Concept, Planning and Tender Stages
CONTEXT
The site was of the former Convent , adjacant to an existing hotel on the airport route. Part of the existing buildings were to be retained and used as external walls for the buildings. The site had good orientation and well located for access to the centre of the city.
The brief called for 156 apartments with mostly 2 bed and penthouse apartments with views to the mountains, including an underground carpark and open space.
DESIGN CHALLENGES
A number of schemes were evolved and presented at Pre-Planning and an Environmental Impact Statement prepared assessing the impact of the development on surrounding mostly residential context.
Using the existing buildings on site as starting point and selective demolition to retain the most architecturally relevant to create a sense of connection to its history and use as a religious institution / courtyards etc.
DESIGN RESPONSE
The response to the site involved the following:
- Creation of a U shaped courtyard building addressing the lower scaled Laundry building in the south .
- Use of corner and roof top units for larger apartments.
- Access via existing road from hotel with zone of reinforced grass for fire engine external access to the building.
- Upgrading of traffic measures and road to Airport / crossover to site.
- Extensive boundary planting to screen development from adjoining residential developments.
- Increased thermal insulation building regulations requirements , ease of site working and desire from the Developer Cosgrave Developments drove the solution of cavity walls using brick and render.
ROLE
Concept, Lead Design and Design Co-ordination for Planning and Tender Stages as Design Consultant for James Toomey Architects with Structural / Civil Engineers DBFL.