Margaret Kennedy Road Dublin 8

Margaret Kennedy Road & Court is the first phase of new public housing within this regeneration masterplan. The masterplan has undergone several iterations but essentially includes a large neighbourhood park, a multi-sports playing pitch, residential and mixed-use development for the publicly owned Saint Teresa’s Gardens estate and the adjoining privately owned sites. Significant pre-construction works were required in order to facilitate the first phase. Alternative homes were secured for families who wished to move. Two flat blocks were refurbished to house tenants who preferred to stay on the estate. The remaining ten blocks were demolished. Three cottages were acquired on a neighbouring street, Eugene Street, to integrate the regeneration with the wider neighbourhood and provide easy access to the future neighbourhood park and sports facilities.

This connection between the estate and the surrounding 19th century street pattern addresses a major problem with the original flats. The terrace of new houses in Phase 1 runs parallel to existing cottages on Eugene Street, and forms a new city street, Margaret Kennedy Road. The scale and matyeriality of the new development also seeks to respect and integrate with the adjoining neighbourhood. A three-storey parapet fronted terrace of houses faces the proposed park, dropping to two-storey as the terrace turns to meet single storey cottages on Eugene Street. The new homes are bright, spacious, and achieve a high energy rating. Materials are a simple palette of brick, render, cedar, fair-faced concrete and composite aluminium and timber windows and doors. The project exemplifies good collaboration between stakeholders including the contractor, design team, client body and community. Phase 1 residents (including tenants living in the two refurbished blocks), moved into their new homes in February 2021. The remainder of the site will be delivered by a range of public and private developers.