RIAI | Irish Architecture Awards

Citation

The design of large scale residential buildings is a challenge for architects in terms of scale and form. This mixed use scheme includes nearly 300 apartments. It carefully handles the change of scale from the nearby Georgian grain to the industrial heritage of the Dublin South Docks. The devices used for achieving a human scale are subtle, with the frontage to the Grand Canal Basin being particularly successful. The mix of residence types and internal planning of the apartments break new ground.

Architect’s Comments:

This mixed-use development on a 3.1 acre site in the Grand Canal Dock area comprises 292 residential units, crèche, retail and commercial accommodation and pub. The site is bound by Hanover Quay to the South, by Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and the Liffey to the North, and by Forbes Street to the West. The scheme seeks to mediate between the fine-grained domestic scale of the neighbouring residential areas around Pearse Street and the grander industrial scale of the Grand Canal Basin. A two-storey masonry plinth to Forbes Street extends the fabric and scale of the Georgian streetscape. The established language of Pearse Square of continuous brick facades, stepped entrances and railings is utilized to enhance this sense of the extended street. The grander urban scale is then addressed by a long linear continuous block to Forbes Street and Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and a series of five storey pavilions to Hanover Quay that rest on the heavy plinth. They have a more singular, object-like quality, setting up a dialogue with the neighbouring warehouses and industrial buildings. A number of smaller four and five storey brick blocks define the two internal courtyards. This introduction of scale variations between the various blocks re-creates within the site the pattern of an urban environment.

Client's Comments:

We (the client) and our Joint Venture Partners are very proud of what we have achieved with Hanover Quay. This stunning development was voted ‘Residential Development of the Year’ at the Irish Property Awards in 2005, a very deserving winner. When we first started developing this site the area was a wasteland. Thanks to the vision and commitment of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority it is now a vibrant quarter of the city boasting the best in residential and commercial development. We worked closely with the architects to create a contemporary residential development that would stand the test of time. They advised us on the latest trends and techniques in design and sourced many unique products for us including bathroom pods from Italy. The apartments were designed and built to the highest specifications with a premium finish. The community has now settled into their new Quarter and the residents are very much enjoying all aspects of the development. Working with the architects we are proud to say that we have raised the standard of apartment design and finish in Dublin.