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THE FLORENTINE CENTRE
Bray, Co. Wicklow
2004 - ongoing
Client:
Ballymore Properties Ltd
Concept Architects:
Benoy, London
Structural Engineers:
JJ Campbell & Associates
Mechanical & Electrical Consultants:
RPS Engineering Services
Photomontages:
Modelworks
Introduction
The Florentine Centre is a large, mixed use development in the heart of Bray, Co. Wicklow. The objective of the architectural scheme has been to provide a design that integrates with the existing town centre while also helping to regenerate the main retail streets and to provide modern urban accommodation.
The Scheme/Design
The design for The Florentine Centre provides a mix of public car parking, a new pedestrian street and 110 high quality apartments. The car parking for 543 cars and the service rooms that serve the development are located over three basement levels. The public realm of the ‘new street’ that links the two main existing retail streets of the town provides enhanced permeability for pedestrian movements with flowing curved double height facades to 26 retail units. The residential element is divided up into three distinct blocks that sit on top of the retail component, with views from the apartments towards the sea, Bray Head and the Wicklow Mountains.
The gross floor space of the development is 18,400 sq m.
Retail
The retail element of the scheme is composed of 26 individual units of varying size and character. From smaller kiosk type units of 23 sq metres each, to medium sized units ranging from 150-230sq metres, most with optional trading mezzanines, to a large sub-divisible anchor unit of 5,600 sq metres over two floors the diversity of offer will help to stimulate the retail environment of the town. A dedicated delivery bay and other service facilities enhance the package available to retailers. The new curved street provides a natural focus for the Centre while maintaining continuity with the existing town centre.
Residential
The different wings of the residential blocks have views across the new pedestrian street and views outwards to the town centre, Bray Head, the Irish Sea and the Wicklow mountains. The podium provides an opportunity to create a ‘gardens in the sky’ approach for communal areas with front doors facing onto a visually appealing roofscape. Entrances at street level provide access to vertical cores to the apartment levels.
The different wings of the residential blocks have views across the new pedestrian street, views outwards to the surrounding town centre, the protected view of Bray Head, eastwards to the waterfront of Bray and westwards towards the backdrop of the Wicklow mountains. The curved nature of the new street that separates the residential components provides an opportunity to maximise the number of dual aspect apartments while also giving a sense of urban integration.
The apartments will be finished to a very high standard.
Architectural Treatment
The scheme for The Florentine Centre deals with a variety of architectural elements that have to be inserted into the existing urban fabric of Bray. The various components are handled in different ways to give a design palette that integrates the scheme while providing a vision for urban living for contemporary Ireland. At the new entrance on Main Street an existing protected façade is retained adjacent to an all glass signal entry point. On Quinsborough Road the entrance way to the new pedestrian street is set back to retain the setting of existing buildings. The new curved street is finished with large areas of glazed shop fronts and other high quality finishes. The residential units are finished in natural timber, reconstituted stone panels with glazed walkways and balconies.
The scheme was lodged for Planning Permission with Bray Town Council in August 2005. The start on site is expected to be as soon as all the necessary permissions are received.
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