Testimonials

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International House – Major Office Refurbishment and Extension – Dublin 

Testimonial David Coleman

Powerscourt Townhouse Centre Dublin – Commercial Fit Outs and Heritage Panels 

Frank Hughes,  as project architect , designed and project managed the award winning Mimo restaurant in the Powerscourt Townhouse off Grafton Street in Dublin in 1999. Clarendon Properties were the joint Client for the restaurant designed as  the centrepiece of this historic  Protected Structure. Frank also designed for us the contemporary Interpretative Panels for the Centre using hidden lighting in the slim frames.

The Centre has long been associated with Craft and houses the Design Centre and an eclectic mix of specialist fashion / craft boutiques and restaurants.  Our brief was to integrate the new contemporary cuisine restaurant within the characterful 18th Century Townhouse built by Lord Powerscourt . The Centre has previously won a heritage award for its design – transformation and re-use and we had high standards to maintain.

His response to brief was very elegant , responding to the historical context by re- interpreting the woven / wicker motif fashionable in the 18th Century  in interlocking walnut and glazed  screens  , housing the heating , built in seating , glazed panels . He  designed an efficient  arrangement of the kitchen and serving area, well integrated  within the central space.  The restaurant subsequently won the American Hardwood Award for innovative use of wood and is still very successful under its new owner.

Frank was very hands on to work with and exercised great attention to detail , working well with the craftspeople involved.  We would gladly recommend him for design projects where a strong sensitivity to historic context and good design is required.

Mary Larkin

Powerscourt Townhouse Centre – Dublin Manager 

Kenmare Heritage Trail 

Frank Hughes of Frankarchitecture and his team worked with Kenmare Tidy Towns Association in 2011 on our Leader funded Heritage Trail for Kenmare.  KTTA team of myself (Secretary) and former Chairman Noel Crowley worked with Frank over two meetings with Leader Officer, Clare Thoma and KCC acting Heritage Officer Cathy Fisher.

Frank was available by phone and email for consultation before, during and after installation. He had a very good understanding of the heritage brief and also a good understanding of the siting of the panels and plaques.  Frank and Grainne Carvill, Graphic Artist came to Kenmare for an extensive survey beforehand as well as for meetings.  Their creative approach to the project was a simple and elegant solution.  They were very hands on, working well with us and communication was simple and fluent at all times.  We noted there was good team work relationship between the designers and the installers.

Noel Crowley, former KTTA Chairman states, “we found Frank very good to work with, he was excellent actually.”

Anne Barrett, Secretary KTTA  (Kenmare Tidy Towns Association)

Tel: 0868094049

annebarretto@eircom.net