Herbert Park: residential/mixed use

Herbert Park: residential/mixed use

The project, completed in 1998, has received the URBAN DESIGN AWARD presented by Irish Planning Institute. The jury stated that the promenade has become 'an elegant thoroughfare and vibrant meeting place - a place of real civic status!' and that 'the successful transformation of this redundant industrial site has been clearly facilitated by the adoption of coherent planningdesign objectives which serve not only to exploit the amenity potential of its river and parkland context, but also to enhance and revitalise Ballsbridge'.

The apartments element of this mixed use development consist of 2 opposing curved buildings placed end to end, containing 297 apartments on 7 floors with basement car parking underneath for 500 cars and extensive riverside landscaping. The curved buildings enclose private open space beside the River Dodder and public open space in Herbert Park. Together they form part of a clearly defined edge to Herbert Park. The northern end of the buildings forms part of the edge to a new public promenade, linking Ballsbridge Terrace and a new entrance to Herbert Park. The promenade continues through a reconstructed entrance to the park.

The northern side is flanked by a 4 star hotel comprising 154 bedrooms and suites over an open plan entrance level with extensive glazing offering prime views of the park.  The South Side of the promenade accommodates a 6 storey office building incorporating 500m² of high specification commercial space.

The old exhibition pavilion has been reconstructed in modern materials, framing the view to the existing bandstand and pond in Herbert Park.