This residence in Dublin 4 is a classic mid-Victorian semi-detached house. The object was to return the house to a single dwelling, to modern expectation, but original character.
The approach was that of conservation, to retain the architectural character of the building with an emphases on the form and decoration: to conserve the sense of ceremony to the piano nobile, with comfort to the upper floor as a private zone, and renewal of the lower ground floor as a contemporary living space to meet modern standards and expectations, and to upgrade the thermal performance insofar as possible at ground and roof level.
The approach to the entrance was seen as important in presenting to the public urban setting. Original materials and sources were matched: the original architectural expression is seen to pervade the modern interventions by association with the surviving elements.
The modern design commenced with an inventory of the surviving works and a graphic analysis of character: this led to a review of function and purpose both prior and post design intervention and determined a hierarchy of character and need – the design followed against these criteria. The result is seen as conserving the architectural personality of the original, re-presenting to the urban setting of the original in a modern way; and total renewal in a contemporary sense to evolved functional requirements in the zone requiring most requiring structural intervention.
The residence is a prime example of a time when a new middle class was emerging in a free society in Ireland: its architectural footprint is of a deep significance. As a classic example, it demands an architectural approach to conserve this national memory yet meet the contemporary demands of sustained use at the highest level. As an architectural challenge, adopting recognised conservation principles, the project has sought to achieve this, and is seen by those who own, and those who occupy it, to have done so.
LocationDublin
ClientPrivate
ServiceArchitectural Services, Assigned Certifier and PSPD
Area454sqm.
Value€410,000
StatusComplete
