A2 Architects are honoured to be invited for the 16th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2018 curated by Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell of Grafton Architects. A2 are one of seventeen Irish practices to explore a seminal project, in this case Museo-Fundación Oteiza in Alzuzu, Spain, as part of ‘Close Encounter – Meetings with Remarkable Projects’. The exhibition opens to the public this 26th May for six months.
Illuminated external signage is added as part of refurbishment works at Tralee Garda Station on behalf of The Office of Public Works. Works include a new public reception and immigration area, prisoner processing suite, office space, changing and locker facilities as well as universal access and fire upgrade works throughout.
Sanded forecourt to 10no. A-rated BER 1bed apartments in The Brambles in Glenageary, Co. Dublin for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR Architects Dept.: Design Architects / A2 Architects: Enabling Architects)
A Douglas Fir timber clad return is added to a refurbished Georgian three-storey terraced house over a garden level apartment on Rathmines Road, Dublin. A circular bathroom window atop the return enjoys distant views of Dublin Bay beyond. An in situ concrete base is added as a socle to the base of the timber cladding that skirts the first floor external terrace and ends with a stairs to the garden.
A2 are delighted to have been awarded 2nd place in The Morrison’s Island International Design Competition in Cork City. Yvonne Farrell of Grafton Architects, Chair of the Jury, cited as follows:
‘This elegant and intelligent proposal named: PoroCity, considered Morrison’s Island in its totality, as defined by the River Lee on two sides and the South Mall on the remaining side. The strength of this proposal is that it imagines a holistic, integrated solution where architecture, engineering and landscape design overlap to form a coherent strategy. It envisages the cooperation of various stakeholders in the area, where gardens, pools and open spaces offer a new public network for the citizens to enjoy, as well as providing a system of soakage areas and swales intended to deal with excess water at critical times. The Jury found this integrated approach to be an important and meaningful addition to the discussion of urban flooding and future strategies.’
A2 are invited by St. Munchin’s Trust to design a new community park for Corbally in Limerick City. The brief includes an all-weather pitch, running track, grass sports pitch, basketball courts, skateboard park, changing facilities, a local Mens’ Shed, seating, lighting and landscaping.
Nearing completion with CANTEEN in Catherine Street, Limerick City for renowned local chef and entrepreneur Paul Williams. A narrow and long street-level retail unit is converted into a 40-seat canteen. A new mono-pitched skylight is added to the rear of the unit to offer a surprising view towards the backlands of the block. Dark brown shuttering formwork plywood for fitted furniture and linings made in FabLab Limerick is set against a shimmer green marmoleum floor. Standard LED light fittings are paired to allow for a combined ceiling and wall light. A2 wish Paul the very best with his new venture and his move from Mallow Street!
Construction progresses on The Brambles Housing for DLRCoCo and Rebuilding Ireland. 10no. A two-storey gable wall of striated flush-pointed brick onto Park Close tilts gently to make a threshold into a courtyard of grass pavers around which the housing units gather (DLR Architects Dept.: Design Architects / A2 Architects: Enabling Architects)
RED JETTY / Creative Ireland 2017
A2 Architects and Alan Meredith Studio in collaboration with DLR Architects Dept.
For the summer of 2017 DLR Red Jetty is to be opportunistically located in a number of parks and public spaces in the county of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown. The Red Jetty is in the form of an interactive spiralling bench that offers a place of rest as well as gathering for all ages. With echoes of Dun Laoghaire Pier, the geometry of the bench starts as a line and then spirals in on itself to make a forum at its centre. It is painted in a signal red and rests on cylindrical concrete supports so that it can be is easily disassembled and allow for various other geometric configurations to suit its setting each time it is relocated. The first public space for the Jetty is the green open space fronting DLR Lexicon Library (image attached)
An urban farm and house are intertwined to make a dense matrix of open, semi-covered and covered spaces offering spaces for growing, tending, living and making. Rainwater and waste are to be fully recycled and composted on site. Bedrooms are housed around sunken courtyards while living spaces, workshops and outbuildings are accommodated at ground level. A repeating structure of timber beamed roofs allow clear spans and views across and through the farm and house. Planning is due to be lodged in the coming month.
