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Aungier Street, Dublin / Residential Architecture, Fire Engineering and PSDP

Description

The project involved the refurbishment of an early eighteenth century terraced townhouse for use as student housing in conjunction with a new-build student residence on an adjoining vacant site. The existing building, which was in very poor condition, incorporated a number of important features dating from its original construction- staircase,paneled doors, architraves, cornices, and a deep corner chimney breast- together with later features including an important late-nineteenth century carved timber shopfront. Following extensive negotiations with the conservation officer of Dublin City Council, planning permission was granted in February 2005. Work to the old building included stabilization of the structural walls to facilitate the removal of temporary bracing, re-roofing, repairs to the parapet wall, and re-pointing using lime mortar. The challenges on the adjoining new building were different- to design a contemporary and purpose-built student residence that was modern but sympathetic to its surroundings on a tight urban infill site. The residence is affiliated to the nearby Royal College of Students as a student residence and is a very popular facility with students of that College.