The Old Borough
Dublin
Located in the ancient town of Swords, just north of Dublin city centre, The Old Borough is one of its best known buildings. When the client saw potential for a character pub in this prime example of Georgian architecture designed by noted Irish architect Francis Johnston, they appointed kdpa to design this sensitive conversion.
A school for nearly two hundred years it was this history that gave the building its local significance and it was this history that kdpa focused on to underpin its design approach.
Working to strict planning guidelines including the re-use of existing openings and specification of lime plaster finish, kdpa were able to organise the building so that the most significant space, the ground floor was almost entirely devoted to customer area. The interior sought to retain the essence of the original building with retained features, historical detailing and vintage inspired fittings whilst adding subtle contemporary nuances that brought the pub into the 21st century.
Photography: © Pippa Hudson Photography