Re: Ireland’s Knightsbridge steps closer…

Following a couple fly-bys in helicopter – Sean Dunne’s Mountbrook Homes are a step closer to appointing a chief design team for his now infamous purchase that is Jurys Ballsbridge & Towers hotels. The record setting purchase (which may be due for an addition) is subject to a design competition being co-organised by the RIAI and Padholme, the Mountbrook SPV to which the site purchases were signed. 3 firms are understood to have been narrowed from a list of between 12 and 20 entrants. Among the entrants Bucholz McEvoy Architects, O’Mahony Pike Architects and Murray O’Laoire are all understood to have input. Word is that Mr. Dunne will be clear for buildings rising to 9-storeys in height as part of his development plan, but 32-storeys (as originally intended) was most unlikely. Provision of a tower as high as 17-storeys may be feasible at the site’s core, but would be subject to design evaluation. Mr. Dunne had expressed intentions for anywhere up to 500 high-class residential units on the exclusive site.