Lidl, Ballymun
White polished concrete adds a ‘Lidl’ wow factor to Ballymun North Quarter
The combined retail, office and student accommodation project required two very different approaches from Cassidy Bros – the first to encourage outdoor social engagement for the apartment block residents and the second to discourage social activity outside the retail unit.
Cassidy Bros design engineers worked closely with MCA Architects and Austen Associates in the creation of the concepts to meet the concrete planter requirements for both uses while maximising aesthetics.
The brief for the purpose-built student accommodation, blocks A and B, was to ensure bright and airy accommodation to encourage student engagement and wellbeing both indoors and outside. The shared outdoor space was to be designed to be attractive and enticing – a place where people would love to congregate and interact.
The team at Cassidy Bros got to work and the result was the creation of attractive, exposed and polished concrete planters in the company’s unique Cardiff Lane white concrete blend.
A much more robust large concrete planter – which was designed to deter seating and social interaction – but include an aesthetically pleasing integrated garden area – was created for outside the supermarket unit.
It was great to work with Walls Construction on this interesting project to combine retail and office facilities with large-scale student accommodation. We were excited to be a part of this project as it challenged us to create large concrete planters for very different uses on the same site.
“On one hand we were tasked to deliver attractive polished concrete seating to promote social engagement outdoors in a residential setting, while on the other hand we were instructed to provide a concrete planter to discourage outdoor living in a busy retail setting.
“Our team was delighted to work closely with MCA Architects of Dublin and Wicklow-based Austen Associates landscape architects to come up with the concepts and drawings for these installations.
“For the student accommodation area, our Cardiff Lane white architectural concrete and integrated hardwood seating provides an impressive outdoor living area, which will no doubt entice students to come outside and enjoy the space for many years to come
David Cassidy, Managing Director Cassidy Bros
