RIAI | Irish Architecture Awards

Citation

Southern (over €300,000)

A project which makes excellent use of its sea-wall site, with strong external form, clever manipulation of scale, and careful use of materials creating a bold and expressive public building.

Architects Comment
The brief called for a building that would identify its presence by way of a strong and appropriate public expression and a design that reflected a progressive contemporary regional public service. The building form mediates between the small-scale cottages to the south and dramatic sweep of the estuary to the north. It is expressed into distinct elements, a single storey service block to the south containing the publicly accessed functions including a part-time law centre for use out of hours and a staff only three storey block overlooking the water. A double height public reception links the two. A public walkway passes by the building at the waters edge.

The offices enjoy magnificent views over the water and mountains beyond and the boardroom, chief executive’s office and canteen open onto second floor balconies. A cantilevered hardwood balcony stretches along the curving waterside elevation like a ships deck.

The building is treated as a lightweight framed construction clad in glass, architectural panels and sweeping metal roofs sitting on a plinth of native limestone anchoring it to its site.

Client Comment
A Government decision was made to decentralise the headquarters of Legal Aid Board to Caherciveen, Co. Kerry. A prominent site was acquired at the waterside in the town centre. It was hoped that the new building would make a significant visual contribution to the town. The building design was selected through a design/build competition. The staff and the townspeople have all expressed admiration for the modern design of the building. The building makes the most of its site, with sea or mountain views from all parts of the building.

The building layout is particularly effective in its treatment of the Quay St. frontage, where there is a terrace of two-storey cottages across the road. The main three-storey block is set back at the water’s edge with a single storey wing along Quay St. The building design is successful as a new interpretation of the sea-side buildings of the early years of the Modern Movement.