Skibbereen Credit Union acquired a former three storey banking premises, a protected structure, with a view to relocating to a more central location and to provide dynamic and contemporary Facilities in the commercial heart of the town, with easy access for all of its members.
The challenge was to accommodate the current and projected needs of the Credit Union within a restricted site, whilst respecting the character of the Protected Structures, their historic footprints in the streetscape and their urban form.
The resulting building, constructed over a period of eighteen months on a very restricted site and involving substantial conservation of existing fabric, provides highly energy efficient contemporary accommodation over three floors using a light filled triple – height banking hall as an organizing device.
Throughout the building a high standard of workmanship prevails to achieve crisp, contemporary, seamless detailing down to the last shadow gap and perfect planar surface in the new accommodation, to the intricate restoration and re-creation of traditional cornices, paneling, timber sashes and plasterwork in the old section of the building.
All internal joinery, including the public counter, oak staircases and traditional detailing was all by Bantry Timber Mouldings, a subsidiary of the Main contractor, Murnane and O’ Shea. The high quality of workmanship achieved on this project can be substantially attributed to the experience and attention of site foreman Albert O’ Neill and John Fitzgerald, Contracts Manager.
All of this was achieved despite severe limitations on site operations and the very restricted access via the rear of the site for the duration of the build.