebuildingstoberestoredcarefully;thefunctionrequiredthebuildingstobelinkedhorizontally,acharacteristicalreadyevidentintheotherDentalHospitalbuildingsonLincolnPlace.

Adaptive ReuseduBlin dental hospital


—143142

solution

thehouseswereupgradedtomodernstandardsoffiresafety,insulationandaccessibilitybyverycarefulworkonthefabric,usingallmeanstoaddressdeficiencieswithoutdamagingoldermaterials,spacesorfinishes.thearchitectshadextendeddiscussionswiththeclientbodytodevelopaworkingfunctionalmodelforthehouses;thestructurewasexploredtoseeitspotentialtosupportadditionalaccommodation.theapproachwasacombinationofcarefulconservationwithstrongmoderninterventionintothefabric.

thefiveterracedhouses–apieceofcity,archaeologyandtypologycombined,wereupgraded,usingvoidsandfireplacesforservicesandretainingdoorsandoldermaterialsandsurfaceswherepossible.Wallswerestrippedofmoremodernplasterandpaper,insomeplacesthehistoricplasterworkwasexposedrevealingcoloursofanotherera–panelsofthisuncoveredplasterworkhavebeenleftasalitmusstripineachroomtoindicateatimeline.Inonelocationthelayeringofbrickworkwithtimbers

andnewconcretepadfootinghasbeenleftexposedtotellthestory,amodern-dayarchaeology.Foundelementssuchastimbercladdinghavebeenreusedintheroomswheretheywerediscoveredtocreateamodernviewonthetimberpaneledroom.Atimber-linedcorridorwascutthroughthefabriconthreelevels,withvoidsconnectingitupanddowntootherfloors.

therooftopwastransformedbytheadditionofdramaticnew‘pods’overlookingtrinityCollegecontainingalibraryandartdisplayspaces.theoverallstructuralprinciplereliesonthefivestructurestosupporttheroof-toppods.theirstrongcrosswallsformthefoundationsforthelightsteelstructure,theloadispinnedandembeddedintheexistingstructure,transferringthroughtheexcludedgroundfloor.steelsareinsertedstrategicallyandburiedwithinfloors;concretepadsarecarefullyembeddedintowalls.Wherechimneysarebraced,theboltedsteelplatesareexposed.Inthesamewaytherobustnessandstrengthofthefivestructuresallowsfortheweightofthislevelofradicalconservationand

[1]

[2]

[3]

The brief required the buildings to be restored carefully. The function required them to be linked horizontally.

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intervention.theyretaintheirintegritytothefront;thecantileveredpodsformanewlayerofquasi-industriallandscapetotherearstillechoingtheincrementofthefivebays.thebuildingsasacompositearesufficientlybig-bonedtosupportanalternativereading,fromfronttoback.

lessons

thelessonsoftheDentalHospitalprojectincluded:arealisationthroughexplorationofthepotentialbearingcapacityandstrengthofordinaryGeorgianterracehousesinthecontextofcloseandcarefulstructuralanalysis;thedeliveryofuniqueenvironmentsandspacesmadepossiblebyacarefuljuxtapositionofoldandnewwork;thevalueofacloseliaisonbetweenclientandarchitectinthedevelopmentofunusualstructures;theabsolutenecessityofcloseworkingwithsympatheticandinformedPlanningandFiredepartmentpersonnel.

[1] Atimber-linedcorridorwascutthroughthefabriconthreelevels,withvoidsconnectingitupanddowntootherfloors

[2] therooftopwastransformedbytheadditionofdramaticnew‘pods’overlookingtrinityCollegecontainingalibraryandartdisplayspaces

[3] thebrief,andtheplanningprocess,requiredthebuildingstoberestoredcarefullywhilethefunctionrequiredthebuildingstobelinkedhorizontally

[4] technically,thefivehouseshadmanyoftheproblemsassociatedwithstructuresoftheirage,theresultofpoormaintenanceandadhocalterations

[5] thearchitects’approachwasacombinationofcarefulconservationwithstrongcontemporaryinterventionsintotheexistingfabric

[4]

[5]


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project teaM:HeALYPARtneRsARCHIteCts

DennAnYReIDYAssoCIAtesConsULtInGenGIneeRs

eDWARDCotteRPARtneRsHIPqUAntItYsURVeYoRs

Dono’MALLeYAnDPARtneRs

client:LIMeRICKMARKettRUstees

date:2010

context

theMilkMarket,constructedinthe1830sbythePeryfamily,islocatedontheoldcitywallatMungretGateinIrishtown.Marketsinthisareaofthecityareshowntobeestablishedinthe1790’s,includingtheHayMarket,PigMarket,LinenHall,ButterMarket,CornmarketandMilkMarket.

thismarketdistrictrequiredreorganisationandamanagementstructurewhichledtotheLimerickMarkettrustees(LMt)beingestablishedbyanActofParliamentin1852.Althoughinitiallysuccessful,theyenteredexaminershipin1898andmarketsbegantofailonebyoneuntilonlytheMilkMarketsurvived.Itcontinueduptothe1960’sbutthebuildingfabricfellintodisrepairandeventuallyruin.

In1988,theLMtemergedfromexaminershipandaprocessofrefurbishmentofthecourtyardandbuildingsbegan.Amajorrestorationprojectwascompletedin1993underthedirectionofMurrayo’LaoireArchitectsandasaturdaymorningmarketwasre-establishedwiththecourtyardoperatingasasurfacecarparkduringtheweek,generatinganincomethatwastosubstantiallyfinancethenextphaseoftheproject.

challenge

In2007thetrusteesengagedinaprocesstoseehowthemarketscouldfurtherdevelop.theirobjectivewastobroadenwhatwasofferedattheMilkMarket.theirkeyideawasfor‘readytoeat’highqualityfoodstallsextendingavisitfromabriefmarketshoptoasocialexperience.

Itwasalsorecognisedthatthedevelopmentcouldserveasacatalystforregenerationofthisneglectedquarterofthecity.thedesignsolutionhadtobefunctional,economicandiconicrelativetothescaleofLimerick.themarketalsohadtobeall-weatherandopen.

therewereanumberofconstraintstobeconsideredaspartofthearchitecturalsolution.FirstlytheMilkMarketbuildingsareprotectedstructuresandsecondlythesitecontainstheremainsoftheoldcitywall,anationalmonument.

Adaptive Reusethe Milk Market, liMerick


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solution

thedesignsolutionwasalargetwentyfourmetrehigh‘umbrella’overthecourtyard,astrongverticalinterventionwhichwouldalsodefinethemarketlocationonboththeskylineandthemainapproachroutesfromtheretailcoreofthecity.

thedesignhasdeliveredamoderninterventionusingsimpledetailing,achievinganappropriatecontrasttothedetailofthemarketbuildings.themainelement,atensilestructure,iscarriedbyaneccentricallyalignedmastwhichmaximisesthecoverofthecourtyardaswellasaccommodatingapavilionbuilding,whilerespectingthescaleoftheoriginaltwostoreybuilding.thefourcornersofthetensile

structurearesupportedbyinclinedstruts,suspendedandstablisedbytwotensiontiesperstrut.themembraneisstressedbetweenthesteelheadringsuspendedbysteelcablesfromthecentralmastandfourcatenarycablesspanningapproximatelyforty-fivemetersfromonecornertotheother.

Allvehicleshavebeenremovedfromthecourtyardduringtrading,withtrafficonlypermittedduringstallsetupandclosing.thenewtrafficcirculationisdefinedbygranitecobblesrunningbetweenthetwogatesservingthecourtyard.Granitecobblesarealsousedtodelineatethelineofthecitywall.theremainingcourtyardsurfaceisapolished

concreteusingvariedaggregateandgreenglassprovidingaqualityanddurablefinish.

Fivepermanentunits,offeringfoodandbeverages,areaccommodatedinthesinglestoreypavilionwithaneatingandexhibitionareaonamezzanineoverhead.Whenclosed,thepavilionreadsasatimberboxwithinthecourtyard.theremainingareasarelaidouttoaccommodateuptofifty-twotradingstalls,anoverallincreaseoftwenty-onestallsfromtheoriginalmarket.

lessons

sincetheinterventions,customernumbershavedoubledandthemarkethasextendeditsopeningtimes.Italsoaccommodatesmonthlyartandcraftmarkets,aChristmasmarketaswellaseventsandconcerts.Duringtheseevents,thefoodtradersalsooperate.Ithasprovidedthecitywithavenuethatcansupportoutdooreventsirrespectiveoftheweatheranditssuccessshouldalsoactasastimulusforfurtherurbanregenerationofthisimportantpartofthecity.

[1]thetensilestructureiscarriedbyaneccentricallyalignedmastwhichmaximisesthecoverofthecourtyardaswellasaccommodatingapavilionbuilding

{2] thedesignsolutionwasalarge’umbrella’overthecourtyardtodefinethemarketlocationontheskyline

[3] sincetheinterventions,customernumbershavedoubledandthemarkethasextendeditsopeningtimes

[4] Floorplan:theenclosedcourtyardcontainsatimber-cladpavilionwithaneatingandexhibitionspaceonitsroof

[1]

It was recognised that the development could serve as a catalyst for regeneration of this neglected quarter of the city.

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ADAPtIVeReUse

[2]

[4]

[3]


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thomasstreet–ImprovingthePublicFaceofanHistoricCityCentrestreetDublin Civic Trust for Dublin City Council; 2012

theDublinstreetsProjectDublin City Council and Dublin Civic Trust; 2012

LaoisCountyDevelopmentPlan2012-18Laois County Council; 2012

YourCityYourspace;DublinPublicRealmstrategyDublin City Council; 2011

economicValueofIreland’sHistoricenvironmentEcorys / Fitzpatrick Associates for The Heritage Council, 2011

AbbeyleixsustainableCommunitiesPlanLoci, Áit, de Blacam & Meagher for The Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht and Abbeyleix Business & Community Development Forum; 2011

theVikingtriangle,WaterfordCityCentreColliers International for Fáilte Ireland and Waterford City Council, 2011

Capelstreet&theCityMarkets–AWayForwardDublin Civic Trust for Dublin City Business Association and Capel Street Business Association; 2010

DraftingoftheVeniceCharter:historicaldevelopmentsinconservationProf. Andrea Pane, ICOMOS Ireland; 2010

newDesigninHistoricsettingsHistoric Scotland; 2010

CapelstreetArchitecturalConservationAreaDublin City Council; 2009

onAlteringArchitectureFred Scott, Routledge, 2009

thomasstreet&environsArchitecturalConservationAreaDublin Civic Trust for Dublin City Council; 2009

theLibertiesLocalAreaPlanJohn Thompson & Partners with Metropolitan Workshop for Dublin City Council; 2009

GovernmentPolicyonArchitecture2009-2015towardsasustainableFuture:DeliveringqualitywithintheBuiltenvironmentDepartment of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 2009

ConservationPrinciples–PoliciesandGuidanceforthesustainableManagementoftheHistoricenvironmentEnglish Heritage; 2008

theLeipzigCharteronsustainableeuropeanCitiesEuropean Member States; 2007

theWaterfordGatewayInnovationFundBidWaterford City Council; 2007

HealthImpactsoftheBuiltenvironmentInstitute of Public Health; 2006

KilkennyLocalAreaPlanO’Mahony Pike Architects; 2005

sligoCourthouseBlockUrbanDesignFrameworkPlanNational Building Agency, Sligo Borough Council, Sligo County Council; 2005

ArchitecturalHeritageProtectionGuidelinesforPlanningAuthoritiesDepartment of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; 2011

BuilttoLast–thesustainableReuseofBuildingsThe Heritage Council, Dublin City Council; 2004

AHistoryofArchitecturalConservationJukka Jokilehto; 2002

nationalspatialstrategyDepartment of the Environment and Local Government; 2002

BuildinginContext–newDevelopmentinHistoricalAreasEnglish Heritage, Cabe; 2001

theCharterofKrakow–PrinciplesforConservationandRestorationofBuiltHeritageInternational Conference on Conservation; 2000

thePlanningandDevelopmentActs2000-2010

WestportPlan2000,anIntegratedActionPlanforWestportWestport Urban District Council; 1997

CorkHistoricAreaActionPlanCork Corporation and Urban Initiatives; 1994

templeBarFrameworkPlanGroup 91; 1991

theWashingtonCharterfortheConservationofHistorictownsandUrbanAreasInternational Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS);1987

BIBLIoGRAPHY

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theGranadaConventionfortheProtectionoftheArchitecturalHeritageofeuropeCouncil of Europe;1985

theIntegrationofModernArchitectureinoldsurroundingsInternational Union of Architects, International Council for Monuments and Sites in collaboration with Europa Nostra; 1974

Historictowns-PreservationandChangeMinistry of Housing and Local Government; 1967

theVeniceCharterfortheConservationandRestorationofMonumentsandsitesInternational Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS);1964

theAthensCharterInternational Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS);1931

theModernCultofMonuments:ItsCharacterandItsoriginAlois Riegl; 1903

nationalInventoryofArchitecturalHeritage www.buildingsofireland.ie


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Áit

BasedinDublin,Áitisanurbanismandlandscapedesignpracticewithovertwelveyearsexperienceonawidespectrumofprojects;frommasterplanningnewurbanneighbourhoods,transportinterchangesandindustriallandstooverseeingtheimplementationofhardandsoftlandscapeworksonavarietyofprojects.PrincipalDaibhíMacDomhnaillhastaughtonthelandscapearchitectureprogrammeatUniversityCollegeDublinandhaswrittenforandeditedLandscapeIreland.

www.ait-place.ie

Box architecture

sinceconceptionin1997,thecompanyhasbeenestablishedasaleadingdesignpractice,havingwonelevenIrishnationalAwardstodate.qualityhasremainedthefocusofBoxthroughoutandthishasbeenemployedtoavarietyofprojectsincludingurbanschemes,apartmentunits,award-winningprivatecommissions,corporateoffices,crechesandhousingdevelopments.thesuccessofBoxArchitectureisachievedthroughapersonalapproachtounderstandingclientneeds.Withahands-onapproach,technicalexpertise,creativeexecutionandacommitmenttocontinuededucation,thecompanyappliesaphilosophyofthehighestprincipleinordertocontributetoasustainablefutureandmaintainqualityarchitecture.

www.box.ie

Boyd cody architects

BoydCodyArchitectsisadesign-ledpracticewhichbeganasapartnershipformedin1997innewYork.thetwodirectors,DermotBoydandPeterCodystudiedtogetherandgraduatedfromtheDublinInstituteoftechnologyin1990.IntheinterveningperiodtheybothspentanumberofyearsineuropeandtheUnitedstatesgainingvaluableacademicandprofessionalexperiencebeforereturningtoIreland.theirsharedvisionandinterestincontemporaryarchitecturalandurbancultureistheprincipalmotivatingforcebehindthepractice.eachprojectisviewedasameanstoexploreandrealisearchitecture’sfulldesignandurbanpotential.

www.boydcodyarch.com

de BlacaM + Meagher

deBlacamandMeagherhasestablishedapre-eminentpositioninarchitectureineurope.Itisenthusiasticallydedicatedtoserviceofclientsandtocompletionofbuildingsofmajorsignificance.thepracticeisprimarilyconcernedwiththemakingofsimplebuildingsandwiththeemploymentofbeautifulmaterialstogivequality,permanenceandsignificancetothework.Aswellasthedesignofexcellentnewbuildings,thepracticepossessesparticularexpertiseinrestorationandconservationwork,interior,furnituredesignandexhibitiondesign.

www.deblacamandmeagher.com

denis Byrne architects

Formedin1998,DenisByrneArchitectsisaDublin-baseddesignpracticespecialisingintheproductionofcontemporaryworksofarchitectureandrelateddisciplines.thepractice’sworkmaybeseenthroughoutIrelandonbothurbanandruralaward-winningconstructionprojects,fromthe‘HouseintheField’inCoWestmeathtothe‘CigarBox’apartmentsandoffices,incentralDublin.sincetheformationofthepractice,thescopeofprojectshasbroadenedconsiderablytoincludemasterplanning,landscapedesign,urbandesign,furnitureandinteriordesign,allpursuedwithintheparametersoflargerenvironmentalandsocialconcerns.

www.denisbyrnearchitects.ie

dhB architects

dhbArchitectsisadesign-drivenarchitecturalpracticebasedinWaterfordcity.Itsdirectors,FintanDuffy,MáireHenryandHarryBenthaveextensiveexperienceinIreland,FranceandFinlandhavingworkedwithworld-renownedpracticessuchasJuhaniPallasmaa,RenzoPianoBuildingWorkshopandMarcelBreuerAssociates,innearlyeverysphereofarchitecturaldesignandpractice.Projectexperienceincludeshigh-densityresidential,culturalbuildings,sustainablehousing,communityprojectsandhealthcare.sinceitsinceptionin2004,thepracticehasbeendevelopingareputationforhigh-qualityinterventionsinconservationcontexts.ItsworkhasbeenrecognisedbothinIrelandandinternationally.

www.dhbarchitects.ie

PRACtICePRoFILes

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donaghy and diMond architects

FoundedinDublin’sLibertiesbyWillDimondandMarcusDonaghyin2001,thepracticeisdedicatedtomakingrobust,endurableandsustainablebuildings.overthepastdecade,DonaghyandDimondhavewonseveralAAIandRIAIAwardsandpublishedwidely.Bothprincipalsarepart-timelecturersinUCD’sschoolofArchitecture.thepracticeisbuiltonknowledgeandexperience:ofsustainablepractice;hands-onconstruction;continuingeducation;designresearch;andapprenticeshipsservedinpracticescommittedtoexcellenceinarchitecture.thepracticehasparticularskillsinconservation,energyupgradesandpassivehousedesignandwasnominatedfortheBsIInternationalArchitectureAwardforenvironmentallysustainablepracticein2012.

www.donaghydimond.ie

duBlin city council

DublinCityCounciliscommittedtousingdesigntoimprovetheattractiveness,liveabilityandsustainabilityofourbuiltenvironmentinitsrolesasplanningauthority,managerofpublicspacesandbuildingsandthroughitsownconstructionprojects.DublinCityArchitectsisresponsibleforpromotingdesignandprovidingarchitectural,urbanandconservationdesignservicestoDublinCityCouncil.theofficedesignsandcommissionsawiderangeofconstructionprojectsandaimstoachievethehigheststandardsforthepeoplewhouseourbuildings.thequalityoftheworkproduced

canbeseenintherangeofawardswhichmanyoftheseschemeshavereceived.

www.dublincity.ie

fkl architects

FKLArchitects,establishedin1998byMichelleFagan,PaulKellyandGaryLysaght,iscommittedtopractice-basedresearch,environmentallyawaredesignandtheapplicationofabstractideastobuiltform.thepractice’sexperiencecoversanextensiverangeofprojecttypesfromprivatetopublicanddomestictocommercial.thisdiversityofprojects,fromsmallscaletomasterplanning,enablesatandemfocusondetailandstrategy.FKLconceived,curatedanddesignedtheIrishentryforthe2006VeniceBiennale,subUrbantosuperRural,ontheissueofsprawl.

www.fklarchitects.com

group 91

Intheautumnof1991,Group91ArchitectswonthetempleBarFrameworkPlancompetitionandwereawardedthecommissionofmakingnewpublicspacesandsurroundingbuildingsasproposedintheircompetitionentry.WithinGroup91,therewereeightpracticesandthirteenarchitects:shayCleary,YvonneFarrell,Johntuomey,sheilao’Donnell,PaulKeogh,RachaelChidlow,niallMcCullough,shelleyMcnamara,MichaelMcGarry,siobhanníeanaigh,shaneo’toole,ValerieMulvinandDerektynan.

healy partners architects

HealyPartnersArchitectsisbasedinLimerickCityandwasestablishedin1989.Itsearlyyearsfocusedonforgingareputationforgooddesignbeingdeliveredeffectivelyandeconomicallytosmallerprojects.thisapproachhasallowedthepracticetogrowinboththescaleofthecommissionsandinthestudioteamwhoworktoproduceinnovativeandeffectivedesignsolutions.thepracticehaswonnumerouslocalandnationalawardsincludingfiveIrishArchitectureAwards.Ithasdevelopedconsiderableexpertiseinawiderangeofbuildingtypesincludingresidential,offices,officeinteriorsandfitout,retail,education,healthcare,leisureandtourism,religiousandcommercialprojectsforadiverserangeofclientsbothpublicandprivate.

www.healypartners.com

henry j. lyons architects

establishedover90yearsago,HenryJ.LyonsArchitectsisadesign-ledpracticecommittedtothepursuitofexcellenceindesignandtotherealisationofbuildingprojectsthatrespondcreativelytosocial,communityandenvironmentalneeds.Coreservicesincludearchitecture,interiordesignandfitout,masterplanningandconservation.HenryJ.LyonsreceivedanumberofprestigiousdesignawardsincludingtheRIAIBestCommercialBuildingAward2010,theRIAIPublicChoiceAward2010andtheRIAIAccessibilityAward.thepracticehasofficesinDublinandCorkandhaspartnershipsinChina,LondonandtheUAe.

www.hjlyons.com


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jack coughlan associates

JackCoughlanAssociatesiscomposedoftwointeractivedisciplines.thefirstisanarchitecturalpracticeproducingcontemporarydesignsandthesecondaspecialistconservationsection.thereisadegreeofcrossoverwhichhelpsbothsectionstoworktogetherwherebothdisciplinesarerequired.thecombinationofbothrolesisbecomingthedirectioninwhichthepracticehasbeenmoving,ascontemporaryinterventionsbasedonafullunderstandingofexistinghistoricbuildingsandstructurescanbeundertakenwithconfidence.Award-winningprojectsincludetheConservationandConversionoftheoldCityWaterworkstoaMuseumandexhibitionAreaforCorkCityCouncilandtheFenn’squayproject,alsoinCork.

www.jca.ie

coady partnership architects

CoadyPartnershipArchitectsisadesign-drivenpractice,specialisinginworkspace,housing,educationandhealthcarebuildings.Coreskillsaremasterplanning,urbandesign,buildingdesignandbuildingconservation.CPAbringcreativityandimaginationtoeveryprojectthroughclientliaison,exploitationofopportunitiesofferedbysiteandsite,andintensecollaborationwiththeprojectteam–allfocusedondesignexcellence.

www.coady.ie

john thoMpson & partners

Johnthompson&Partnersisaninternationalplacemakingpractice,withextensiveexperienceofdeliveringsuccessfulprojectsforbothpublicandprivatesectorsthroughouttheUK,europe,China,RussiaandtheMiddleeast.thepracticeusesparticipatorytechniquespioneeredandhonedovertwodecadestobuildcollaborativevisionsforprojectswiththeverypeoplewhowillgoontousethem.WithstudiosinLondon,edinburgh,shanghaiandBerlinthepracticeundertakesplacemakingprojectsateveryscale,fromcitiesandtowns,toneighbourhoods,streets,andthedesignofindividualbuildings.

www.jtp.co.uk

loci

Lociisanurbandesign,planningandarchitecturepracticewithextensiveexperienceintheareasofenvironmentalplanning,policyandpractice.thepracticeemphasisesamulti-disciplinaryapproachintheformulationanddevelopmentofbestpracticeguidelinesandspatialpolicyandhasprovidedformalguidancetokeystakeholdersinthepublicandprivatesectorssince2003.theprinciplesofResponsiveUrbanismareutilisedtodevelopframeworksforre-structuringexistingurbanareasthatareinneedofregeneration,aswellasnewsustainableplaces.Locialsoplaysanongoingroleinteachingurbandesignatthirdlevelandthroughtailoredlecturesandseminarsforprofessionalsworkinginthefieldofurbanism.

www.loci.ie

locuM consulting / colliers international

LocumisaspecialistdestinationdevelopmentandmanagementserviceprovidedbyColliersInternational.Colliersisadestinationconsultancy,dedicatedtodevelopingandpromotingtheartandscienceofdestinationmakingandprovidingleading-edgestrategic,operational,financialandplanningadvicetothedestinationsector.Informedbyresearch,internationalbestpracticeandexperience,thefirmoffersservicesateverystageoftheprojectlifecycle–fromdefiningthevision,objectives,conceptandproductmix;throughlocationassessment,marketforecasts,businessplanning,optionsappraisalandfeasibility;toinvestorandoperatorprocurement,management,marketinganddestinationbranding.

www.locumconsulting.com

Magee creedon kearns

MageeCreedonKearnsArchitectswasestablishedin1993.overtwentyyearsthepracticehasdesignedanddeliveredabroadrangeofbuildingtypesintheareasofnewbuild,refurbishment,reuseandconservation.theseprojectsbothfortheprivateandpublicsector,includemixeduseinnercityinfillsites,housing,crèches,schools,resourcecentres,officeworkshops,medicalclinics,sportsfacilitiesaswellastheIslandCrematoriuminCorkHarbour.thepracticehasbuiltareputationofbringinginnovationtoitsdesignsolutions,surpassingclientexpectations,whilemaintaininganarchitecturalclarityandqualityattractingnumerousawardsandcommendations.Presentlythe

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practiceisengagedinamalgamatingan18thcenturyMeetingHousewiththeenglishMarketinCorkCitycentre.

www.mageecreedonkearns.com

Margaret Quinlan architects

MargaretquinlanArchitectswasestablishedin1985.Inadditiontodesigningcontemporarybuildings,thepracticehasdevelopedspecialisedbuildingconservationexpertisesincethe1990’s.MargaretholdsRIAIGrade1AccreditationinConservationandthepracticealsoholdsGrade1PracticeAccreditation.Projectshaverangedfromthepreparationofconservationplans,repairandrestorationofimportantmedievalandlatermonumentsforpublicbodiesandprivateclientstothesensitiveadaptationofoldbuildings.Contemporaryinterventionsinhistoricbuildingsisaparticularinterest.thepractice,whichalsoactsonaconsultancybasistootherarchitecturalpractices,isbasedinDublinandintheClonmelareaofthesouth-east.

Mccullough MulVin architects

McCulloughMulvinArchitectsisadesign-basedpracticebasedinDublin.theyhaveworkedonculturalandcivicbuildings,libraries,schoolsandinhealthcarethroughoutIreland,workingtodefineanewpublicrealminachangingsociety,designingprojectsfromthegroundormakingradicalandinnovativecontemporaryinterventionsintoexistingcontexts.PreviousprojectsincludetheUssherLibraryandtheLongRoomHubin

trinityCollege,WaterfordCityLibrary,BessboroChildandAdolescentPsychiatricHospitalinCork.RecentworksuchastheDublinDentalHospitalinnassaustreetchallengesperceivedideasabouthowthecityshoulddevelopandgrow.theworkofMcCulloughMulvinArchitectsisextendedbypublication,teachingandresearchinIreland,theUsAandeurope.

www.mcculloughmulvin.com

MckeVitt architects

McKevittArchitectshasbeenestablishedinDrogheda,Co.Louthforover35years.Inthattimethepracticehasbuiltupexpertiseandexperienceinawiderangeofbuildingsandbuildingtypesrangingfromsmalldomestictolargescalecommercial,industrial,residentialandeducational.Greatattentionispaidtoallthenecessarystepsindeliveringacompleteandsuccessfulproject;fromtheinitialconceptualisation,throughtheplanningandprocurementprocess,construction,andfinalcertification.

www.mckevittarchitects.ie

Michael collins associates

establishedin1988,MichaelCollinsAssociatesisanarchitecturalpracticeprovidingafullrangeofarchitectural,interiordesign,masterplanningandprojectmanagementservices.MCAisinvolvedinawiderangeofprojects,principallyintheareaofurbanrenewal,commercial,residential,educational,healthcare,leisureandbuildingsforthebloodstockindustry.Awarethatarchitecturecannotstand

stillbutmustrespondtothechangingneedsofmaninhisenvironment,MCA’sdesignphilosophyaccommodateschangeanddevelopmentandisbasedonsoundanalysisoffunctionalrequirementsandadesiretounderstandtheclient’sneeds.

www.mca.ie

Mitchell + associates

Mitchell+AssociatesisamultidisciplinarydesignpracticeincorporatingLandscapeArchitecture,UrbanDesign,ArchitectureandenvironmentalImpactAssessmentatitscore.thepracticewasfoundedin1988andoverthelast20yearshasestablisheditselfasaleadingdesignpractice.Withthismulti-disciplinaryapproachtodesignissues,thepracticedevelopscoherent,integrateddesignstrategiesforprojectsinabroadrangeofurban,ruralandnaturalcontextsbringingadepthofunderstandingandexpertiseinissuesthatdetermineenvironmental,economicandsocialsustainabilitytoallprojects.

www.mitchell.ie

national Building agency

establishedbyGovernmentasasemi-statebodyin1960,thenationalBuildingAgencywasamulti-disciplinary,professionaldesignandconstructionconsultancypracticeprovidingservicestobothpublicandprivatesectorclients.ItundertookspecifictasksinsupportofvaryingpoliciesofGovernmentinhousing,urbanrenewal,andotherconstruction


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relatedactivities.Italsoundertookprojectsonanentirelycommercialbasiseitheronitsownoronajointventurebasiswithlocalauthoritiesor/andprivatedevelopers.AspartoftheamalgamationofanumberofstateHousingAgenciestheoperationalactivitiesofthenationalBuildingAgencyhavetransferredtotheHousingAgency.

www.nba.ie

o’Briain Beary architects

BasedinDublin,o’BriainBearyArchitectswasestablishedin2000.thepracticefocusesonpublicbuildingsandhealthcareprojects,withcompletedprojectsinrecentyearsincludingthenewGardastationatLeixlip,refurbishmentoftheentranceHallandofficesatDunLaoghaireRathdownCountyHall,andfivediagnosticclinicsforeuromedic.ProjectsunderconstructionincludethenewAcutePsychiatricUnitinBeaumontHospital,st.Joseph’sDayHospital,RahenyandstonebridgeResourceCentre,shankill.MichaelBearyisamemberoftheRIAIexamBoardandlecturesintheRIAIProfessionalPracticeCourse.esmondeo’BriainhastaughtintheschoolofArchitectureatUCDandisamemberoftheRIAIHealthcareDesignCommittee.

www.obriainbeary.ie

o’donnell + tuoMey architects

establishedin1988,o’Donnell+tuomeyhavebeeninvolvedwithurbandesign,culturalandeducationalbuildings,housesandhousingprojects

inIreland,thenetherlandsandtheUK.theworkofthepracticehasbeenwidelypublishedandexhibitedandwonmorethan50awards,includingtheRIAIGoldMedalin2005and7AAIDownesMedals.shielao’DonnellandJohntuomeyhavetaughtattheschoolofArchitectureinUCDsince1980andalsoasvisitinglecturersinmanyschoolsineurpoeandAmerica.JohntuomeyisProfessorofArchitecturalDesignatUCD.In2010theywereelectedasHonoraryFellowsoftheAmericanInstituteofArchitects.theAnGaelarasprojectandtheLyrictheatreprojectwerebothfinalistsfortheRIBAstirlingPrize.

www.odonnell-tuomey.ie

o’Mahony pike

o’MahonyPikeArchitectsisanarchitectureandurbandesignmasterplanningconsultancywithofficesinDublin,CorkandLondon.establishedin1992,thepracticefocusesonhumanecontemporarydesignthatisinnovativeyetfunctional,sustainableyeteconomicalandelegantyetrespectful.significantemphasisisplacedondeliveringvalueforclientsandonnurturinglongtermworkingrelationships.overtheyearsthepracticehasacquiredextensiveexperienceinthedesignanddeliveryoflargescaleResidential,MixedUseandCommercialdevelopmentsandalsooperatessuccessfullyintheHealthcare,educationandLeisuresectors.oMPhasconcentratedontheemergingpracticeofUrbanDesignandhavecompletedmulti-disciplinarymasterplansranginginscalefromcityextensionsanddistrictregenerationproposalstotownscapestudies,areaactionplansandurbaninfillprojects.

www.omparchitects.com

opW architectural serVices

oPWArchitecturalservicesisthepremierstatearchitecturalpractice,andprovidesthefullrangeofarchitecturalservicesinconnectionwiththeportfolioofexistingstateproperties,historicandcontemporary,andwithnewconstructionprojects,bothdirectlyforthestateandforbodiespromotedorassistedbythestate,asinthecaseoftheHeritageCouncilHeadquarters.

www.opw.ie

paul keogh architects

sincetheformationofPKAin1984,PaulKeoghArchitectshasacquiredareputationfordesignexcellenceandthehigheststandardsofprofessionalservice.theworkofthepracticespansthebreadthofdesigndisciplinesarchitecture,interiorsandurbandesignandincludescommissionsofeveryscale,fromsmallone-offprojectstomajorpublicworks.Withanextensiveportfolioofcompletedbuildings,projectsandawards,PKAhasestablisheditselfasoneoftheleadingfirmsofarchitectsinIrelandtoday,withanacknowledgedexpertiseacrossawiderangeofworkincludingurbandesign,housing,education,culture,civicandretaildesign.

www.pka.ie

shaffrey associates

shaffreyAssociateswasestablishedin1967byPatrickandMaurashaffrey.thepracticehasundertakenarchitectural,urbandesignandplanningprojectsthroughoutIreland

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andpossessesawideknowledgeofIrishtownsandcities.Architecturalworkincludestheconservation,adaptationandextensionofhistoricbuildingsandnewbuildingsinexistingurbansettings.Urbandesignandplanningpracticecentresontheintegrationofnewandexistingurbanfabricandpublicspacestofacilitatesocialandphysicaldiversity.theprinciplesofsustainablebuildinganddevelopmenthavealwaysinformedtheworkofthepracticeandrecentprojectshelptofurtherexplorethisimportantaspectofarchitectureandplanning.

www.shaffrey.ie

solearth

solearthArchitecture,foundedin1998,isaprofessionalarchitecturepracticeattheforefrontofinnovativesustainabledesigninIreland.ItisacollaborativepartnershipbetweenBriano’BrienandMikeHaslam,twoarchitectswhoarepassionateaboutecologyandarchitecture.environmentalsustainabilityhasbeenthecoreofthepracticephilosophysince1998withthepracticebeingfortunateenoughtohavedesignedmanyofIreland’sexemplargreenprojects,manyofwhichhavereceivedawardsandboastsatisfiedusers.solearthdesignnewandrenovatedbuildingstoservecommunity,cultural,institutionalandeducationalfunctionsandthepracticehasaparticularinterestinurbanreuse,interpretation,contemplationandreflectionandchildcentredprojects.

www.solearth.com

urBan initiatiVes

UrbanInitiativespresentsauniqueinnovativeapproachtourbandesign,transport,regenerationanddevelopment,infocusingonthecomplexinteractionbetweenlanduse,movement,networksandthefundingandimplementationprocess.Foundedin1989,UrbanInitiativeshasdevelopedintooneoftheUK’sleadingurbanplanninganddesignconsultancies,withahighlysuccessfultrackrecordindeliveringachievablesolutionsforbothpublicandprivatesectorclients.thepracticeoperatesacrossthefullplanningspectrumfromthestrategicconcernsatmetropolitan,cityanddistrictleveltothespecificproblemsatlocalarea,streetandbuildingscales,andinadiversityofrolesfromtheoverallstrategythroughtoconceptualdesign,technicalresolution,economicappraisalandimplementation.

www.urbaninitiatives.co.uk


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PHotoCReDIts

Page Image

1 F22Photography2 HealyPartners5 1 F22Photography6 1 ChristianRichters10 JackCoughlan

Associates12 4 MageeCreedon

Kearns14 AliceClancy16 1 AliceClancy18 RKDArchitects20 1 Donaghy+Dimond

Architects21 3 theDigitalHub22 1 ProjectArchitects23 2 Derektynan24 ChristianRichters28 BillHastings31 2 BillHastings31 4 Derektynan

Architects34 4 WestportUrban

DistrictCouncil34 2 simonWall35 3 simonWall36 1 Murrayo’Laoire

Architects42 WaterfordViking

triangleInitiative44 1 WaterfordCity

Council45 3 WaterfordCity

Council47 1 PeterCook48 1 PeterCook49 2 PeterCook51 1 RosKavanagh52 1 national

MonumentsservicePhotographicUnit

53 2 F22Photography54 o’Donnell+tuomey

Architects56 1 o’Donnell+tuomey



Architects58 DublinCivictrust60 1 deBlacam+Meagher60 2 MacInnes

Photography60 3 deBlacam+Meagher61 4 deBlacam+Meagher

Page Image

62 RosKavanagh64 2 RosKavanagh65 4 RosKavanagh66 PeterCook68 1 PeterCook68 2 PeterCook69 3 PeterCook69 5 deBlacam+Meagher70 JohnRoche74 national


76 1 nationalMonumentsservicePhotographicUnit

76 2 nationalMonumentsservicePhotographicUnit

76 3 LoughlinKealy77 5 national


78 RosKavanagh80 1 RosKavanagh81 2 solearth81 4 solearth82 Paultierney84 1 Paultierney84 2 Paultierney85 4 Paultierney85 5 FKL86 F22Photography88 1 F22Photography88 2 JackCoughlan

Associates89 4 F22Photography90 stephenFarrell92 1 stephenFarrell93 2 stephenFarrell93 3 stephenFarrell93 4 stephenFarrell94 Paultierney96 1 o’BrianBeary97 5 DublinCityCouncil98 Gerryo’Leary100 1 Gerryo’Leary101 2 MichaelCollins

Associates101 3 Gerryo’Leary101 4 MichaelCollins

Associates102 DennisGilbert103 1 DennisGilbert104 1 DennisGilbert

Page Image

105 2 DennisGilbert105 4 Donaghy+Dimond106 F22Photography108 1 MageeCreedon

Kearns109 3 F22Photography109 4 F22Photography111 1 Box112 1 Paultierney113 2 Paultierney116 1 McKevittArchitects116 2 McKevittArchitects117 3 McKevittArchitects118 Davison+Associates120 1 Davison+Associates121 2 Davison+Associates121 4 Davison+Associates122 Paultierney124 1 Paultierney124 2 Paultierney124 3 DenisByrne125 4 Paultierney125 6 Paultierney126 ChristianRichters128 1 RosKavanagh129 3 RosKavanagh129 4 HenriettaWilliams130 PhilipLauterbach132 1 PhilipLauterbach133 3 PhilipLauterbach133 4 PhilipLauterbach134 endaCavanagh

Photography136 1 endaCavanagh




Photography138 Paultierney140 1 Paultierney141 2 Paultierney141 4 BoydCodyArchitects142 ChristianRichters144 1 ChristianRichters144 2 ChristianRichters144 3 ChristianRichters145 5 ChristianRichters146 HealyPartners148 1 Grego’shaughnessy149 2 HealyPartners149 3 Grego’shaughnessy

sHAPInGtHeFUtURe

158

Notes


158—159

Notes

sHAPInGtHeFUtURe

160




CONTEXTS

CHALLENGES

SOLUTIONS

LESSONS

SHAPING THE FUTURE

SH

AP

ING

THE FU

TUR

E CA

SE

ST

UD

IES

IN A

DA

PTA

TIO

N A

ND

RE

US

E IN

HIS

TO

RIC

UR

BA

N E

NV

IRO

NM

EN

TS


€10 ISBN 978-1-4-64-2721-9


Dublin



Tel: 01-6476834/37 or 1890 213434;Fax: 01-6476843 or 094 9378964





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