Cornamona Court

Cunningham were appointed by Dublin City Council to deliver the 61-unit Cornamona Court residential development, on a brownfield site, across three separate blocks and a basement car park.

Cornamona Court is comprised of three housing blocks, including 16 two-storey terraces (Block C) and two blocks (A & B) across four and five storeys. Blocks A & B feature 12 three-bedroom, five-person duplex units at ground floor level, with individual stepped own door access from the street level and a second access level access from the courtyard at the rear through private gardens and terrace spaces. The upper floors comprise of 29 one bed and 4 two bed apartments, all of which are specifically designed for senior citizens. Cunningham worked closely with the client and end users to ensure the final design incorporated materials and finishes that ensured the provision of robust and easily maintained dwellings, with common spaces that enhanced quality of life.

In the early stages of the project, it became apparent that ground conditions were not as the reports had identified. In pursuit of a workable solution to ensure the scheme remained on track, Cunningham and the project team devised a solution that included a reduction in CFA Piles in conjunction with a reduction in rock anchors. Such was the success of this innovative and timely response; it resulted in cost savings for the client and enabled the project to remain ahead of the works programme.

A cooperative and inclusive programme of engagement with the client and end users resulted in a building design that enables tenants to overlook a landscaped courtyard garden complete with planting, seating areas and play equipment. Further still, following close consultation with the client, project designers and stakeholders, the buildings were designed to have a simple rectangular geometry, animated with large windows and screens, balconies and access galleries, and the two-storey houses were designed to have simple mono pitch roofs to reduce their height and impact on existing neighbouring houses at the rear of the site.