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The Society of St Vincent De Paul St Michaels Housing project Foxford designed by John Halligan Architects were announced as the ‘Housing project of the Year’ at the Building and Architects of the year awards recently held in Dublin. The prestigious awards ceremony is an excellent platform for Architects and their buildings, where the rich variety of architecture encompassing all the main building types can be appraised.
St Michaels housing project funded by Mayo County Council under the Local Authority housing programme delivered by Clydesdale Construction contractors was designed by John Halligan Architects, a Mayo Company delivering architecture services from their offices in Charlestown for 35 years. A registered RIAI practice, and a Grade II conservation practice, the office works on a diverse range of projects, including residential, healthcare, education, and hospitality, ecclesiastical and domestic projects. John Halligan Architects prides itself on being a design led practice, committed to close involvement with both their clients and fellow professionals.
The award winning project sits on a picturesque site located off a service road which terminates in a cul-de-sac, and next to a crèche. The brief was to provide one and two bedroom houses which were to be fully accessible, together with a community building. The houses were to become permanent accommodation for elderly people of the community. The Foxford Conference of St. Vincent de Paul wanted to create a community atmosphere in the development, and foster new friendships between occupants. The development sits well into the landscape of Foxford, with pedestrian connection back into the town from the rear of the site through the church grounds. John Halligan of John Halligan Architects outlined “We are delighted to be involved in this award winning project and to receive industry recogn
ition for this social housing scheme. The St. Vincent de Paul Foxford committee worked tirelessly with the design team to deliver such a high quality development”
The Society of St Vincent de Paul, Foxford Conference moved into their new complex of eight houses specially designed for the elderly and disabled in April 2016.The Society were very aware that they needed a build that would provide very low maintenance both externally and internally. This was achieved very handsomely. The houses are in a very picturesque location and the design has certainly lent itself well to this. The externals are all of natural slate roofing, local stone frontages and a permanent colour plaster finish with triple glazing throughout. Internally, great care has been taken to ensure comfort and warmth, and all of this achieved at very low running cost.
Paul Benson, Head of Housing at Mayo County Council congratulated and acknowledged the work of Halligan Architects and all involved with the project outlining “St Michaels Housing Scheme in Foxford is an excellent example of Mayo County Councils successful partnership working with local community approved housing bodies. The high quality sensitively designed scheme successfully meets the needs of both older people and people with disabilities and integrates most successfully within the context of Foxford village and its existing community facilities”
Paula Kenny – SVP National Manager for Social Housing – “The Society of St Vincent De Paul are delighted to receive the Award. The project demonstrates the excellent work and dedication of the Society’s volunteer members to meet a local community housing need and the quality of housing provision that can be realised through effective partnership working. The members of the Foxford Conference have an immense Vincentian spirit which emanates from all their work in particular their ongoing dedication to the tenants to ensure a sense of well- being and belonging within the Foxford community. The strive to achieve high quality standards was key to the successful delivery of the project with the strength of approach further demonstrated in the effective housing and tenant management practices. St Michaels Scheme and the work of St Patricks Conference can only serve as a good practice model for the Society’s housing nationally”
For further information on the project visit www.jharch.ie
