MixedDevelopment: Noel Smyth's development company Alburn has sought planning permission for an ambitious mixed use development on the old MJ Flood site in Sandyford, Dublin 18.
The project includes some 3,251 sq m (35,000 sq ft) of mixed retail and office space, 15 live/work units and 259 apartments. It also includes a range of public facilities and amenities which can serve adjoining workers and residents. These include a gymnasium, crèche and a club cinema. To underline this open approach (in contrast to many gated communities), the heavily landscaped courtyard at first floor level is also usable as a public open space.
The scheme includes a slender (two apartments per floor) 23-storey landmark tower and the application includes a rigorous assessment of the planning justification for this element. The tower contains a double height café/bar at ground level and a public winter garden at 23rd floor level to provide access to the panoramic views from this vantage point.
The assessment of the planning justification includes a report by DEGW (which carried out the Dublin City Council high buildings study) on the overall potential for tall buildings within Dún Laoghaire Rathdown as a whole as well as their potential on this particular site in the Sandyford Industrial Estate, recently renamed Sandyford Business Park. The application demonstrates that the tower throws shadows only on the reservoir and does not present a threat of overlooking to adjoining residents because of the extent of separation.
The proximity to the Luas terminus and the need for a landmark building at this location further sustains the tower's justification, according to Alburn. Alburn notes that because of its iconic aspiration for the tower, it proposes to use the highest quality external materials on both tower and courtyard buildings; these include copper cladding and glass-louvred winter gardens.
It will be very interesting to see how this project progresses. Noel Smyth seems to be making a judgement that by building high quality generously-sized apartments - with views towards Howth and the mountains - that values can be achieved to justify an ambitious design approach. If he succeeds, this development may very well serve as a benchmark in Sandyford.
