Charleston Road Townhouses and Mews

Charleston Road in Dublin, Ireland, is renowned for its architectural heritage. Home to a variety of styles and ages, its multi-million-pound properties range from decorative Edwardian finishes to ornate Victorian designs, with the local geography exuding a sense of grandeur and attention to detail. When it came to constructing a quartet of four-storey townhouses, it was critical that any materials used were sympathetic to the existing brickwork of adjoining listed buildings.

Wienerberger's Apollo Red Multi brick was chosen for the project, provided to the subcontractor O'Reilly Bros Concrete, by Kingscourt County Manor Bricks.

The project entailed the redevelopment of a site located at 56 Charleston Road, where an existing six-bedroom, two-story 1930s dwelling of minimal architectural significance was demolished to make way for a contemporary four-bedroom residential intervention. Responding sensitively to the site's historical context, a mews-style dwelling dating back to 1876 was meticulously preserved and integrated into the scheme.

This historic structure, nestled at the southern periphery of the site, underwent a comprehensive refurbishment process, complemented by a thoughtful extension that respected its original character while catering to contemporary living requirements. The non-original sand and cement render was removed from the late 19th century dwelling, revealing the original brick façade which was carefully repaired. Where windows had been blocked up, the selected Apollo Red Multi brick was used decoratively to add detail and visual interest, working well as a counterpoint to the original brickwork while helping to architecturally connect the historic dwelling to the new townhouses.

The design approach sought to strike a harmonious balance between the introduction of new, forward-thinking architectural elements and the preservation of the site's heritage fabric. From an early stage, it was decided that the four new townhouses would be constructed primarily of brick as a high-quality material with exceptional weathering resistance. The townhouses are part constructed of pre-cast concrete sandwich panels with a 20mm brick finish, and traditional 217mm x 106mm x 65mm bricks for the curved bays, laid in a Flemish bond with a buff-coloured mortar.

The scale of the bricks used allowed the tight 1680mm radius of the bay drums to be constructed without needing curved specialty bricks. Movement joints were carefully considered and detailed to lessen their visual impact on the brick facades.

The tone and quality of Wienerberger's Apollo Red Multi enables it to blend seamlessly into the conservation area, respecting the character of surrounding late 19th century Georgian and Victorian townhouses. In this contemporary interpretation, the architects have deftly balanced historical references with modern spatial concepts and material tactility. The resulting residences demonstrate an architectural language that is simultaneously familiar, yet refreshingly distinct within the urban fabric.  

The four townhouses offer a contemporary reimagining of the classic brick Victorian townhouse typology. Each residence asserts a strong architectural form, distinguished by a large, curved brick bay with a deeply recessed window and a setback rooftop terrace. The exterior envelope is composed of carefully selected clay bricks laid in a Flemish bond pattern with off-white mortar. The interior has been meticulously arranged to maximise natural daylight and connections to outdoor amenity spaces, while the upper ground floor of each home features an expansive day room that opens onto terraces to the east and west.

A restored and extended mid-19th century mews building to the south, formerly known as Abercorn House, provides a compelling backdrop to the townhouses. Its reconfiguration, fronting Charleston Avenue, elegantly resolves potential overlook issues while serving as a fitting terminus to the southwest-facing terraces.

Aoife O’Halloran, Lawrence and Long Architects, commented: “Wienerberger's Apollo Red Multi brick was instrumental in integrating the buildings into the context of Charleston Road which is characterised by richly decorated redbrick homes. The brick’s quality, tone and subtle variation embed what are highly contemporary homes within this late Victorian setting.”