Co. Cork

The project was to provide a new contemporary clubhouse on a greenfield site on the outskirts of Cork City, which was to form the focal point for a new relocated 2 x 18 hole Golf Course for Douglas Golf Club.

As the Clubhouse was to serve two seperate 18 hole courses, and also ancillary tennis courts and gym members, the scale of the project was extensive in terms of its accommodation. The scheme was subject to a number of alternative design presentations to the Committee which were developed to planning stage to allow members to arrive at the preferred design.

The proposal recognised the central and dominant position that the building would occupy in an otherwise green and rolling landscape, and this determined the massing and external materials proposed. This Option incorporated a translucent cladding to the upper level to reflect the landscape and skyscape. The curved façade and interlocking floorplates would mitigate against a sharp silhouette. The plans provided for two distinct levels of accommodation, separately rendered and styled to reflect the private / service use at Level G and the public and front of house activities at Level 1.

The plans were also layered east – west at each level, with changing rooms and Gym to one side and the pro-shop, committee rooms and staff accommodation on the other. These were separated by a generous central foyer space running the full length of the building which provided an internal spine linking both 18 hole golf courses and a feature stair connection to the first floor level.

Level 1 provided members social facilities including a Restaurant, Bunker Bar and wraparound external terraces providing panoramic views across both courses.

As a building in the round, the adoption of concave and convex plan form atop a stone plinth provided a variation to the elevations, with the main entrance clearly denoted by the cantilevered first floor providing a ‘port cochere’ to the entrants.

Michael Regan of EPCA was Director in Charge for this project whilst Managing Director of Reddy O’Riordan Staehli Architects