An Bord Pleanála approves Dún Laoghaire urban beach project
Paul Mulhern
The type of facility Dun Laoghaire's Urban Beach is to be modelled on.
The €2.75 million urban beach and barge pool project proposed for Dún Laoghaire harbour has been given the go ahead by An Bord Pleanála.
The beach, modelled on Berlin’s Badeschiff project, is to include a cafe and artificial beach at the East Pier, alongside a floating barge containing a swimming pool with heated, treated seawater. The 250sq m swimming pool on the floating barge will heat seawater to 26 degrees. The beach is to be about 240sq m in area.
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company said the project would attract more than 150,000 visitors a year and pull in €1 million in admission charges. Figures for the annual running and staff costs have not been released.
It is expected to be open for summer 2016 and will be open for six months of the year, from April through to September.
A Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company image of the proposed new building and pool.
The plan includes a floating swimming pool containing heated and treated seawater, utilising a converted river barge which will be located within the Harbour. The Urban Beach will include toilets, changing rooms, a café, a wind-protected cafe seating and lounge area, where patrons can relax on a deck chair and enjoy views of the iconic harbour. The facility is designed with a sustainable and environmentally friendly ethos. Materials include the use of a recycled river barge, long life timber cladding, recycled rubber sand effect flooring and recycled timber decking. The pool will use treated sea water which will be heated by extracting heat from the seabed. Low energy technologies will be promoted throughout, and Dun Laoghaire Harbour prioritise energy supply from renewable sources.
Architect's rendered image of actual the proposed building and pool.
Above and below: The design team's rendered images of the proposed pier buildings to accompany the new pool. (Compare with the previously published images).
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