Information about this scheme

This recently completed housing project at Annesley Gardens, in the 19th Century suburb of Ranelagh, Dublin, has transformed a previously lost and highly constrained backlands site. Sitting amongst 58 protected structures, this new street delivers 20 modern family homes. The contemporary architecture of the new street successfully integrates into the surrounding urban grain while tackling many highly complex contextual sensitivities such as overlooking and visual impact. The scheme accommodates two basic house types, each with individual variances responding to the site constraints, with appropriate separation distances between the new houses and their neighbours were achieved through acute configurations of first floor terraces and cut-backs. Two brick colours (red and buff) reflect the front and rear elevations of the surrounding period homes with Alu Clad windows and zinc roofs. This project also features careful brickwork detailing throughout, with sawtooth to the façade and perforated brickwork to the rear terraces. This is carried through to the external joinery such as bin stores, utility covers and rear access gates to the laneways. The houses are designed to the latest energy efficiency regulations with increased levels of airtightness, high levels of insulation and the latest air source heat pump technology, achieving BER ratings of A2. The main street is designed as a shared surface carriageway and footpath offering ease of movement without kerbs and the approach to each house benefits from a gentle slope. One of the positive social benefits generated through the development is the activation of the rear laneways which surround the site. These have been opened up and are developing as a new social space to meet and greet neighbours, establish relationships as well as encouraging planting to bring softness to laneway.

Judges’ Comments:

“Beautiful contemporary housing developed on a difficult site which is excellently detailed and constructed.”