NORTH LODGE
PORTMARNOCK
Supporting information on planning permission application for North Lodge Portmarnock.
A sincere Thank you…
This planning application is submitted by Derry and Alison Kealy, the father-daughter team and proud local family business owners of Kealy’s of Cloghran (Gastro Pub beside Dublin Airport), Town Yard Modern Bistro Malahide (co-owned with Sergiu Arcalean, Executive Chef of The Kealy Group), and Beach Brew (our small Food Truck currently at North Lodge).
As passionate members of our community, we fell in love with North Lodge and happily became its stewards in 2019. Our hope is to create a warm neighbourhood restaurant where everyone can gather, appreciate the stunning property, and celebrate its rich history. We’re excited to restore North Lodge to its former glory, opening its doors for all to unwind and enjoy good food in its delightful garden setting by the sea.
We’re keen to make a positive impact on Portmarnock by employing locals and becoming valued members of the business community.
Thank you for reading, and we hope you will welcome our new planning application.
Warmly,
Derry and Alison Kealy
HISTORY
North Lodge was built in the late 1870’s and was one of two gate houses commissioned as entrance lodges security for the main house of St Marnocks, now transformed into the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.
The land on which it stands was part of the private family estate of ‘St. Marnock’s’ – where the patriarch of the Irish Jameson Whiskey Company called ‘home’.
The house was a centre for socialites and dignitaries of that time including royal visitors from the British Royal family. King Edward VII visited the Jameson’s at their beachside home regularly and availed of the a nine-hole golf course on the site over 100 years ago.
In the mid-twentieth century, the estate was broken up, and both North and South Lodges were sold off, and the main body of the property became the Portmarnock Hotel. North Lodge became a private dwelling and South Lodge, a bed & breakfast.
FIRE
The lodge was largely destroyed in a fire and rebuilt in the early 1970s.
The front facade remains the closest thing to what the building would have looked like pre the 1970s fire featuring red brick and granite window surrounds. These details are the only similarity with its southern counterpart South Lodge, which was built at the same time.
It’s likely that the front facade survived however the side and rear elevations were rebuilt evidenced by a more contemporary brick at the corners.
In summary, the only original element of the building is its South facade, highlighted in yellow, and the remaining fabric dates from the 1970s.
VISION
Our vision for the site is to create a community restaurant to serve the communities of Portmornock and Malahide.
A home-from-home quality driven food offer is proposed.
The ambition is to establish a restaurant that will enhance the beach user experience along with invigorating the site and opening it up to the public.
Key Design Principles
Given the constraints & opportunities of the site and brief, the following were identified as key design principles:
1. Modesty in Scale
The project has been scaled back significantly to address the previous planning refusal reason.
2. Conservation
The reduced proposal is respectful to the original North Lodge in form, material and detail.
3. Garden & Trees, Boundaries
The site is already a natural garden. There are numerous trees of quality on and around the site which contribute to a wonderful private garden feel. The proposal has been composed to retain these trees and enhance this garden.
4. Materials
A natural high quality palette of materials is proposed that will age gracefully with time.
5. Light
The maximisation of natural light is a key driver in the design, particularly as the building is surrounded by tall trees.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
GARDEN & TREES
A high quality garden is key to achieving our vision.
The site is already a wonderful private garden and Dermot Foley Landscape Architects have proposed to protect and enhance this amenity.
There are numerous trees of quality on and around the site which contribute a large part of the character of the site. Our approach is to retain and protect those trees, particularly around the perimeter of the site and the proposal has been composed accordingly. Each tree has been surveyed and assessed and a detailed arboricultural report has been prepared and submitted
as part of the planning documentation. A number of trees are proposed for removal on the western side of the site to create the driveway and to enable the opening up of the site to the road. These trees will be replaced with new semi-mature trees.
Proposed planting will include indigenous trees and is carefully considered to ensure that the trees establish well in the long and short term.
Quercus robur (Oak)
Acer psuedoplatanus (Sycamore)
Prunus serrulatta (Japanese Cherry)
Luzula sylvatica
Boundaries
The boundary treatments proposed largely involve the consolidation of the existing boundaries.
The western boundary wall to the roadway is a mix of original random rubble wall and concrete.
It is proposed to retain this wall and consolidate it with a lightweight railing fixed inside the wall and planted behind the hedging.
The existing Northern, Eastern and Southern boundaries are twentieth century fabric in modern blockwork and again are to be retained.
Along the Southern boundary, it is proposed to replace a section of the existing wall with railings and a gate to open up, give access and a visual connection to the south.
Materials
A natural soft and welcoming palette of quality materials is proposed.
The current elevations are made in brick and it seems appropriate to continue to use brick as the main material. In some small areas, the brickwork detail will be perforated to provide natural ventilation.
For the second material, a natural slate is proposed for the roof to replace the replica fibre cement slates currently on site.
Copper, will compliment the palette. Detailing of rainwater goods and eaves.
Elegant timber and aluminium framed windows and doors will complete the palette.
Landscaping will soften the materials further.
The robustness and longevity of the materials will ensure that the development will age gracefully and maintain its beauty long into the future.
- A: Slate roof / Terracotta tile
- B: Brick to complement existing
- C: Refurbished painted timber frame windows.
- D: Timber /Aluminium window frame
- E: Copper rainwater goods and eaves details
- F: Perimeter planting
Light
Good daylight is important. Bright positive spaces are good for our mind, body, spirit.
The maximisation of natural light on this site surrounded by tall trees is a key driver in the design.
A long continuous roof light is proposed at the top of the dining area.
This will enable the occupants to enjoy good light throughout the day.
3D Visualisations
As part of our submission we have prepared two photomontages illustrating the scheme in context.
Please see the location map below to locate where the two photographs were taken.
Location 1
Location 2
THANK YOU.