For centuries Dublin Port has been cut off from the adjoining communities by way of enormous robust walls and Gates. The Port recognises that if the company is to prosper it needs to engage with the many local communities and visitors. Consequently Dublin Port Company set up an architectural competition in 2014 inviting selected architects to submit a concept plan for the proposed ‘Opening the Port Centre to the Public’, Darmody Architecture led the multi-disciplinary design team and winning competition to redesign the existing Dublin Port Company Precinct.
The scheme involves the use of innovative architectural elements to complement the existing architectural 1980’s building with the aim of opening up and reintegrating the site with the city – providing a new public realm. Large scale Corten sculptural sculptures with perforated series of patterns redefine boundaries and signal the Port presence. A 1960’s heritage Crane has been refurbished acting as a new landmark at the Port entrance creating an innovative civic lantern.
Dublin Port Company commissioned Darmody Architecture in association with DBFL Consulting Engineers to design a bridge to span over Alexandra Road to provide uninterrupted movement of vehicles, trains, cycles and pedestrians below without detracting from distant views. The primary function of the bridge is to optimise overall operational efficiency of DPC lands in line with expected future growth and development trends. The location of the bridge in close proximity to the Port Centre Precinct public realm project completed in 2017 helped to inform the design language. A strong colour of red was selected to match the Poolbeg Lighthouse, to the sculptural concrete booms to attract attention to the contemporary structure and signify its function beyond the utilitarian.
This residential scheme is for the development of 272 no. residential units on a greenfield site on zoned serviced land in an established residential area, with an opportunity to complete another phase of the mixed use masterplan of the emerging Bridgegate development. Architecturally, the design team strived to deliver a coherent urban network of streets and public realm spaces that respond to the existing context in terms of height, scale, uses and open space, to create a comfortable extension of the existing residential development at Bridgegate in conjunction with a 2/3 storey housing scheme south of a generous linear Park.
Dublin Port Company’s Graving Dock project has created a new public realm, a part of a distributed port museum and a location for the arts within the Port. The project is part of the ambitious plan to see the area around its two graving docks, including the Victorian-era Pumphouse building become reborn as a public space which is a continuation of Dublin Port Company’s commitment to integrate Dublin Port with Dublin City
Phase One is now complete with the creation of a large public plaza between the Pumphouse 1 & 2, with decommissioned Crane 602 in-situ which spent its entire working life at the graving dock.
Dublin City Council sought to retain partners who would create a new ‘North Quarter’ in Ballymun consisting of retail, services, a large student housing element and a series of positive public spaces. The concept includes a robust student accommodation / associated amenity with 364 bedspaces, a retail colonnade, cafes and a supermarket. These create new edges to the Ballymun town centre in thre blocks ranging from 2/5/ 6 storeys with a 10-storey landmark corner building.
The principle design drivers included addressing the prominent Ballymun main Street corner site with an appropriate robust urban response while providing a new urban block with a sensitive architectural approach. Connection to the established Horizon Centre corner building heals the urban edge and makes a positive contribution to the emerging streetscape of Ballymun Village Centre.
The 9.402 ha subject greenfield site includes the operational Aspect Hotel and is located adjacent to the Park West Train Station. The proposed scheme proposes a high-density apartment development for 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments with own door duplex units at ground floor and commercial uses lining the new local park, with neighbourhood amenities and shops available at the Plaza to the south.
A robust site strategy harnesses the significant amenities of the location to deliver a quality, sustainable residential neighbourhood, maximising the potential of an important greenfield site in close proximity to Parkwest Train Station. The Masterplan achieves a balanced mix of residential accommodation, active publicly accessible units off Park West Avenue & a network of safe usable external landscaped spaces in association with the future residential/office & school developments and the existing Hotel.
The 9.529 ha subject greenfield site is located approx. 2km south of Greystones village, Co. Wicklow. Through careful consideration of context, and a balanced vision to create a distinctive development. The proposed site layout accommodates a network of distinct character neighbourhoods including residential mixed unit types that address a series of public open spaces to deliver a high-density residential scheme of 49u/ha, with traditional on-curtilage type housing, Duplex units, and 6 storey Apartment blocks used to define urban edges. The development also includes 2,817sqm of development on the Employment Lands in the form of a Community Enterprise building and office building.
Located in the northern environs of Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ballymakenny Road is an emerging residential and commercial quarter, with a mix of permitted and partially constructed residential developments. A series of masterplans has been developed with a mixed tenure of houses, duplexes and apartments all carefully arranged to create a succession of permeable interconnected routes that extend and integrate with permitted and future development communities of north Drogheda. A key objective in the development of these communities was for the creation of a series of urban blocks with active frontages which afford future resident’s direct connections to Ballymakenny Road and adjacent, emerging communities. An array of commercial elements in this neighbourhood adds a dynamism to the well- balanced residential aspect of the location.
Darmody Architecture was retained to prepare a framework plan for a large tract of brownfield land within the Dundalk Urban Area. The plan incorporated two new distinctive market squares linked with a new street. The plan also created tentacles of movement linking the historic tree lined Long Walk to vibrant Clanbrassil Street. About these new squares and streets were carefully placed robust living, working, community and trading facilities. The new town centre would have one million sq./ft of development.
Understanding the client brief in terms of the desire for innovation together with the need for a functioning pavilion was a clear starting point. This led us to a sculptural form which embraces the functionality of a performance space while being a poetic element in its own right. Our studies of fluid forms guided us to an aerodynamic structural skeleton with a technical skin inspired by the engineering of modern aircraft and its composite elements. This development of a fluid skin allowed us to explore and enjoy the idea of the lightness and the vitality of summer light. The canopy form was manipulated and folded creating the implied enclosure of space and light.
This project was Highly Commended – Best Public Space (RIAI Award 2015 )
