Charlemont 55
Dublin
Charlemont 55 is a 5,600 m2 six-storey office development located on the north bank of the Grand Canal close to Harcourt Terrace.
The shape of the site suggested the relatively simple rectangular building plan with the narrower dimension facing onto the canal. The scale of the adjacent office buildings set the height and building line for the new building.
The building was designed to shell and core finish and required the floor plate to suit various user types as well as having the potential to facilitate split tenancies at each level. The carefully positioned main core provides this flexibility and allows for various sub-division arrangements.
The south-facing canal elevation is accentuated by projecting bays and balconies stacked over the main entrance. A mast-like column penetrates this projection and is topped by a light-beacon which helps identify the building above the dense tree cover. This column hovers above ground level and a hidden light in the base illuminates a decorative cast iron disc set into the stone paved ground surface.
The building’s extensively glazed facades are screened by a lattice of horizontal and vertical brise-soleil. This lattice tempers the solar impact on the south and west facing facades during the day and also creates a lantern effect at night.
The lighting beacon, provides a pivot point from which the alignment of the south-facing canal façade rotates, its angled profile reflecting the form of the great oak beams of the nearby canal lock-gates.
The external ground surface is paved with Portland Stone and features concrete benches and planters to create an intimate public space in front of the building. This paving extends into the reception area and the floor to ceiling frameless glazing allows a seamless division between inside and outside.
A bespoke black iron gate and screen separates the public space from the private spaces behind, including a landscaped strip running the length of the western boundary
Client
Oakmount & Core Capital
Size
5,600 m2
Type
Office
Dates
Completed August 2017
Category
Workplace
Awards
Office Building of the Year; Building and Architect of the Year Awards 2018