Re-imagining the Chocolate Factory
Griffith College’s third year students in Interior Design and Interior Architecture invite you to view their proposals for the re-imagining of the Chocolate Factory, the former Williams & Woods’ confectionary factory, and now the hub of a new creative community on King’s Inn Street, Dublin from 5-7pm on Thursday 26 February 2015.
The Chocolate Factory Project Brief
Image: a sketch of the exterior of The Chocolate Factory building that was originally built c.1910
The building, originally built c.1910, now houses a community of designers, artists and small enterprises from different disciplines that wish to work together in a creative and stimulating environment. They include an interior designer, a graphic designer, a furniture designer, a film maker, a photographer, an event planner, a jeweller, a fine artist, a micro-brewery, a chocolatier and a web designer.
Students were asked to present innovative proposals for the renovation of the Chocolate Factory for a range of uses including offices and studios, a restaurant and event spaces. The main objective is to encourage collaboration within the community but also give the individual businesses the practical advantage of sharing the building’s facilities.
Image: Interior Architect student Katarina Söderlund’s re-imagining of the building’s entrance space
The initial stage of the project required students to survey, research and produce a concept model. This process then enabled them to develop their design ideas while also being mindful of conserving the existing building’s historical features. Consideration of sound environmental design principles, passive solar gain, cross-flow ventilation and the use of sustainable materials were also key areas the students had to think about.
Image: Interior Design student Julien O’Reilly’s plan for the basement floor
Key areas within interior architecture are space planning, structure, materials and atmospheric design and these have to be carefully balanced with building regulations, statutory requirements and health and safety compliance.
Last month the students submitted their final proposal including drawings and sketches, detailed hand-drawn floor plans and also computer-aided design images to illustrate their own design development process and how they managed the key elements of interior architecture.
The students have been continuously assessed during this three-month project and marks will go towards their final degree award.
The Georgian Townhouse Project
The event next Thursday will also showcase the results of a group project undertaken by Griffith College’s design students to analyse and re-imagine the south Georgian quarter of Dublin. Students have explored the potential re-use of existing buildings for inner city living and commercial enterprise. The challenge has been to find ways to sympathetically renovate and update for modern-day use whilst also retaining the historical architectural interiors and features of the Georgian buildings.