Projects Archive - Altu Architects Brochure

ALTU were engaged to administer the strategic relocation of RSA from three floors to two floors of the RSA headquarters as well as the consolidation and reorganisation of the workplace, facilitating and encouraging a more collaborative and open way of working.

In order to inform the design, ALTU carried out a workplace strategy analysis through a series of interviews with representatives from all departments as well as an anonymous on-line survey which instructed the design approach based around the current and desired ways of working.

The design of the project was well advanced when the pandemic began and the project was paused for a redesign to accommodate an increased requirement for hybrid working. This resulted in a reduction in the number of workstations and a greater focus on a variety of collaboration and social spaces. On site there was a requirement to maintain operations of the 123.ie team and this involved phasing the construction and the relocation of this team during the fit-out works.

The interiors were designed to reflect the brand colours of RSA and 123.ie and these were carried through the interiors finishes palette. Collaborative furniture, meeting booths and phone pods were installed providing space for private meetings, phone calls and quiet working spaces.

As part of the strategic re-generation of the offices the ground floor reception areas, lift lobbies and toilets were also refurbished as part of the works.

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.

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.

The Client aspiration for Belvoir was for a high quality, distinctively designed scheme of 55 no. generously sized, new build apartments. An additional 5 no. units were accommodated within the refurbishment of Kilmacud House.

A key feature of the brief was to sensitively address and incorporate Kilmacud House and its curtilage – an existing listed courtyard building and structure which represents a unique feature of this prominent site.

The design response for the proposed development consists of a site arrangement organized in two blocks, ranging in height from three to five storeys.

Together with the sensitive refurbishment and conversion of Kilmacud House, the overall scheme successfully provides the required accommodation of 55 no. BTR Apartments comprising 11 no. one bed, 34 no. two bed and 10 no. three bed units.

The development also includes provision of 82 no. car parking spaces across both basement and surface levels on the site.

This city centre redevelopment of a tired existing 1970s Office building included the retention and temporary support of a large extent of the existing concrete structure.

The redeveloped building has been designed by ALTU to recognise the responsibility between its immediate context and fulfilling its role to adhere to the principles of rhythm, tone, materials, plot width and height predominant on the Quays. A careful balanced approach to transparency and solid-to-void ratio has informed the design development to respect the principles above while optimising daylight and the incredible views available.

The facade has been designed to respect its prominent location and provide a considered well-mannered composition, sympathetic to the existing architectural diversity of the Liffey quays, while clearly a building of its time. The new composition is an elegant contemporary stone framed building with floor to ceiling glazing to the office floors. The stone articulates plot widths and provides strength to the parapet line and legibility to the ground level. Deep reveals to the stone frame provide solidity and integration to the façade.

The stone frame terminates at the fourth-floor parapet level allowing the two-tiered penthouse to be distinct as a lighter, more transparent element.

Situated on the prominent corner of Eglinton Rd & Donnybrook Rd, this striking development consists of stepped residential blocks arranged around a landscaped podium courtyard, ranging from 3 storeys to the residential edge on Brookvale Rd, up to 12 storeys on its corner providing 148 high quality residential apartments in this prominent, central and accessible urban location.

There are feature landscaped amenity terraces at 7th ﬂoor, adjoining residential amenities internal areas such as Event Spaces & Cinema Rooms together with Gym & Concierge facilities at Ground level.

Currently under construction, the project is set to be complete in 2023.

ALTU were appointed by Hammerson to undertake the design and fit out for their new HQ Office in Dundrum Town to a challenging program of two months.

Already familiar with the requirements for the fit-out and the design of the existing building, the scope of the scheme led by ALTU included a range of open plan offices, meeting rooms, staff canteen and collaboration spaces.

ALTU delivered the project through BIM and it was used throughout the process to inform the design, enable visualizations and assist scheduling, all of which facilitated prompt decision making in respect of finish selection, furniture layouts et al.

The project was delivered within programme, under budget and met the Client’s stated project brief and strategic objectives.

ALTU were engaged by Boulder Media – an Irish animation company forming part of the global entity Hasbro Inc. – to design and deliver their new Dublin HQ Office to accommodate their diverse team of 320 people.

The principal objective of the scheme was to accommodate some of the world’s best 2D and 3D Animators, Artists and Designers within an inspiring, vibrant and dynamic work place environment, that will see teams ranging from 50-90 people collaborating on projects called ‘pipes’.

ALTU worked with Boulder in a fully collaborative design process, that included the creation of unique animations which were integrated throughout and informed the surrounding interior strategy and material palettes. Each meeting room is designed and named based on a character from a Production.

Spatial programming was organised into neighbourhoods for each Animation Team generally consisting of 25 to 50 staff working on a single production. ‘Pod’ meeting rooms, each named after characters from Boulder productions, break up each neighbourhood, while also providing a small meeting room to discuss and review animations.

The exterior walls of each Pod are made of pinnable and writeable surfaces to foster collaboration at the heart of each neighbourhood and encourage the display of new ideas and artwork.

ALTU Architects were appointed to deliver 30 no. social housing units across three sites in Co Meath using a Design and Build procurement process.

The development will provide thirty families with new high-quality homes, all achieving a BER A2 rating with a high level of external and internal finishes. The full site area was utilized creating large garden amenity spaces for children to play and supporting the growth of young families in the area.

In the delivering our service, ALTU Architects produced production documentation to meet the employer’s requirements, building regulations and associated guidelines. In addition, we provided design certifier, architectural services, detailed design drawings, design team lead and BIM visuals throughout the tender and construction process.