Projects Archive - Altu Architects Brochure

Blanchardstown Centre is one of Ireland’s largest and long standing Shopping Centres, originally constructed in 1996. Twenty five years later, the mall needed a refresh to create a modern experience and inject a new lease of life to the Centre.

ALTU were engaged to carry out the rejuvenation of the Centre consisting of an extensive upgrade of the internal malls and the overall masterplanning of the centre involving the introduction of a number of extensions, internal reconfigurations, facade upgrades and the creation of a number of new entrances.

The project is highly complex with 10,000 sq. m. of live mall, multiple active tenancies across the 120,000 sq. m. Centre with at least 4 contractors on site at any given time.

Richmond Homes appointed ALTU Architects to deliver a quality high-density residential scheme at a strategic corner site in Donnybrook, Dublin 4.The architectural response was to create a 12 storey landmark tower, articulated with a limestone framed brick and glass façade, to provide a gateway to Donnybrook urban village. The tower element is flanked by 7 storey shoulder blocks, with the development comprising 148 Apartments, tenant amenity areas, shared roof gardens and a basement bike and car park.

The scheme modulates to 4 storeys on the western boundary to respect the neighbouring residential context and to maximise light into the internal courtyard space.

The project outcome is a well crafted and considered landmark building, adding 148 homes in a well serviced urban area, demonstrating that density can be achieved through good design and respect for context.

The brief for the development was to create a contemporary, high quality Strategic Housing Development (SHD) suitable for a prime residential site (0.8525 ha) located at Roselawn and Aberdour on the Stillorgan Road.

The proposed development comprises a single phase, two block site arrangement of seven-storey apartment buildings. 142 No. apartments are provided within the scheme, made up of the following:-

73 No. One Bed Apartments;
68 No. Two Bed Apartments;
1 No. Three Bed Apartment.

As part of the developed design response, the project maintains a focus on an active community environment with nearly 4,000sqft of amenity spaces included within the scheme.

These amenity facilities include a social integration zone within a garden pavilion at podium level, a gymnasium, multi-functional space and work lounge. 91 No. car parking spaces are provided across basement and surface levels within the scheme.

As part of our long-time and ongoing association with Dundrum Town Centre, ALTU were engaged to undertake a full rejuvenation of 1-5 Ashgrove Terrace within the estate, which included an existing open area and events space to the rear and a partially excavated basement.

Prior to works commencing, the Ashgrove Terrace properties were vacant, challenged by dated building fabric and compromised floor plates. The events space was utilised, albeit semi-successfully as a public realm and events area for the Centre, but was challenged by the lack of active frontage, poor landscaping and lighting conditions.

The principle objective in the scheme developed by ALTU was to enhance the overall Pembroke Square District and surrounding public realm by establishing a permanent events space, activated by quality food and beverage offerings – through a blend of retaining the existing structures, sensitively married with a new extension.

The new build extension element mimics the Terrace’s pitched roof form and orientation in its modern idiom, knitting itself into the urban grain of the wider Dundrum area. Large glass openings allow the existing structures to be perceived from the Square. The existing random rubble rear wall of Ashgrove has been retained insofar as practicable and runs from outside to in, becoming a feature interior wall. The single storey extension fills what would be a vacant and unused part of the site. Crucially this provides a boundary, a defined edge to the square as well as acting as active frontage, injecting life into the surrounding area.

The additional uses provided through Pembroke Square will tie in with and complement the wider existing uses of retail, leisure and food and beverage within Dundrum Town Centre.

ALTU are providing on-site interior delivery lead services on behalf of BCP Capital for Ireland’s first Hoxton Hotel. Hoxton Hotels are a series of open-house hotels that are inspired by the diversity and originality of the streets and scenes that surround us.

The new 129-room venue will be located on the site of the Central Hotel on Exchequer Street in Dublin city centre and will open for business in 2024.

The brief for Zurich House was to remodel an early 1980’s office building to create a modern efficient office floor plates generating a contemporary corporate headquarters facility. Following a detailed options analysis undertaken by ALTU, the most economically advantageous solution was deemed to consist of the demolition of the existing sub-optimal office space replacing it with a new larger structure which meets the brief requirements of the client and the needs of its Grade A tenants.

The vision for the design, was to provide a high quality architecturally designed office building, that meets modern workplace expectations, while being responsive to its location on Frascati Road. The building has two distinct forms to address the meeting point of two different distinct conditions, which is also echoed in the building’s material selection.

ALTU are delivery Architects from RIAI stages 4 – 8, delivering the first citizenM Hotel in Ireland.

CitizenM is an expanding worldwide hotel brand with 31 hotel in 9 countries. Established in 2008, citizenM provides affordable luxury, allowing travellers to stay in central locations in the world’s most exciting cities at an affordable price.

The 9-storey, 245 bed hotel will host two galleries, meeting rooms and a large terrace courtyard.

ALTU were appointed to undertake this workplace fit-out in South Dublin to accommodate approximately 1,500 people on campus which entailed a bespoke CAT B scheme and specification for the client.

In addition to a large range of open plan, meeting, break-out and collaboration areas, the implemented design proposal included provision of a full-service catering kitchen and a town hall space on the ground floor to act as a gathering and events space for the company’s vibrant and diverse community.

ALTU successfully handed over the two phases of the project on time and on budget.

ALTU were engaged by Aviva (formerly Friends First) to undertake a strategic and multi-faceted redevelopment of their Blackrock Estate portfolio, which includes Blackrock Village Centre. The existing Village Centre was in decline suffering from degrading fabric, urban disconnection and a poor pedestrian experience. Through refurbishment and the creation of memorable architectural moment it has been given a new lease of life.

Inspired by the feeling of walking through a forest, a new glazed canopy with dappled natural light flooding through floats above the center, supported by slender structural trees creating a unique and playful experience. Open to air, the pedestrian connection to Blackrock Village is reinforced and strengthened.

The degrading external and internal façades have been upgraded to consolidate the re-generation of Blackrock Village Centre.

The works were carried out whilst the Centre remained open and tenants traded throughout the programme, which represented a unique and challenging constraint successfully managed by ALTU.