Our recent social housing project at Gort Lár Dromcarra Avenue, Tallaght for South Dublin County Council has been shortlisted for the 2020 Irish Construction Excellence Awards (residential category). The Gala Awards Event will take place on Saturday, 28 March, 2020 in the The Convention Centre, Dublin.
This project involved the construction of 14 social houses as well as associated site works. The key challenge was that the site was in two parts. The project was developed within an existing Housing Estate in a working-class area of Tallaght. There was lengthy ongoing discussion between all the stakeholders throughout every stage of this development. Residents were informed of all works and every effort was made to minimise noise, dust, air pollution and traffic.
Another key challenge was the extensive works undertaken outside the site boundary walls. There was a large green space developed and landscaped for resident’s use. New footpaths, walkways, and roadways were provided. All services – foul and storm, water, gas, ESB, virgin media, eircom works were carried out to both public and private areas.
All 14 houses achieved an A3 energy rating with energy usage below 60kWh/m2/yr, are all highly insulated with solar panels, balanced whole house mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and high levels of air tightness (all below 0.138ac/h).
The houses are built to a very high specification, beautifully landscaped and provide respectful, dignified affordable accommodation for residents. The green landscaped area provides a place of play and recreation for children and young people and an area for adults to meet socially, to walk, exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The projects blends beautifully into the landscape and environment of its surroundings.
The houses were built partially with a beautiful high quality brick (Village Golden Thatch Brick) and a quality K Rend external Plaster. This ensures the sustainability of the exterior maintenance. The exterior of the house is also fitted with a Box Guttering System which complements the exterior of the houses. An existing established stone wall was repaired back to its original state and a new stone wall was built surrounding the houses and the landscaped green area. Construction excellence was obtained in the building of these homes and landscaped, walled green space to the detailed design while ensuring, compliance with the Building Standards requirements in regard to structure, air-tightness, acoustics and insulation values.
Overall, we ensured a positive, community perceptive approach throughout the Dromcarra Avenue Housing Project. We maintained a collaborative team approach to the entire project while adhering to budget, programme, safety and technology to deliver a housing scheme that blends into and enhances its surroundings and has a positive psychological impact on its tenants. We ensured every effort was made to achieve the required quality, sustainability, regulatory and legal requirements of the client.