The proposed site is located in the on the South Bank of the Grand Canal Lucan, South Dublin County. The project involves there development of Grange Cottage and the associated farm outbuildings which enclose two courtyards to the north and the east of the house. The described development comprises an area of 0.65ha.
The site is in located on the Northern edge of Grange Castle Business Park facing onto the south bank of the Grand Canal. It is well served by public transport with the number 13 bus stopping at the southern entrance to the site and is currently accessible to pedestrians and cars from the west from the Grange Castle Business park, from the north from the Grand Canal Greenway. It is also proposed that another entrance connecting the site to the large surface carpark to the southwest be introduced.
Together with South Dublin and local stakeholders we identified a need for a local shop, childcare facilities and café to serve the 12th lock area and Grange Castle Business Park. SDCC currently have a shortage of working spaces for local artists, and it is proposed that the development at Grange Cottage will also provide for 3 artist studios and a community workshop room. There is also an ambition to have a clubhouse for water based activities on the Grand Canal which has synergies with SDCC’s active travel objectives and policies.
Development is constrained mostly by the existing layout of the protected structure and internal walls as well as the natural boundaries to the north, west and south. A small link extension is proposed in the main courtyard to orientate the development towards the entrance and create a reception area for the childcare facility.
Grange cottage, a protected structure is proposed to be fitted out as a day care centre for people and living in working in the vicinity. The original plan layout is adapted to functional requirements. The cross walls and chimney stacks are retained and used to separate the activity spaces. The south facing garden is utilized as an outdoor activity space and is connected via an existing arch on the rear façade. A local shop is proposed on the adjacent wing of the cottage on the East side of the Main Courtyard occupying one of the existing outbuildings in its entirety. The shop is entered via the main square, beneath the porch canopy shared with the day care and the existing wall is given an opening opposite the entrance door to provide a view through to the west courtyard contributing to passive security. The existing structure is left mainly open plan to allow flexibility for the shop fit out. Image below is indicative of the space usage only. It is envisaged that the till and smaller items will be located to the left of the entrance door facing two aisles of open display shelving. The gable end contains a small storeroom and plantroom.
A café/small restaurant with capacity for 16/20 tables is proposed for the canal side outbuildings. Stone walls are to be repaired and insulated. Original Roof joists are to be restored or replaced and exposed. The original cobble floor is to be removed and integrated into the floor build up. Window openings are cut into the north elevation and gable ends to provide views and passive security. The existing openings to the courtyard are to be glazed and the roof is to be repaired and insulated.
The agriculture building to the east of Grange cottage is proposed to be retained, repaired, and used as a clubhouse facilitating the use of the canal for active travel. It is envisaged that the interior will be used for basic training and equipment storage and users will also have access to some of the other facilities of the complex (café, events space, shop).
The proposal inserts a first floor level into an existing agricultural building with a centrally located stairs providing two first floor studios and two ground floor studios, one of which is envisaged as a community workshop. South facing openings on the façade at ground level provide passive security to the east courtyard and roof lights bring in precious northlight into the studios while maximising wall space for the artists.
Project Start
October 2023
Completion Due
December 2025
Gross Floor Area
1100m2
Client Lead
Laura Leonard, Senior Executive Officer, South Dublin County Council
Architect
Stephen Foley Architects Ltd t/a SFA42
Employer's Representative
Stephen Foley
Project Team
Marta Lopez Garcia, Sara Acebes, Sofia Parker, Jordi Acacio
Conservation Architect
Mesh Architects
Structural Engineer
CORA Consulting Engineers
