Vignoles Gardens at Market Square, Portarlington involved a comprehensive Design and Build Contract for the delivery of houses and apartments for the elderly on a constrained infill urban site. The project included the extensive renovation and refurbishment of a derelict Protected Structure into apartments over three floors.
The development demanded a delicate balance between the sensitive renovation and conservation of the Protected Structure, the contemporary design of 1 and 2 bedroom houses, and a complete redevelopment of the public realm around the civic square.
Each dwelling was specifically constructed to be fully wheelchair accessible. Rear gardens, positioned adjacent to existing boundary walls and properties, fostered a sense of community and connection. Strategically placed house facades overlooked green public landscaped areas, contributing to a harmonious integration with the surroundings. This planning extended to car parking, both individually allocated at the front of each dwelling and grouped within the landscaped curtilage, avoiding a car-dominated streetscape.
Siteworks encompassed the installation of a new stormwater attenuation system and the provision of connections for Irish Water, addressing necessary infrastructure comprehensively. Challenges associated with the project’s location in a built-up area, surrounded by existing housing on all sides, and access situated at a crossroads junction just off the main road were all skilfully navigated.
