Dunshaughlin Pastoral Centre
11/05/11 16:41
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| The site, situated on the N3/Main Street (N3) of Dunshaughlin village originally accommodated St Seachnaill’s Church, the parochial house and an extensive church car park. The church has a wide pitched roof with white pebble dashed walls and grey stone piers at the front. The parochial house, somewhat older than the church, is a square red and buff brick symmetrical structure complete with an enclosing garden wall and a prominent mature clipped green hedge The site had one pedestrian pathway leading directly to the church door and two vehicular entrances all off the N3/Main Street. With twin vehicular entrances, the carpark resulted in a pattern of movement which left the church in the role of quasi-traffic island around which cars swept in and out. For us, the issue was how to position a third building compositionally and contextually in a role both as binder between existing buildings and as a new destination. The issue of building form posed a particular challenge and an opportunity as a binding device. Though the church is not of architectural merit, we consciously chose not to ignore it but to recognise its most obvious formal characteristic – the roof. Our proposition was about one of resonance and a subversion of the traditional pitched roof into a three-dimensional form – independent yet neighbourly. The only material common to the church and the parochial house was the dark grey slate on their roofs and this influenced our choice of the natural anthracite grey eternit fibre cement cladding material for the Pastoral Centre. The joints in the cladding panels are composed, stepping around the building to negotiate the undulating form of the building. In articulating the Centre as destination, we positioned it with its yellow front entrance and newly landscaped space facing into the morning sun at the end of the new pedestrian route easily seen from the N3/Main Street – visually slipped between the church and the house. The new pedestrian route is bounded by the tall green hedge on one side and the north facing exit from the church on the other. With the carpark redesigned, the traffic island characteristic was eliminated, replaced by this new pedestrian route between the parochial house garden wall and the church’s north side with its north west corner exit doors. From here the congregation emerges onto this safe pedestrian area gathering before heading into the Centre for refreshments and a chat after Mass. For us, a strong welcoming entrance was critical to the fundamental meaning of the Centre as an inclusive community resource – joyous, uplifting and full of energy. The main spaces – (entrance, social, multi-purpose) are “hollowed out” of the dark solid building built form to create a fluid continuous space of varying height and width characterised by a ubiquitous vibrant yellow colour which extends outside over the front entrance. The east facing glass wall and south facing roof glazing ensures sunlight penetrates deep into the space. While its walls and floor are smooth surfaces, the ceiling is randomly perforated (for acoustics) at high level with inset and pendant luminaries connecting to ideas of celestial joy and the stars. Other lighting in this space drips from on high in the form of white glass pendants of varying size and drop length. Timber constructs are strategically inserted into the surfaces of the yellow space to perform particular spatial tasks of separation and depth. Externally new trees were planted along the new pedestrian routes skirting the church and golden emerald queen maples which bear golden foliage in the autumn are freestanding in the new shared triangular entrance space. In the summer, with doors open, tables and chairs spill out onto this space while the community enjoys the sunshine, chat and fresh air. Team: Siobhán Ní Éanaigh, Michael McGarry, Matt MacDonagh-Dumler (project architect), Jens Hennig (project architect), Richard Hatch Quantity Surveyors: Bruce Shaw Partnership Structural/Civil Engineers: Barrett Mahony Consulting Engineers Mechanical/Electrical Engineers: Homan O’Brien Associates |
Southill Housing, Limerick
05/01/11 11:02
Homan O’Brien Associates is pleased to be appointed as part of the Design Team for the design of 45 housing units for the elderly at Southill Limerick. The appointment was made by the Limerick Regeneration Agency.
Cystic Fibrosis Unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital
13/12/10 11:03
Homan O’Brien Associates is pleased to announce that we have been awarded the contract for the design f the new Cystic Fibrosis Unit at St. Vincent's Hospital as part of the John Paul Construction Design & Build Team.
The contract involves the design, construction and finance of a 100 bed specialist unit incorporating cystic fibrosis, liver disease, cancer oncology and other specialities.
Work on the project will commence immediately and is due for completion in April 2012.
The contract involves the design, construction and finance of a 100 bed specialist unit incorporating cystic fibrosis, liver disease, cancer oncology and other specialities.
Work on the project will commence immediately and is due for completion in April 2012.
New Civic Offices Award
10/04/10 14:56 Filed in: National
Cork City Council Offices
The atrium divides the building, the functional inner side consists of meeting rooms, toilets, canteen, etc. and for this, more conventional heating and ventilation solutions are in place.
The main office area, a glass block, is the “administration engine room” of the building. For this area, a different services strategy operates for ventilation. The prevailing wind drives fresh air through large roof cowls and into the space via an ultra low pressure air handling room. This air is preheated using a large slow turning thermal wheel between the supply and extract air routes. In summer water vapour is spraying into the return air reducing its temperature prior to entering the thermal wheel, this pre cools the fresh incoming air. The lattice external leaf of the building shades the office space from direct sun and at the same time allowing daylighting. With the provision of this lattice, windows can be opened at the upper levels without risk of discomfort from prevailing winds.
The exposed soffit slab at each level was cast in situ with embedded pipes. These pipes circulate warm water in winter and cool water in summer. The source of this heating and cooling is a geothermal heat pump. With copious volumes of water freely available from underground, direct ground water is pumped and used as the source or sink for the heat pump. The soffit is kept free from services using a suspended twin rail system for lighting and smoke detection. Lighting is fully automatic throughout with photocell dimming in addition to passive infra red movement controls to minimise electrical energy usage.
Although the large wind cowls are a very visible manifestation of the low energy credentials of the building. What really gave us as engineers the most enjoyment from a design perspective was the LED external façade lighting for the glass block. This vivid wall of light can cycle through numerous colours for any pre-programmed routine. Red and white when Cork wins the All-Ireland. Green, white and orange for St. Patrick’s Day. Truly a building that relates to its city by day and night.
Awards:
2007:Opus Award
2007:RIBA European Award
2008:RIAI Best Accessible Project
2008:RIAI Best Public Building
2008:RIAI Best Sustainable Project
The atrium divides the building, the functional inner side consists of meeting rooms, toilets, canteen, etc. and for this, more conventional heating and ventilation solutions are in place.
The main office area, a glass block, is the “administration engine room” of the building. For this area, a different services strategy operates for ventilation. The prevailing wind drives fresh air through large roof cowls and into the space via an ultra low pressure air handling room. This air is preheated using a large slow turning thermal wheel between the supply and extract air routes. In summer water vapour is spraying into the return air reducing its temperature prior to entering the thermal wheel, this pre cools the fresh incoming air. The lattice external leaf of the building shades the office space from direct sun and at the same time allowing daylighting. With the provision of this lattice, windows can be opened at the upper levels without risk of discomfort from prevailing winds.
The exposed soffit slab at each level was cast in situ with embedded pipes. These pipes circulate warm water in winter and cool water in summer. The source of this heating and cooling is a geothermal heat pump. With copious volumes of water freely available from underground, direct ground water is pumped and used as the source or sink for the heat pump. The soffit is kept free from services using a suspended twin rail system for lighting and smoke detection. Lighting is fully automatic throughout with photocell dimming in addition to passive infra red movement controls to minimise electrical energy usage.
Although the large wind cowls are a very visible manifestation of the low energy credentials of the building. What really gave us as engineers the most enjoyment from a design perspective was the LED external façade lighting for the glass block. This vivid wall of light can cycle through numerous colours for any pre-programmed routine. Red and white when Cork wins the All-Ireland. Green, white and orange for St. Patrick’s Day. Truly a building that relates to its city by day and night.
Awards:
2007:Opus Award
2007:RIBA European Award
2008:RIAI Best Accessible Project
2008:RIAI Best Public Building
2008:RIAI Best Sustainable Project
Refurbishment of Buttery Restaurant
09/04/10 14:59 Filed in: National
In order to address the challenge of providing a lighting scheme to create a relaxed warm ambience in the newly refurbishment Buttery Restaurant at Trinity College Dublin, which has a vaulted listed ceiling.
Homan O’Brien Associates introduced newly developed high power LED technology resulting in creating a spectacular student dining environment. The LED lighting scheme is fully imbedded in the structure and the high efficiency long-life LEDs offer significant savings in energy and CO2 emissions resulting in reduced operational costs.
Homan O’Brien Associates introduced newly developed high power LED technology resulting in creating a spectacular student dining environment. The LED lighting scheme is fully imbedded in the structure and the high efficiency long-life LEDs offer significant savings in energy and CO2 emissions resulting in reduced operational costs.
First A1 Rated Dublin Build
09/01/10 14:57 Filed in: National
Watermint, the first A1 energy rated development in Ireland, is to be completed by August. The new development, located in Cabinteely Village,
Dublin, will save up to 70% of energy compared to an average household, according to Conservation Engineering Consultants (CECL), the consulting engineering firm engaged on the project. CECL is a wholly owned subsidiary of leading consulting engineers Homan O’Brien. Watermint overlooks Cabinteely Park and consists of three penthouses and one, two and three bedroom apartments, designed to the highest standard with specific focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. The development introduces key sustainable elements such as centralised wood chip boilers and photovoltaic solar panels on the roof that generate electricity and hot water. “There are dual aspects to the development,” explains Neil Monahan of Monti, the developers of the Watermint Complex. “The houses are south facing and have a great natural source of energy so we have worked to get high-spec insulation and glazing to keep that valuable energy. We have also planned on generating energy from sustainable sources, such as solar panels.” Ecocem cement and renewable timber and materials have been selected to decrease carbon emissions during the construction of Watermint, which also includes heat recovery ventilation and rainwater harvesting for garden irrigation. Recycling will also be encouraged in external common areas that will incorporate communal wormeries.
“We have combined high level design with sustainability and we are hoping to be the first commercial development in Ireland to get the maximum A1 energy rating.” Says Monahan.
Simon O’Brien, director of CECL, says: “It is very exciting to work with a visionary client whose ambition is to achieve an A1 rating. It allows us to implement new technologies that have been proven for some time in other countries but perhaps not yet here in Ireland.
Watermint is already a yardstick for other energy efficient developments in the future.”
Dublin, will save up to 70% of energy compared to an average household, according to Conservation Engineering Consultants (CECL), the consulting engineering firm engaged on the project. CECL is a wholly owned subsidiary of leading consulting engineers Homan O’Brien. Watermint overlooks Cabinteely Park and consists of three penthouses and one, two and three bedroom apartments, designed to the highest standard with specific focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. The development introduces key sustainable elements such as centralised wood chip boilers and photovoltaic solar panels on the roof that generate electricity and hot water. “There are dual aspects to the development,” explains Neil Monahan of Monti, the developers of the Watermint Complex. “The houses are south facing and have a great natural source of energy so we have worked to get high-spec insulation and glazing to keep that valuable energy. We have also planned on generating energy from sustainable sources, such as solar panels.” Ecocem cement and renewable timber and materials have been selected to decrease carbon emissions during the construction of Watermint, which also includes heat recovery ventilation and rainwater harvesting for garden irrigation. Recycling will also be encouraged in external common areas that will incorporate communal wormeries.
“We have combined high level design with sustainability and we are hoping to be the first commercial development in Ireland to get the maximum A1 energy rating.” Says Monahan.
Simon O’Brien, director of CECL, says: “It is very exciting to work with a visionary client whose ambition is to achieve an A1 rating. It allows us to implement new technologies that have been proven for some time in other countries but perhaps not yet here in Ireland.
Watermint is already a yardstick for other energy efficient developments in the future.”