Gordon Murray and Alan Dunlop finally get permission in Sligo

Gordon Murray and Alan Dunlop have now received final consent for their mixed residential and commercial development in Sligo. It will be the architects first project to be built outside the United Kingdom.

The project for 16 single and duplex apartments and 6 new retails spaces will form part of larger proposals for the Courthouse development area in the town and help link Old Market Street to High Street, through newly created wynds and public spaces. The gm+ad development will sit adjacent to the Sligo Courthouse and has been commissioned by Sligo developer, Louis Doherty.

It often seemed that approval could not be obtained for what was a difficult site and initially included the removal of a building of some historic interest ."We have been working on the project now for almost four years " says Alan Dunlop, " and through many permutations but at last we have consent."

Although their first design was well received by the council , the architects proposed the removal of Teeling House on Old Market Street and its replacement with a new building, at the entrance to their site. Teeling House is thought to date back to 1820 and is owned by Louis Doherty and at the time of the original application was not a protected structure. "Unfortunately" adds Gordon Murray, " it got caught up in the current debate in Ireland about the protection of historic structures and consequently drew opposition from various conservation groups and some local politicians" The architects had to withdraw their original proposals and redesign to include the retention of Teeling House.

gm+ad took the opportunity to rethink their whole approach and the new design now addresses a new public space and the building is constructed to look like it has been hewn from limestone ; Sligo's indigenous building material from which all its important structures, like the courthouse and town hall, are constructed.

"It's been a long times coming" says Alan Dunlop " and we've prepared a contextual proposal which is particular to the town , however there will be nothing else like it in Sligo and we can't wait to get started"

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