Swords Masterplan - Fingal County Council

EDGE CONDITIONS
The north, east and south boundaries are considered as edges and shall be coordinated
with neighbouring lands to respond to the existing scale, use and
character.
1. R132 [see Cross Section]
CHARACTER
● The building forms and heights along the R132 parkway, express the
importance of the R132 as a major route, and also form the enclosure of the
Metro Plaza which will be a major new public space and gateway to Swords
from the Metro Stop.
● This edge shall comprise a series of prominent focal buildings.
● The general building line on either side of the R132 shall be set back a
minimum of 13.5m from the road edge to permit the existing parkway/
landscaped condition to continue though the Metro Quarter and facilitate the
necessary car park ramp access to the adjoining developments.
● The height of buildings along this edge will be 20-40m at Metro Plaza,
grading down to approximately 10-15m to integrate with adjoining
edges/developments.
● The proposed landmark buildings on the R132 shall have a height up to 50m
subject to an assessment of architectural merit.
DESIGN
● The façades along the R132 are an integral component of the Metro Quarter
identity and their design should reflect this status.
● Façades should be broken down into discrete clearly separate elements to
avoid the appearance of a monolithic wall of buildings. Single facades
should be no more than 20% of the site length along the edges.
● Buildings shall have active frontages at ground level below the Plaza, where
possible, and at +1 level onto the Metro Plaza. Building at level 0 and +1 will
connect into the R132 and Metro Plaza (when developed) respectively. Active
frontages will also be supported at , level +2 to provide further activity and
life along the Metro Plaza.
● Buildings facing onto the Plaza shall have well-designed and large foyers
and addresses accessed from the Plaza.
● The ‘plinth condition’ caused by the approximate 7m rise required to cross
the R132, is to be treated as a landscape element integral to the R132 public
realm. The ‘plinth’ design form and qualities will be set by the Metro Quarter
detailed design.
● Buildings shall be designed to cater for phased delivery of Metro North and
Metro Plaza to include at grade connections and access.
● The height of the buildings shall provide an appropriate scale of enclosure
to the Plaza.
● The buildings fronting the R132 shall include an arcade treatment and active
frontage at level +1 along the R132 to allow movement along this edge until
the arrival of the Metro Plaza. These uses at level +1 will be capable of
extending to a new alignment along plaza, and filing the arcade space, in
the event of such being created.
R132 EDGE
S W O R D S M A S T E R P L A N
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