Tropical Fruit Warehouse
The existing warehouses have been opened, reorganised, and reconnected around a central circulation core, providing primary structural stability for the new elevated extension above.
30-32 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, a warehouse building formerly used for tropical fruit imports at Dublin’s quays has been redeveloped by IPUT. Located on Dublin Quays, directly south of the Beckett Bridge, the context presented a unique opportunity to create an enduring architectural set-piece. The design is a composition of three interconnecting elements; the restored 1890s warehouse Protected Structure, a lightweight overhead extension and a new 7-storey office building.
Interventions to the warehouse building included removal of non-original elements of construction and sensitive retention and restoration of the historical fabric, including 30 no. original Scots Pine timber trusses, brick facades and slate roofing. Remnants of the Hibernian Marine School, which was located immediately west of the warehouse, were discovered during opening-up works and have been successfully captured as an integral element of the restoration. Modern insertions have been made to compliment the restored construction and animate the building’s facades to allow enjoyment of the building’s internal fabric.
Images courtesy of IPUT Real Estate.
The cantilevered extension was considered the appropriate means of sensitively ‘breathing new life’ into the dilapidated warehouse and realising the site’s potential as an urban landmark.
The development includes a new landscaped ‘pedestrian corridor’ for public amenity and enjoyment. Interconnecting the buildings has allowed circulation cores to be shared, with the primary core being located within the new building element resulting in less disruption to the warehouse roof and truss arrangement..
TFW is a high performance sustainable building with LEED Platinum and BER A3 certification. It is an all electric building using low carbon technology of air source heat pumps, high efficiency AHUs with heat recovery. The re-use of the existing building has been significant in the success of the project’s sustainable credentials, with most of the existing fabric being retained and improved in relation to energy performance. The intervention includes a high performance, naturally ventilated twin skin façade which ensures that the comfort factor of the space is not compromised by the uninterrupted panoramic full height glazing.
