Kilkenny County Council Residential Development - Social Housing & Redevelopment of The Bróg Maker, Castlecomer Road, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland

Located in a mature residential area, Kilkenny County Council tasked C.J. Falconer & Associates (CJFA) to create a residential redevelopment of a site populated by a number of existing buildings, including the ‘Bróg Maker’ (a former pub & guest-house), and ‘St. Jude’s’ dormer unit - all of which is located adjacent to a busy road in Kilkenny, and is additionally bisected by an access roadway feeding an existing housing estate. A carpark area included on the site, presented a noticeable gap - resembling a ‘missing tooth’ - which was crying out for a design solution to form a seamless integrated urban massing, and capable of providing new homes.

A scheme of 18 no., mixed 1 & 2-bed apartment residential units - including the provision of a fully accessible wheelchair unit - has been developed, which includes the converting of existing buildings, in addition to the of constructing new units. From CJFA’s earliest review, it became evident that the mid 1990s pub/guest-house building could be subdivided into apartments cost effectively - however, cost analysis of the early 1970s St. Jude’s unit, proved that it was more beneficial to demolish. This permitted the realignment of the bisecting roadway, and assisted in the opening-up / redesign of the rear existing carpark into a usable & passively supervised amenity/open-space – also increasing the area for the new-build element. The design is also enhanced with suitable landscaping, combined with the creation of a sense of community to provide ‘a proud sense of place’.

Cognisant of issues of fuel poverty, we have designed to ensure NZEB to the new build element, and a minimum A3 BER to conversion works - while high quality and low maintenance finishes to the buildings have been essential to minimise future building maintenance and running cost. From the outset, we have set ourselves a task on this project, of delivering an outstanding model housing scheme.