The power of simplicity

Nestled in the heart of Ranelagh, one of Dublin’s most desirable residential locations, a new development of apartments was formed. The Residences at Sandford Lodge offer dwellings of great living quality: each house consists of two one-bedroom apartments on the ground floor with a duplex above, each of the 36 apartments offering private green spaces or terraces. Founder Shay Cleary and associate Karl Tobin of Shay Cleary Architects speak about simplicity, density and materiality.

BDA Brick Award Winner 2024
© wienerberger UK

This project was designed to be a high-quality residential development. Who are the targeted residents?

Shay Cleary: The name “Lodge” already carries a certain prestige, which was intentional by the client. The target residents are well-off urban professionals, and the concept is entirely rental; none of the units will be sold. This project is part of the client’s long-term portfolio.

Where does the name originally come from?

Shay Cleary: The name comes from a historic building on the plot, called the Sandford Lodge. Our design acknowledges this heritage by creating a generous lawn that frames the Lodge and restores some dignity to its lost estate setting. The scheme establishes a new setting for the protected structure, while also providing residents with a distinct, inward-looking community space.

Did that sense of prestige influence the architectural expression?

Shay Cleary: Absolutely. We aimed for a clean, modern form. In brickwork, for example, we paid close attention to detail – using flush pointing and subtle recessed panels to create a unified surface. Instead of emphasizing each brick, we wanted the façade to read as a rich, textured surface.

You chose the Bronsgroen, a hand moulded brick with a soft, yellow-brown finish. Why was the Bronsgroen the right brick for The Residences at Sandford Lodge?

Karl Tobin: The Bronsgroen brick has great variation and depth, which gives the building warmth while maintaining a strict, contemporary form. It also suited the area’s character and our architectural goals very well. Its richness and texture complemented the notched brick volumes and terraces in our design. We looked at a lot of brick samples and informally visited some buildings to see it in use. The Bronsgroen felt like the right choice.

Was the client closely involved in material decisions?

Karl Tobin: Very much so. Since the apartments are held as a long-term investment, the client was personally invested in quality. We decided to use brick at the beginning, and it was a mutual decision with the client. They attended site meetings, reviewed panels, and discussed mortar colours with us. The client was an advocate for clay brick; their strong advocacy made our early vision easier to realize and maintain through to completion.

„From the start, we had made the decision to work with brick – both for durability reasons and
architectural intent." - Founder Shay Cleary and associate Karl Tobin, Shay Cleary Architects

What are the benefits of working with this brick?

Shay Cleary: From the start, we had made the decision to work with brick – both for durability reasons and architectural intent. The construction method is straightforward and cost-effective: with the brick we could build traditional load-bearing cavity walls with mineral wool insulation. It’s essentially the way one would build a house; it’s not a tower building where you make a steel frame or a concrete frame. It’s just simple house building. That also kept the project economical.

How did the construction go?

Karl Tobin: The contractor and bricklayers did excellent work, keeping detailing precise and minimizing cut bricks. Because the construction method is widely familiar, it avoided complexity and delays. We weren’t reinventing the wheel – just applying tried-and-tested methods carefully. The result met our expectations both technically and aesthetically.

The 12 houses with 36 apartments are arranged as duplexes and garden units in a triangular shape. What was the architectural context of the Sandford Lodge?

Shay Cleary: The plot was originally occupied by smaller buildings, bordered by neighbouring houses. Because of the context, we chose to design a scheme that respects this scale. By pushing the buildings to the edges and avoiding direct overlooking of adjoining properties, we were able to create a triangular garden at the centre. This shared green space is meant to be tranquil and communal, giving residents a sense of intimacy and belonging.

Why did you choose to establish the development as low-rise buildings?

Karl Tobin: Traditionally, developers in Ireland favour five- or six-storey apartment blocks to achieve viable densities. But in Dublin, particularly in suburbs like Ranelagh, the predominant fabric is low-rise with two- to three-storeys. Low-rise housing works especially well for suburban infill sites like Sandford Lodge, where sensitivity to scale is critical. We were able to achieve the necessary urban density without building high.

Building low-rise brings several other benefits: we avoided the expensive shared elements of typical apartment blocks like lift cores, corridors, basements, and landlord areas. Instead, each unit has own-door access and parking within the wider development’s existing basement. This strategy creates a streetscape rather than a monolithic block, while also being cost-efficient.

How did you fit the design into the urban fabric?

Shay Cleary: The area features many Victorian houses with terraces and gables. We didn’t imitate their style but respected their scale. At three storeys, our buildings are comparable to two-storey houses with pitched roofs. The result is contemporary but welcoming. The richness of the brick softens the sharp, modern forms, ensuring the development feels rooted in local tradition, rather than alien.