RIAI | Irish Architecture Awards

Citation

Dublin - Over £100,000

The original 19th century warehouse was a pair of simple sheds set by side, with volumes rising clear to trussed roofs set behind a red-brick facade. Clerestory windows suggest a first floor. Salvaged details instructed the repair of truss, roof and ridge-light. The new first floor is inserted over warehousing at a level determined by an adequate clearance to the truss and chord and an appropriate level to the window sill. From this new floor ships can be seen sailing accross the series of openings. The schematic is simply etched with three walls, one concave against the grain and two mimicking the building section in sympathy.

The entrance stair on the building's side is acknowledged by the new gatehouse. beneath paired skylights this stair ascends describing the rectangular central well. Inside the concave wall of the cubicles backs up the general office hall. Opposite the entrance, a portal is cut into the spine wall leading to series of interlocking rooms, simply arranged, with open flank doors from one to the next, all overlooked through new clerestories.