Historic Ballast Office is to be renovated as restaurant
PLANS are under way to turn the historic Ballast Office on Wexford’s Crescent, a protected structure, into a public restaurant/cafe which will be leased out by the local authority.
The proposal by Wexford County Council, has been welcomed by the heritage body An Taisce as a means of providing ‘an appropriate new use for the landmark quayfront building’.
An application under Part X1 of the Planning Act, has been lodged with the planning department of the Council by Stephen Carr Architects on behalf of the Economic Development and Planning Section of the local authority.
The request is for planning approval for alterations and renovations to the former Harbour Commissioners building to facilitate a change of use from office to shop/restaurant and is accompanied by an Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment compiled by conservation architect Michael Tierney and a structural report by Arthur Murphy and Company.
According to Brendan Roche of Carr Architects, the Ballast Office is an historic protected structure of regional importance with a prominent and central position on the Crescent Quay.
He said recent quay landscaping works with granite paving carried out by the local authority has put Crescent on a par with the best open spaces in Wexford town.
The aim is to expand the potential of the quay while fulfilling the Council’s obligation to maintain and protect its historic buildings.
The brief outlined to the design team is to renovate the under-used asset for letting as a café/ restaurant.
The existing building is mostly empty, unheated and exposed to the elements in certain areas with no first floor ceilings. There is condensation on internal walls, causing plaster to become stained and brittle.
The most obvious cause of damp was highlighted in a survey carried out by Fintan Farrell Conservation Services (FFSC) in August 2019. His report which is being used to guide the current renovation proposal, highlighted considerable rising damp in the floors and walls.
According to Mr. Roche, it is believed the majority of damp issues are tidal, the building being at a low level on the quay front. As many historic buildings don’t have damp proof coursing, moisture is rising up the walls.
The intention is to waterproof the entire ground floor and walls, which will involve removing existing floors and replacing them with a matching suspended floor.
The design will restore or highlight the remaining historical features of the building, including the stairwell which is still in good condition, although partly concealed by later stud walls.
The natural sandstone on the front facade, which is currently painted over, will be uncovered.
The architects said the project must also ensure longevity for the local authority tenant and provide a comfortable and sustainable building for the occupants in the long ter.
To this end, a number of thermal envelope upgrades have been proposed to reduce condensation, mould growth, drafts and heat loss.
The internal fabric of the building has been altered over the years, with the removal of the original plaster and entire ceilings with cornices and this allowed the possibility of heating and structural upgrades.
The improvements will include double-glazed sliding sash windows to match historic Lawrence Collection photos, internal insulation finished with lime plaster and the replacement of absestos slates on the roof with natural slate.
Fire systems in the building are either non-existent or sub-standard for the purpose of a change of use and it is proposed to remove all existing services and repair joinery or other damaged surfaces, while minimising impact on the building. Ronan Meally Consulting Engineers (RCME) have been appointed for this purpose, having experience of working on protected structures, including Johnstown Castle and Fota House in Cork.