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XL Group Global HQ

15.12.2013

XL Group Global-Body_73

Since 1880 St Stephen’s Green has been a natural oasis in Dublin. The present square was formed by Dublin Corporation , between 1664 and 1672, modelled on the most advanced British and European examples of the day. It proved to be one of the largest residential squares in the world and the horticultural splendour of the walks in the mid-18th century turned the place into a glamorous promenade for city sparks and belles and a venue for duel and romance. After a bitter struggle between wealthy inhabitants and the Corporation assembly between the 1780s and 1814 the space was turned into an enclosed private park in 1814.

Finally finished and occupied in 1793 by Lord Mountgarret , 8 St. Stephen’s Green is a substantial four storey over basement house. At the time of its completion it was by far the most imposing on the north side of the Green. The name of the architect is not recorded but it was possibly Frederick Darley who acted as a third party to the deed. Although no.8 was in the ownership of the Mountgarret Butlers for less than twenty five years it retained, if tentatively, the name Mountgarret House to the present day as do several other aristocrat built houses on the Green such as Clonwilliam House, Iveagh House and the Shelbourne Hotel.

An exceptionally early Dublin streetscape photograph pre-dating 1867 records the original façade prior to the later nineteenth century. Hence the house could be termed Georgian, but with Victorian modification to the façade and throughout. The building is included on Dublin City Council’s Record of Protected Structures, Volume 3 of the Dublin City Development Plan the house is zoned Z5, “To consolidate and facilitate the development of the central area, and to identify, reinforce and strengthen and protect its civic design character and dignity”. The building is located within a Zone of Archaeological Interest.
When Justin Treacy, Director of RKD Architects , first came to the project, the vision was‘ to design a 21 st century office building supporting the original requirements of XL whilst respecting the sensitive nature of the protected structure. Design detail, materials and workmanship had to be of a standard that would enhance the generous spaces of the original building. Working areas are treated in a contemporary manner, while the shared or meeting spaces are designed to reflect the Georgian Architecture, with modern detailing. A restrained, but tailored approach to materiality and colour is used throughout to reflect both the XL brand values and the original Architectural Detail.’

Brendan Moley, Construction Director at mac-interiors echoed the sentiments of the architects, ‘The main objective on this project was to deliver a project of outstanding quality and to maintain the historical features of this stunning example of Georgian Architecture. It presented a huge challenge to maintain all the classical features yet install structural steel supports and services without disturbing the period features’.

Ronan McGrath, mac-interiors’ PM on the XL project has lived and breathed this job for 5 months. The exceptional challenges he experienced were, in a perverse way, posed by the most attractive features of the house: the city centre location, and the listed features. All building materials had to be carried in by hand (the busiest taxi rank in Dublin is directly at the front door!), and all waste had to be removed the same way, out the back, through a winding passage.

mac-interiors used over 80 tonnes of steel to strengthen the fabric of the building. Stitch repairs were carried out on the staircases; treads are now supported with bespoke stainless steel threaded bars, which also incorporate a delicate end-profile in keeping with the period. The first floor landing on the main feature staircase has had multiple box-section steel supports carefully inserted, with no damage caused to the delicate ceilings or cornicing below. In order to level the 200 year-old existing timber floors, mac-interiors used individual firring pieces on each joist. All existing period features have been preserved and restored, from 200 year-old sash windows fastidiously repaired, to ceilings, cornices, fire-places, skirting boards, doors and specialist bookcase joinery all returned to their former elegance.

The latest techniques in covert interior M&E services were implemented to enable this building to be air conditioned, fully serviced with latest CAT 6a data cabling and small power. All without altering any of the key features or effecting its period heritage. This was no small feat: if the data cabling was laid end to end it would stretch from St Stephens Green to Dublin Airport and back!
The building has over a total of over 720 light fittings, incorporating 33 different types, also a dual USA/Europe small power circuit has been installed throughout.

mac-interiors have many years’ experience of providing all the services required for the functionality of the modern office, and this coupled with a sensitivity to local history and architecture created a unique skillset to carry out this job successfully, and to the delight of the new tenants. Lord Mountgarret would be proud of the house that has emerged; restored with sensitivity to its former glories.

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