Conservation | Categories | O'Connell Mahon Architects

64 Eccles Street Dublin 1

This 18^thcentury Georgian terraced house is a protected structure with an annexe to the south designed by Francis Johnston including a unique octagonal structure; the original landscaping and a previous folly mews at the rear of the garden no longer remain apart from minimal elements of the flanking gable walls of neighbouring mews.

Significance

The significance of the structure as part of the late 18^th urban fabric is enhanced by its subsequent additions and associations, it was the residence and work place of Francis Johnston the leading Irish architect of his time during the first three decades of the 19^th and it later became the home and political locus of Isaac Butt whose influence on the political development of Ireland was profound. In the 20^th century it was a refuge for the destitute reflecting a national shift in social mores and the growing religious presence within Eccles Street. The building displays the extraordinary versatility of the Georgian terraced house and it is now proposed for adaption to medical consulting rooms as an appropriate use in this developing medical precinct of the city.

Conservation Principles

The works are proposed using the conservation principles described in the ICOMOS International Charters and the DOEHLG Architectural Heritage Guidelines for Planning Authorities and will be the minimum needed to fit the building for its proposed use, recognising that good conservation practices allow a structure to evolve and adapt while retaining their particular significances.

Materials and technologies will be appropriate to the original construction and modern reversible techniques and materials will be used where essential in the conservation works. Architectural salvage will only be used where necessary and where its provenance can be established as legitimate

Contemporary design interventions will help to achieve the continuity and evolution of use and these will be distinguishable from the existing, with the aesthetic objective of enhancing the original character of the protected structure.

Condition

A record of the earlier urban landscape of the setting survives but all vestiges of the landscape itself are gone. A number of later modifications and inappropriate interventions which have detracted from the quality of the whole are generally reversible.

The building is essentially structurally sound and subject to an extensive programme of conservation, the removal of inappropriate interventions and the renewal of services it can achieve prime condition without loss of character or authenticity.

Conservation and Design Strategy

The strategy is to modify the use in response to the planning zoning and the building’s suitability to medical consultants’ rooms and meeting facilities while exerting minimum stress on its fabric or on its established circulation and internal order. This is achieved by adapting the more significant spaces to medical and general meeting rooms with lower service demands and greater public access than the consulting rooms which will be accommodated in the residual spaces. Adequate parking and lift access to all of the eight levels ensure the building is fully operational in the context of its continued use.

The lift shaft is inserted in a space that was previously a central yard deep in the plan behind the Octagonal Gallery. A lightweight concrete slab connects the lift back to the building on the first and second floors and this connection piece is clad in planar glazing behind and above the roof level of the Octagonal Gallery which gives integrity to the existing protected structure and the contemporary elements. The main reception rooms and the Octagonal Gallery are conserved to their original form and fabric.

Access to the building is proposed both from Eccles Street and from a new set down entrance to the rear. The Eccles Street main door remains an ambulant entrance, however, universal access is precluded due to its existing configuration and it is proposed that full universal access will be effected through the rear of the building.

At the rear, carparking is limited to the St. Josephs Parade end of the site and is executed in grass block, consolidated gravel and stone. A garden zone between the carpark and the house is proposed incorporating a universal access ramp walkway and platform lift to an extended basement area to form a lower garden entrance court out of visual range from the reception rooms of the house.

Turbotstown House Co Westmeath

The significance vested in the character of Turbotstown House is reflected in both the function and aesthetic of the place itself. The house is an historic expression of an ancient Anglo Norman Catholic bloodline surviving religious and political pressure to reform. At a more general level Turbotstown is significant in its character and aesthetic spirit as an exemplar of the the central role of the classical house in the social and cultural life of the late 18^th and early 19^th century in Ireland. Turbotstown House is also significant as an attribution to Francis Johnston, the leading architect of the time, whose work with that of his school, informs and illuminates the culture of this period and its impact on the nation through to the present day.

In this context the proposed development at Turbotstown House is submitted as an appropriate response to the need to ensure its proper conservation and continued use for its original purpose as a home for a particular family, who have occupied and re occupied the land for 842 years.

Works to Roof

The house is configured around a central square hall approached through an outer hall on the main axis of the house. The roof is a trussed “A” frame returned on a square containing a concealed octagonal roof lantern. This roof lantern lights the central hall through a circular well in the first floor.

The lantern is octagonal framed in timber on a platform supported by iron channels within the roof space with glazed window sashes. The deterioration of lead flats, inappropriate works to the lantern and failure of nails supporting the roof slates, have caused considerable leaking in the interior.

Conservation of the lead plates of the roof, the roof lantern and the roof slates has been made possible through grant aid from the Heritage Council.

All original character has been retained, including a cast-iron stove and flue through the lead flat, probably a late nineteenth century addition. The use of neoprene gasket lead technology has enabled the inherent flaw in lead castings due to thermal expansion, to be addressed using new compatible technology in the spirit of the ICOMOS Venice Charter. An innovative provision is made to combine attic ventilation and bat access within the existing configuration of the fabric of the roof. The limestone ashlar chimneys, an integral part of the architectural form and elegance of the composition, extensively decayed and strapped as a result of earlier chimney flues, have been conserved for the next period of the life of the house.

Works to Ceilings and Floors and Services

Localised dry rot and degradation of original plasterwork was addressed through a process of lifting and restoring existing floor to access and repair the plaster of paris and scrim anchor it to the existing joists. A low temperature geothermal heating system was incorporated to insulate the ceiling zone and the original floor boarding was rebated, hardwood tongued to act as a plate, and screwed and plugged with original material. The floors were finally waxed, allowing the plug pattern to fade back into the whole. The geothermal heating system throughout the house at both levels maintains a constant fabric temperature and operates successfully at maintaining both the historic fabric and the living conditions of the building for habitation also avoiding the requirement for radiator panels

Return Wing

The proposal is to convert the ground floor of the south west wing of the house to use as a family kitchen and dining area opening to a south east stone flagged terrace. The PVC conservatory will be removed and floor to ceiling opes will be established at ground floor level aligning with the windows above. External render will be lime based, and colour washed to match the existing render.

Limestone flags from approved salvage, quarried in the area will be used in the new kitchen, dining and passage areas and the existing timber flooring will be re-used in other areas. Walls will be insulated and lined to the ground floor to achieve economic performance standards while ensuring an outer breathable surface by the use of lime render. The roof and chimneys of the return wing were restored in 2010 with the support of the Heritage Council and one of the restored chimneys will accommodate an Aga cooker for the new kitchen.

There is a chapel within the wing which will be fully conserved.

The design intent is that the proposed works should merge with the existing composition in form, colour and texture, and that the south west wing, at present subordinate within the composition, should adapt to its new purpose, but retain its status within the composition.

Oatlands House Dublin

Architecture Heritage Assessment – Prepared by Brian O’Connell in conjunction with Maol Iosa Molloy BArch BScArch MRIAI MRIBA MUBC DipArb MCIArb, Molloy & Associates on behalf of DMOD Architects. Includes Timber Decay Survey by Ridout Associates & Ornate Plasterwork Condition Report by Seamus O’Heocha

The subject grouping comprises a three-storey 18^th century Georgian house, its extensive two storey extensions, single storey gate lodge, single/two storey outbuildings, together with their attendant lands. Whilst the function of the demesne was agricultural historically, a function that has been abandoned for some time, it has been accepted that a new use is required to ensure its continued occupation. In response, this application investigates the potential re-use of the property as a multi-unit residential scheme with a corporate office function proposed for the greater portion of the House’s accommodation, incorporating all existing structures, their inherent characteristics and outward settings.

A study of historic maps of the Castleknock area would suggest that Oatlands House, a modest and elegant example of Irish domestic architecture predominantly in the neoclassical style, incorporates an earlier simpler domestic building and was also the subject of a number of later extensions and internal remodelling works.

The front block of Oatlands is two storeys over basement and rectangular in plan with symmetrical segmented bows at both short elevations to the east and the west. The entrance is on the longer north elevation through an ionic Portland stone portico in a central slightly projecting pedimented quoined block. The venetian pattern doorway provides a strong visual focus. The current finish is dry dash apart from the quoins and the windows are six over six vertical timber sashes. The neoclassical symmetry of the entrance is carried through in the plan where either side of the central hall gives into a bow-ended reception room. This outer hall leads up two steps to the rere of the house which pre-dates the entrance block but was remodelled internally in the Edwardian style to give a comfortable and dignified inner reception hall and well articulated staircase lit by a fine Art Nouveau roof lantern. Sanitary facilities were also added at that time reflecting the norms of the early 20^th century and probably extending and altering the plan of the house.

The objective of our conservation proposal for Oatlands House is to respect and maintain the unique and successful fusion of the neoclassical and Edwardian dialogue achieved in this case.

The external form of the House will remain intact, with alterations and additions proposed internally at basement level only to accommodate an independent residential unit. Alterations to its ground and first floor levels will principally incur the removal of inappropriate 20^th century interventions, upgrading of services and provision of fire rating. The layout of its extensions, of lesser architectural significance, will be altered more substantially to accommodate secondary spaces for the office function, to preclude adverse intervention to the House’s principal rooms. All fabric and features will be retained and conserved, with minor exceptions where removal is necessitated by the proposed new use.

The extensions will accommodate a further five units, with new stair access provided to each. New two-storey extensions will be provided to the rear to render the constrained proportions of the original spaces more habitable.

Outbuildings to the northwest of the House and its extensions will also be converted to residential use. Six one, two and three-bed units are provided to this enclosure, each extended to the rear.

The gate lodge is intended to be use as a single 2-bedroomed home, extended to the south to improve the quality of its accommodation.

Car parking will be provided to the front of the House and adjacent to each outbuilding.

President’s Hall Conservation Law Society of Ireland

The proposed conservation works to the Presidents Hall (formerly the Chapel) were commissioned to mark the 150th anniversary of the granting of the Law Society of Ireland’s Charter in 2002.

The approach comprised modest and careful intervention in order to enhance the character of the space in a manner that was consistent with the original chapel as built. The works included intervention to the plastered ceiling and floor in particular and also to the removal of all inappropriate additions which had been carried out in more recent times.

No 9 Fitzwilliam Place Office Refurbishment Dublin 2

No. 9 Fitzwilliam Place was built in conjunction with No 10 between 1818 and 1822. The first owner was W.H. Curran, Barrister, Commissioner of the Insolvent Court, and brother of Sarah Curran the betrothed of Robert Emmet.

According to Christine Casey in The Buildings of Ireland – Dublin, the interior ornament in Fitzwilliam Place is of particular interest, specifically the stairhalls, which are very ample, with rich plaster greek revival decoration and a concentration of effort on the first floor return.

While generally of high quality and representing the classical phase of Georgian achievement, No. 9 has two exceptional aspects, the hand painted decoration to the ground floor hall wall and the treatment on the landing return with a Venetian screen made up of ornate columns, highly decorated frieze and original glass painted doors.

The building had been used as a series of disparate offices prior to the practice of Brian O Connell Associate Architects occupying the building as a whole from 2000. The conservation works were carried out on the basis of one of the first Section 57 Declarations issued by Dublin City Council.

The building was in a poor state of repair and some of its finer elements such as the Cuban mahogany doors on the ground floor and raised and fielded redwood doors on the first floor were damaged or lost.

There were also practical issues which threatened the building; the front and rere elevations were suffering from settlement; the basement was uninhabitable due to rising damp; the third floor was deflecting up to 150mm in 7 meters; and the building had been subdivided on all floors to achieve separation between tenants.

The conservation strategy was to restore the spatial and architectural integrity of the building and to enhance it with an appropriate scheme of decoration.

While the major spatial decisions were straightforward, the project depended on a careful application of appropriate building techniques such as the use of fiddle-back Cuban mahogany veneer replacement panels to the interconnecting doors at ground and first floor; and the introduction of soot from an open coal fire to the lime mortar used to repair the cracks to the elevations.

Castlecoote House Restoration Co Roscommon

Castlecoote House was built c. 1750 as a Palladian House incorporating the ruins of a fortified House destroyed in 1641. It was the birthplace and home of the Gunning sisters who led the Court of George III in the mid 18th century, renowned for their beauty they became the Duchesses of Hamilton, Argyle and Coventry: it was also the home of Gerard Gunning, who won distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hall, the first significant battle of the American war of Independence. The house fell into disuse at the end of the 19th century and was later apportioned by the Land Commission and occupied as a farm house. It was destroyed by fire in 1989.

The house and curtailage were acquired in 1996 by Kevin Finnerty, who undertook its restoration.

A careful salvage from rubble in the basement resulted in the retrieval of parts of the original balcony trim, a limited number of family photographs from previous occupiers and an etching by Gross on the Antiquaries of Ireland from 1799. These informed the reconstruction.

No evidence of the ceilings was extant. It was decided to revert to Adams design for domestic interiors, to inform their design; Elizabeth Gunning’s husband was Adams’ Godfather, and the noble proportions and fenestrations of the original spaces were those within Adams’ contemplation. The building had been generated form the original bastion of aTudor Castle an artillery-resistant structure (i.e. non-rectilinear in plan). Adams designs are based on a strict geometry, and it proved necessary to analyse and re-apply the ceiling geometry to the spaces. Drawings were printed full size to act as templates for the moulding of the plasterwork.

Doors, windows and stairs were reconstructed from fragments; a limited number of photographs, and contemporary comparators.

The works, carried out by local craftsmen under the direction of M Tuohy foreman, achieved a high degree of perfection and reflect the skills from which the original building must have been built.

Projects to reinstate the adjacent bridge and to restore the Ballroom are ongoing.

Registry of Deeds Kings Inns Dublin

The Registry of Deeds, established in Ireland in 1707 by an Act of Parliament, occupied offices initially in Dublin Castle before moving in 1831 to Gandon’s Kings Inns building at the top of Henrietta Street.

The work consisted of the renovation of the entrance lobby including the insertion of a frameless glass lobby and conservation works to the staircase windows and roof.

Heritage Strategy O’Connell Street Dublin

Brian O’Connell Associates Architects (now O’Connell Mahon Architects) were commissioned to prepare a Heritage Strategy in respect of the proposed re-development of an area of over five acres at the centre of Dublin, known as the Carlton Site. The scheme for this quarter of the city was developed by Chartered Lands in the context of Dublin City Council’s Urban Design/Development Brief for Carlton Site Upper O’Connell Street (Carlton Brief) 2007. This brief, recognising the necessity for balance between a large world-class retail development and the important heritage aspects of O’Connell Street, required the submission of a Heritage Strategy … encompassing all aspects of the built environment and its associated historic, artistic and cultural links … as part of any planning application for the site.

The practice worked within a team headed by Dublin Central Architects, a consortium of architects selected by Chartered Lands to deliver the project. A number of consultants advised on aspects of the strategy including David Slattery Architect Historic Buildings Consultant and Shaffrey Associates Architects.

Extensive research on written material covering the period from the earliest evolution of O’Connell Street (then Gardiners Mall) to the present was undertaken. Historical references, maps, prints and photographs were catalogued and synthesised. A record survey of all buildings on the site was undertaken and detailed surveys of the eight protected structures within the Architectural Conservation Area and of the four buildings designated a national monument within the site. This work took a five person team six months to complete and produced in excess of 500 elements including drawings and photographs.

The Heritage Submission proposes a strategic framework which recognises the unique processional character of the O’Connell Street and accommodates the contemporary development while conserving the heritage of the street and its environs; a site of national importance in the centre of the capital.

Downloads

» Evolution of O’Connell Street – PDF
» Executive Summary of Heritage Strategy – PDF
» Heritage Strategy – PDF