1982 – Ardilaun Centre, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin

Large office developed first planned in the 1970s, consisting of the demolition of three house to either side of the Unitarian Church. As the City Corporation wanted to widen Cuffe Street, with the architects starting work in the design for the scheme in 1970, it was 1974 before they got planning permission for a massive 181,000 sq foot of offices. The economy was in recession, so work did not progress. The developers then redesigned the complex, reducing the size by 53,000 sq foot, as three separate blocks – leaving the plan as illustrated. Each building was lettable separately and were not air conditioned. One block was residential and contained 12 apartments to the rear lane, and a church caretaker’s residence was added to the rear of the Unitarian. Five stories in height to the Green, the excavated courtyard allows for extra floors with one block raised to eight floors at the back. The sunken courtyard is accessible by two wide passageways either side of the Unitarian Church

According to Plan magazine “Brick was chosen because the architects like brick, they considered brick an appropriate finish both for St. Stephen’s Green and for a speculative development, and Dublin Corporation planners preferred brick”. They selected the colour due to its proximity to old Dolphins Barn brick. Finished with setbacks along the widened Cuffe Street to soften the impact, and allowing trees to be planted. The ground floors to the Green and to the lower-level entrances are finished in granite. The block to the north of the Unitarian Church has been demolished.