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Summertime, and the Livin’ is Busy

August 11, 2019

I am delinquent with my post updates, but my only excuse is because there have been so many great projects moving full steam ahead over the last few months. Luckily I have managed to dodge the manic “summer works” jobs and instead have been focusing on getting several larger projects off the ground, and tidying up a few that were already on site.

Much of Friday was spent in a high-lift access bucket swinging high over the former St. Andrew’s Church in Suffolk Street, reviewing the upcoming conservation works with some of Ireland’s brightest specialist conservation contractors. Next week I will be assessing the necessary works to the many stained glass windows, and compiling a detailed schedule of repairs to the historic wrought- and cast-iron railings to the front boundary, some of which date to Francis Johnston’s rebuilding campaign of c.1795. If the last time you entered this magnificent structure was when it served as the Dublin Tourist Office, you won’t believe the difference the upcoming redevelopment will make; it’s adaptive re-use at its best!

I am also delighted to be part of the design team on several upcoming residential refurbishment projects in Dublin’s illustrious Kenilworth Square, the Continental aspect of Lower Baggot Street, and for an excellent early-Victorian structure in Blackrock’s Carysfort Avenue. Several of these projects involve well-detailed, highly modern, and sensitive extensions, along with carefully considered repairs, building services upgrades, and internal renovations. One is also subject to a Built Heritage Investment Scheme grant which was secured earlier this spring, so hurry back for more updates.

The great weather we have been enjoying also allowed me to pop down the country to take some great photos of the completed restoration of the Rathcam Barn near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, in time for the project to be featured as part of the national Heritage Week on 21st August. If you fancy a day out on an intact mid-19th century country house estate with original walled gardens, landscape features, and farm buildings, look no further.

Works to revitalise the intact mews building in Dun Laoghaire’s Vesey Place are also coming along nicely. Recent months have seen the application of many traditional building skills, such as rubble stone and brick pointing, wetdashing, limewashing, timber and joinery repairs, and many others. Soon we’ll be re-laying the cobbled courtyard using a traditional Hoggin mix, and the beautiful internal limestone sett floor will be repaired in order to underpin the historic ambience of the new residential interior.

It’s been a busy summer, and it looks like the autumn is going to be even more so. Stay tuned for all the latest news, which I hope to update long before year’s end!