Rediscovering 1960's Dublin
Hawkins House, Dublin, Ireland
The primary theme for the 2012/2013 academic year was "Rediscovering 1960's Dublin". This theme was selected based on the large number of poorly-performing concrete office buildings scattered throughout Dublin's city centre from this era. Hawkins House (Left) is a typical example of one of these buildings, and has been voted "Dublin's Ugliest Building" in multiple polls since it's completion in the early 1960's. Aside from its unsightly appearance, Hawkins House is in need of a long overdue refurbishment to bring the building into compliance with current building regulations.
In response to this, the class group was divided into four distinct "mini offices", each of which had a team-leader and collaborating Architect from a working practice. Each mini office then proposed a redevelopment scheme for Hawkins House and the surrounding area, which would be presented to the building owners at the end of the academic year. To keep the project as close to a "real life" scenario as possible, the scheme was developed through all stages from feasability to pre-tender. This included site analysis, existing building surveys, planning applications, fire safety certificates, universal access certificates and general arrangements.
Based on my previous practice experience, I was selected as team-leader for our office. Weekly design team meetings were held, during which our collaborating Architect, Bernard Gilna would develop the scheme and follow the groups progress. As team leader it was my responsibility delegate work accordingly, based on individual skill levels in respective areas. Additionally, as BIM manager for the group, I developed a Revit Architecture workflow to ensure drawing standards were being employed correctly in each stage of the project.
Illustrated below is the Hawkins House scheme as proposed by our group and led by Architect, Bernard Gilna. The main concept of Bernard's scheme was to reinvigorate an otherwise lifeless area of Dublin's inner city. This would be achieved by changing the use of Hawkins House from an office building to a 250 room hotel with new ground floor boutique retail units, a new urban green space at second floor level, swimming pool and health spa and restaurant/bar with conference rooms on the uppermost floor overlooking the city of Dublin.
In response to this, the class group was divided into four distinct "mini offices", each of which had a team-leader and collaborating Architect from a working practice. Each mini office then proposed a redevelopment scheme for Hawkins House and the surrounding area, which would be presented to the building owners at the end of the academic year. To keep the project as close to a "real life" scenario as possible, the scheme was developed through all stages from feasability to pre-tender. This included site analysis, existing building surveys, planning applications, fire safety certificates, universal access certificates and general arrangements.
Based on my previous practice experience, I was selected as team-leader for our office. Weekly design team meetings were held, during which our collaborating Architect, Bernard Gilna would develop the scheme and follow the groups progress. As team leader it was my responsibility delegate work accordingly, based on individual skill levels in respective areas. Additionally, as BIM manager for the group, I developed a Revit Architecture workflow to ensure drawing standards were being employed correctly in each stage of the project.
Illustrated below is the Hawkins House scheme as proposed by our group and led by Architect, Bernard Gilna. The main concept of Bernard's scheme was to reinvigorate an otherwise lifeless area of Dublin's inner city. This would be achieved by changing the use of Hawkins House from an office building to a 250 room hotel with new ground floor boutique retail units, a new urban green space at second floor level, swimming pool and health spa and restaurant/bar with conference rooms on the uppermost floor overlooking the city of Dublin.
Hawkins House Redevelopment - Final Presentation
