• The “Castle” (a mixed use building which is a protected structure); 
• The Retreat House (a 40 bedroom residence) and Pedro Arrupe Chapel, both designed by Andrew Devane; 
• Cardoner House, which was in use as an educational centre for members of the Jesuit order.

Our brief was to provide modern Reception and Dining facilities while refurbishing the 3 existing buildings listed above. Our concept was to create a landscaped, sheltered courtyard or cloister on the site of what was a surface car park; using the existing Castle, Retreat House and Chapel buildings on three sides, with the fourth side of the “cloister” being formed by a new Reception / Dining structure to house flexible dining and function spaces; reception, book shop, kitchens and other ancillary spaces.

The form of the new building appears as a colonnaded facade to the cloister, using tactile materials such as charred larch and buff coloured bricks; this is linked via covered walkway to the existing buildings. It addresses views and routes in varying ways. The courtyard or cloister is landscaped with a mixture of hard and soft surfaces with opportunities for relaxation, seating and contemplation.

The Castle’s external fabric was refurbished with roofs, windows and facades being upgraded.

Cardoner House was repurposed as a residence for the Jesuit community with full accessibility; 6No. comfortable suites were created with upgraded services and thermal performance.

The Retreat House facades and windows were upgraded while all bedrooms and bathrooms were completely revamped. In addition, new meeting and breakout spaces were created, along with an accessible suite.

Sustainability permeated all aspects of the brief. The existing buildings have been adaptively reused and all received thermal and services upgrades. The new building is served via efficient heating systems with a combination of solar thermal and solar PV being employed to provide hot water and power. Surface Water is collected into a new pond and integrated into the existing landscape.

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Working with our client, we acted as both design and conservation architects and collaborated closely with the team lead by main contractors, Mulcahy Construction, to achieve a newly imagined local favourite while conserving key elements of this interesting building. A large extension created a light filled dining room while the older parts of the building were restored, capturing newly discovered elements such as the original timber roof trusses to the front. The project provided complex challenges with compliance and servicing but has delivered a variety of attractive and hospitable rooms. Works took account of balancing the requirementss for compliant fire and disabled access while seeking to blend the retention of character and historic fabric as far as possible.

Photographs courtesy of Mulcahy Construction.

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The entire mechanical and electrical systems were upgraded and rerouted to make them discreet and hidden within floors or in service risers. A new lift was inserted to provide access to all floors. A contemporary extension was added and a raised terrace created to provide “breathing space” to the rear.

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Original Georgian features have been lovingly restored with original sash windows, stunning architraves, beautiful pointing, refurbished flooring, exquisite plasterwork and many other hand crafted features.

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Of particular interest, on entering the building, are the marble mosaic floors in the ground floor reception area and in the first floor lobby. Also noteworthy are the impressive stained glass windows depicting industry, commerce and enterprise, together with the coats of arms of the many ports and cities with which Belfast traded in the past.

The grandiose rooms on the upper floor are heavily ornate in typical Victorian fashion.  They provide an appropriate setting for the Commissioners’ impressive fine art collection. Belfast Harbour remains committed to maintaining the building’s historic fabric in its original glory.

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Working in an executive architect capacity, we collaborated with a local design team, overseeing the realisation of the vision for the hotel’s refurbishment ensuring a sensitive and beautiful transformation.  Works include a new reception area, Guest Living Room and stunning grand salon bar – The Coral Room.

The original entrance at the side of the property was restored, incorporating a new glazed canopy. The original flight of Portland Stone steps leads guests into the new reception area and intimate space which features a Lutyens-inspired Guest Living Room. Here a colour palette of muted greens and pinks, were accented with an electric mix of furnishings, artwork and lighting. The Lutyens’ designed fireplace provides a welcoming focal point.

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One of our recent projects was the re-ordering of the basement area to create a captivating multimedia exhibition space. Collaborating with Studio SP, we designed a layout that seamlessly integrated cutting-edge technology, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a captivating experience.

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No.10 has great importance, both historically and architecturally. It is one of the very last grand houses surviving in the Liberties, and it retains virtually all of its original features.

The interiors and the detailing of the plasterwork and joinery suggests a construction date in the early 1800s. There are very few structures in the area surviving from this period in such a complete state. Interestingly, the house was defended in 1916 by Eamonn Ceannt during the Easter Rising, and a bronze plaque records this.

Our proposed scheme seeks to restore No.10 and convert it to reuse as modern offices, utilising the new extension to provide circulation, services, bathrooms and all of the paraphernalia which modern offices require, whilst retaining the building’s character. This scheme will give new life to a historic Liberties house and provide a sympathetic, contemporary “bookend” extension on a prominent city centre site.

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Collaborating with David Leahy Architects, a modern atrium and office facilities were designed to the rear of the house. The link between the buildings was important to ensure a harmonious blend between the historical and contemporary elements. In restoring the building for use as offices the integration of modern Fire and Disability Access requirements had to be carefully considered to meet current legislative standards whilst protecting the historic structure’s integrity.

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Internally, our focus was on reinstating various elements of the original architecture. Particular attention was paid to restore the plasterwork, joinery, stonework, and chimneypieces. A real delight was being able to completely restore the internal staircase and overlooking arched windows, bringing light down through the centre of the building.
Our efforts and attention to detail were recognized, as the project was honoured with the RIAI Regional Award, a testament to our commitment to excellence in restoration and refurbishment.

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