83. St. Stephen’s Green is a beauty of a Georgian building. It is positioned at the southern side of the well known St. Stephen’s Green municipal park, with the rear elevation facing towards Iveagh Gardens. The site is compiled by three Georgian townhouses 82. - 84. St. Stephen’s Green, in addition to an extension built in the early 2000s located in the backyard of the site. 82. and 83. was built in 1736 by John Cooke while 84. was built by Captain John Corneille the following year. Today, 83. St. Stephen’s Green functions as a hotel - Stauntons on the Green.
The three Georgian buildings are listed as protected structure, in addition to being listed as zone 8: Georgian Conservation Areas “To protect the existing architectural and civic design character, and allow only for limited expansion consistent with the conservation objective”. The main reason for the zoning is to make sure that such a significant area will be protected in the best possible way. With that said, it has been encouraged to use zone 8 for facilities such as regeneration, cultural use or development of accommodations (Dublin City Council, 2021, p. 620).
According to Dublin City Council, the city center offers several cultural and leisure offerings, such as, shops, work, study, community spaces and healthcare. With that said, more and more people do their shopping and work from home. This has resulted in a different use of the city center. Due to this, it will be crucial for Dublin city center to offer a wider ranging amenities and uses, to evolve with time (Dublin City Council, 2021, p. 12).
Healthy placemaking is also an important focus when future developing the city center. Architecture and urban design of quality and green spaces
will be beneficial to provide quality of life, in addition to good health as well as wellbeing for all (Dublin City Council, 2021, p. 26.).
Nonchalant is the soul of 83. St. Stephen’s Green - A wise, old lady. After being trapped behind the walls for hundreds of years, she will finally emerge.
She has a modern approach to the way she expresses herself. Similar to the building, the old lady has her perfect imperfections of bygone time, but still express herself in a modern way.
A health and wellbeing recreation centre should not have to be sought. It shall seek out to the target group. Dublin is the largest city in Ireland, making it natural for the client to open the first center here. The city is also where the young people work, study and hang out in their free time.
83 St. Stephen’s Green was the perfect renovation project for the Nonchalant Health and Wellbeing Recreation Centre. A user-centered offer that shall contribute with low-threshold mental health and wellness offers for young people. The goal is to improve the access of mental help, in addition to better the mental health of young people in Ireland.
Nonchalant will be a home away from home. A trendy, yet authentic place that people shall crave. Making a unwanted situation of taking care of mental health issues, or just treating it, into a desired one. A place that not only offers low-threshold counsling either it is with a group, a psychologist or a life coach. It is also a place that offers so much more. Nonchalant invites the diversity of teenagers and young adults to eat breakfast, together at the long table in the breakfast lounge, lunch in the café or in the garden, and dinner where it is desired. This location is also the perfect place to go to attend to a yoga class. The wise soul of the site is also eager to give the guest something of high value. Knowledge. The site will invite speakers to talk about important topics such as sustainability, mental health and wellbeing. It will also be possible to stay in one of the thirteen ensuite bedrooms.
The buildings at the site will reflect each others. The extension in the back of the site will impliment high quality and long lasting materials similar to the ones used in the main building, such as oak and marble. To create a holistic tuch to the site, it has been suggested to bring in new windows to the extension. The shape will be similar to the ones on the main building. However, the new ones will be made of stained oak. The main building will reflect some of the modern elements used in the extension, such as smoked oak veneer on the walls of the modern bathrooms, this is a simple addition to the stunning rooms. One can see a clear difference between the original and the modern. A nonchalant harmony. In order to achieve a fully accessible site, there have been suggested to make an extension to the right rear elevation of the Georgian structure. This will make it possible to bring in a lift that can make the building more including. The same type of lift will be introduced to the renovated extension in the back of the site. The doors that is inviting the guests in to the lift, will be made of brass, this will contribute to make the lift easier to spot. The main building will go through a process where all modern elements that does not contribute to an authentic environment have been suggested to be removed, such as the modern carpet in the main buildig. This will be removed, and the original wooden flooring will be repaired.
The new alterations is desired to be apprishiated and become a part of the buildings rich history.
