Convent - Our Lady’s Manor, Dalkey
- Architect:
Keane Murphy Duff Architects - Award Type:
Regional Award 1992 - Location: Dublin
Citation
Dublin - Over £200,000
The new convent for the Carmelite Sisters is located adjacent to a National Monument - Bulloch Castle - which was constructed in the 15th century. It replaces a Victorian three-storey building which abutted the Castle.
The concept behind the building was to make it fit in on this high profile site, while restoring its 500 year old neighbour to its original state. The eventual solution involves a building on several levels, linked together by a series of ramps and stairs, which follow the existing site contours.
The style of the new building is very much in the form of a walled rampart built of stone, which provides an additional layer of terracing to the castle.
It is difficult when looking at the completed project to establish when the various elements - the Castle, the ramparts and the Convent - were built. The opening of the Castle on all four sides, for the first time in 300 years shohws the respect paid by the new building to the National Monument.