Gaining planning permission to construct nine substantial new dwellings within the landscaped grounds of an 18th century property, located on the outskirts of Dublin, required the developer to not only sensitively restore the original structure, but also ensure the newbuild homes were constructed in a contemporary but respectful style.   

For such a prominent and potentially controversial project, it was necessary to identify a readily available, traditional style brick to complement the masonry of the extensive old building, which was also easy to work with and would stand the test of time.

Little is known of the early history of Prospect House in Dublin, apart from the fact that it has been used as a college and, more recently, a private school for girls. When the old house and its once neatly tended gardens were acquired by a leading Irish property company, Carrickreagh Developments, the building was largely in a state of poor repair, with much work required to conserve it before any conversion could be carried out. The project team was therefore faced with a major restoration challenge, as well as formulating plans for the creation of new homes to stand alongside Prospect House that would be acceptable to the planning authorities and local community, and which would appeal to prospective purchasers.

Drawing on the wide experience of Carrickreagh Developments, with HHC Architecture heading up the design team, the reconfigured Prospect House together with new-build Barclay Court has emerged as an acclaimed residential project.  Impressively it has blended two separate styles of modern home with an historic mid-eighteenth century house: making expressive use of a mellow clay brick from the Wienerberger range.

By restoring the original roof of the main house along with sliding sash windows and chimneys, and with strict heritage standards being enforced Carrickreagh Developments was then given permission to build nine detached terraced, and end of terraced houses on the surrounding grounds, ranging in size, from two to five bedrooms.  

The former school has been converted into six luxury apartments; two on each floor ranging in size from 81 m2 to 101 m2, with the two top floor apartments offering spectacular views over Rockfield Park.

Constructed on an area of just over one acre, the stylish new houses are very contemporary in design and feature warm yellow clay Marziale bricks from Wienerberger; carefully chosen to compliment Prospect House - while creamy grey mortar was specified to provide a modern ‘edge’ to the development, but also as a nod to the cream finish of the historic building.

The row of brick townhouses hold the western boundary on the site, and have been arranged with their gable fronts addressing the open space, with the two end houses stepping forward as break-front ‘bookends’.  This composition reflects the classical formality of the house, while the exposed gables relate to the gable ends of the main front block of the old house.  The brick-built mews-like ‘gate house’ dwellings on the eastern boundary are set low into the rising ground to minimise impact; while raised sections frame the views of the curved gable end of the old house.