Matt Talbot Road Apartments
Resilient Housing: 27 new social apartments around a planted courtyard
Client and Part 8 Design: Kerry County Council
TA Team Lead: Van Dijk Architects
Design & Build Contractor: Ned O’Shea and Sons
Engineering: MWP
Architect: Brendan Williams Architects and David Williams & Co.
The Challenge
This project was defined by its urgency and location. We were tasked with delivering 27 new social apartments on an existing town-centre site, which presented immediate logistical and contextual challenges.
The most significant constraint was the extremely short programme, with a critical need for construction to commence as soon as possible to meet pressing housing needs. Our challenge was to develop a high-quality design that could be delivered with exceptional speed and efficiency, while respecting the urban fabric of its central location and creating a desirable living environment for future residents.
Our Process
To meet the aggressive timeline, we embraced our value of Innovative Delivery. Our role as technical design and construction stage architect required a process optimized for speed without compromising quality.
Working in a Transformative Collaboration with the full project team, we leveraged Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to fast-track the delivery of these ambitious new homes. This involved a highly coordinated and efficient workflow, detailing the project for off-site manufacturing to run in parallel with on-site works. This proactive, technology-driven approach was essential to meeting the client's urgent programme requirements.
Outcome & Impact
The result is a resilient and well-designed housing scheme that will provide 27 much-needed homes, centered around a thoughtfully planted courtyard. By utilizing MMC, the project is on track for completion in early 2026, demonstrating our commitment to Joyful Efficiency.
This project stands as a clear example of our ability to navigate tight constraints and deliver high-quality social housing at speed. It showcases how innovative construction methods can provide rapid, effective, and sustainable solutions to the housing crisis, creating positive and lasting Sustainable Impact within an urban community.