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THE CAPEL BUILDING
Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7
2000-2005
Client:
Benton Property Holding Ltd
Structural/Civil Engineering Consultants:
Walsh Goodfellow
Mechanical & Electrical Consultants:
Dervan Engineering Consultants Ltd.
Quantity Surveyors:
Michael Hickey & Associates
Contractors:
Laing O’Rourke
Photography:
Gerry O’Leary, Ubald Rutar
Accommodation:
20,000 m2 offices
2,000 m2 retail
We set out to design a very personal, quality, work environment for the users of this building without disruption to the existing urban fabric that a development of this scale could cause.
The Capel Building is a new generation development, with integrated retail on the ground floor. The office accommodation is designed with natural light and the option of natural ventilation throughout. The depth of the building is reduced by a central atrium. No part of any floor is more that 7m from a window.
The building fronts onto Mary’s Abbey, the continuation of Abbey Street going west towards the Four Courts and on to Smithfield Market. The site runs from the corner of Capel Street to the corner of East Arran Street and from Mary’s Abbey back to Little Strand Street.
The area, which has been the traditional centre of the Fruit and Vegetable business in Dublin, had been in decline for some time. It has now opened up by the new LUAS tram line from Tallaght to Connolly Station.
The main entrance to the building is recessed behind a colonnade of circular black basalt columns. The high foyer, with matching black basalt floor, opens onto an atrium with a specially commissioned pool, by Simon Percival, also clad in black basalt. The surface of the pool ripples with water pulses, creating a beautiful tranquil atmosphere in the heart of the city.
In addition to a reception area the foyer has a coffee shop and other retail activities. The foyer connects out to Little Strand Street through White Lion Court at the rear. It is hoped that the properties on White Court will be developed into more retail activities in the future.
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