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Not only does the new OPW-designed district veterinary office in
Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim place strong emphasis on natural ventilation and
lighting, it rests comfortably in the rural landscape and boats
commendable green features too. Lenny Antonelli reports
Sitting in the rolling Leitrim countryside, just outside Drumshanbo village, the Department of Agriculture's new district veterinary office is integrated with its rural surroundings in more ways than one. Designed to sit comfortably in the landscape, the building is largely illuminated and ventilated by its environment too.
Completed in April, the 2,800 square metre office building was designed by the Office of Public Works and can hold up to 110 staff. The list of green features on site includes natural ventilation and lighting, a well insulated structure, solar thermal panels, recycled construction materials and facilities for cyclists.
Fitting with the landscape was a priority for architect Sean Moylan. "Because the ground floor is clad with stone, it gives the impression of a building that's firmly rooted in the landscape," he says. In contrast, most first floor elements are clad with timber to give them a less permanent and warmer appearance.
Stone is an integral part of the Irish landscape though, and the building is designed to reflect that. Internally, the exposed concrete walls are plastered to create a smooth concrete finish. As you move outside, the rectangular stone cladding of the ground floor comes into view. Further out, a random rubble stone wall surrounds the site. "All the time as you come out from the entrance the finishes get rougher and rougher as you start to merge with the landscape," Moylan says.
The building was designed around an entrance courtyard – an obvious focal point. "Entry to the building is through a sheltered space to get out of the Leitrim wet and wind. It's not just an abrupt entry." A second courtyard functions as a light-well.
Natural lighting and ventilation strategies are at the heart of the building's design. While reducing heat demand is the priority in residential build, the biggest energy hogs in office buildings are typically cooling and lighting. Both the lighting and ventilation strategies were digitally simulated and tweaked during the design phase to test their performance.
The OPW employed similar strategies at the Department of Agriculture's food safety offices in Kildare, profiled by Construct Ireland last year. By creating slender open-plan offices with openable windows along both sides, there was little need for artificial lighting or ventilation there. The design at Drumshanbo is somewhat similar. The open plan office on the first floor is ventilated simply by opening the windows – the internal space is slim enough to ensure sunlight and air can penetrate throughout.
Natural lighting and ventilation strategies were central to the design
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