Ireland’s Annual National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards 2024 will be hosted by Fingal County Council on November 7 in the Crowne Plaza, Northwood, Santry, Dublin.
Applications are now closed and the shortlist of nominated projects has been announced. Oaklee’s Ashfield scheme in Clonminch on the outskirts of Tullamore is nominated for the Age Friendly Housing Award, sponsored by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The scheme was nominated from a list of 177 entries. “As people age, they spend more time in their own homes,” said a spokesperson for the awards. “This means that older people’s quality of life, and thus their health, can depend on the appropriateness of their home environment and the conditions in which they live.
“This award recognises innovative housing initiatives that enable older people to remain independent for as long as possible.”
The Clonminch age friendly housing scheme involves affordable housing group Oaklee, the Pat Loftus Construction Group, Brian Dunlop Architects, Nolan Construction Consultants, MPA Consulting Engineers, Delap and Waller, and Doyle and O’Troithigh Landscape Architecture.
Ashfield Clonminch is a purpose built, well proportioned, modern development of 19 single storey homes which seeks to re-imagine the traditional concept of age friendly living for the over 55s, said spokesperson Enda Higgins.
“The mixture and variation of house types: ten two-bed single storey homes, four two-bed fully accessible single storey homes, and five one-bedroom single storey homes, ensures equity of representation, and that each home remains flexible enough to respond to the changing needs of respective residents.”
The project is described as “a combination of sleek modern architecture and generous outdoor communal space - which seeks to stimulate resident interaction, while the use of high quality, sustainable building materials make this a low maintenance, aspirational location for mature residents who wish to maintain a sense of independence and dignity in a community setting.
“Each of the individual house types in this development are designed to collectively offer a unified identity to the scheme as a whole. A common theme of a brick finish to the front entrance door locations along with an entrance canopy runs through each of the house types but with subtle variances of type.
“The central green space provides an overall focal point for the development as will the individual front gardens designed as a buffer between the public footpath and the dwelling itself and encourages interaction with immediate neighbours. In addition, the retention of the existing hedgerows and trees to the site boundaries maximise the value of the existing ecological features.
“The single storey layout however ensures this remains both non imposing and respectful to the surrounding environment.
“The blend of a modern light coloured render facade contrasted with a more traditional redbrick element at the entrance - replicated across the site, both a nod to the traditional vernacular and look toward the modern, comfortable, and efficient future offered by this style of home.
“The one-way system around the abundant communal green space ensures that no opportunity for interaction is missed."
