Conservation Architect in Ireland and London

prax•is  / prakses /

praxis is the process by which a theory, lesson, or skill is enacted, practiced, embodied, or realised. It may also refer to the act of engaging, applying, exercising, realizing, or practicing ideas.

In the Spring of 1999 Michael O’Connor established the practice Michael O’Connor Architects and in the Spring of 2013 following the closure of O'Connor + Shanahan architects he founded ‘praxis architecture’. The practice operates from two locations, Limerick and London. The Limerick studio is based on O’Connell Avenue in the georgian heart of the city while the London studio is off London Wall, a stone’s throw from the Bank of England. A deep interest in both the theoretical and practical side of architecture is at the heart of the practice. Each design is individual and derives from circumstances specific to that particular project including context, history, brief, experience and research. Lengthy discussion forms the starting point for all projects and an ability to listen and to ask the right questions informs key decisions through the project lifecycle. The aspiration is to create innovative solutions that respond to the context and qualities of site, are enriched by an inclusive and considered design process and react to timeframes and budget. The practice benefits from Michael O’Connor’s twenty years in private practice and involvement in a diverse range of projects both in Ireland and Internationally.

Conservation Services:

Michael O’Connor is a RIAI Architect Accredited in Conservation at Grade III and a RIBA Conservation Architect (Equivalent Grade II RIAI).

Praxis architecture is a RIAI Practice Accredited in Conservation at Grade III and we have over 15 years experience working with protected structures and significant historic buildings.

Our services with respect to conservation include :

  • Guidance on Property Grants and Refurbishment Grants

  • Surveys and photographic inventories

  • Conservation reports

  • Conservation method statements

  • Inspection of conservation works

  • Full design solutions

  • Repair & Restoration - Conservation of Historic Buildings

  • New Buildings in sensitive areas

  • Development & feasibility appraisal

  • Full Design Solutions for Historic Buildings

  • Renovating Old Farmhouses and Heritage Buildings

  • Comprehensive Home and House Renovation

Past Conservation Projects:

  • No. 4, The Crescent, Limerick: See Building Dossier No. 2.

  • 80 O’Connell St., Limerick: See Building Dossier No. 1.

  • 81 to 84 O’Connell St., Limerick: See Building Dossier No. 1.

  • 17 Hartstonge St., Limerick: Extensive conservation and extension works on a Georgian red brick dwelling dating back to 1830, enhancing living accommodations while retaining historical features.

  • Former Courthouse Castleconnell, Co. Limerick: Adaptive re-use of a 19th-century stone courthouse as a private dwelling, integrating modern living with historical preservation.

  • Vokes, Adare: Revitalization of a two-storey urban commercial structure from 1830, involving mixed-use development within the protected structure's curtilage.

  • 13 Mallow St., Limerick: See Building Dossier No. 4.

  • Rathkeale NS No. 2, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick: See Building Dossier No. 3.

  • 20 Barrington St., Limerick: Refurbishment of a terraced two-bay two-storey over basement house from 1900, focusing on roof finishes and structural integrity.

  • Spirit Store, Rutland St., Limerick: Temporary adaptive use of a corner-sited end-of-terrace Georgian building for commercial purposes, maintaining structural and historical integrity.

  • Teddy’s Playschool, Dromcollogher: Transformation of a detached single-storey cut stone courthouse from 1890 into a functional playschool, preserving its architectural heritage.

  • Glebe House, Curraheen North, Askeaton, Co. Limerick: Restoration and refurbishment of a two-storey three-bay house with basement from 1819, tailored to enhance and preserve its historical value.

  • 80 O’Connell St., Limerick – Phase 2: Ongoing conservation efforts on a four-storey over basement Georgian townhouse from 1840, focusing on sustainable preservation and modern usability.

  • 7 Cecil St., Limerick: Comprehensive conservation and restoration of a four-storey over basement Georgian townhouse from 1840, including design and planning consultations to maintain its historical essence.

  • Dollas House, Co. Limerick: See Building Dossier A (Submitted 2017).

  • Main St., Rathkeale, Co. Limerick: Ongoing conservation advice and architectural interventions on a three-bay two-storey townhouse from 1830, ensuring preservation aligned with contemporary needs.

  • Bermingham House, Ballymartin School, Manister Croom, Co. Limerick: Specialist conservation consultancy for a historical schoolmaster's house, focusing on design and structural interventions.

  • Greybridge, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick: Repair and replacement of roofs to heritage farm buildings under the guidance of heritage council funding, with ongoing conservation consultancy to ensure structural and historical integrity.

  • Croom Pre-School, Croom, Co. Limerick: Ongoing project providing conservation consultancy for the adaptive re-use of a protected structure as an educational facility.

  • No. 7 Davis Street, Limerick: In-depth conservation consultancy for the refurbishment of a proposed protected structure under the current city development plan.

  • Rose Cottage, The Avenue, Adare: Extensive renovation, refurbishment, and extension of a two-storey workers cottage within an Architectural Conservation Area, focusing on design and heritage preservation.

  • Ballintlea House and Mills: Ongoing project to change the use of outbuildings to residential spaces within a protected structure, providing comprehensive design and conservation guidance.

  • No. 3 The Crescent, Limerick: Conservation consultancy for the adaptive use of two floors of a four-storey over basement Georgian townhouse as a language school, ensuring compliance with heritage preservation standards.

Architectural Heritage Impact Assessments

  • Two-Storey Urban Structure, 1900: Renovation/refurbishment of a protected structure with mixed retail/commercial/residential development. Protected Structure, NIAH. (February 2006 to April 2006)

  • Oxmantown Town Mall, Birr, 1840: Residential development within protected grounds of an end-of-terrace three-bay two-storey house. Protected Structure, NIAH. (March 2006 to May 2006)

  • Model School Road, Birr, 1870: Development within the structure's curtilage of a terraced two-bay single-storey worker's house with attic. Protected Structure, NIAH. (April 2006 to July 2006)

  • Oxmantown Mall, Birr, 1820: Residential development within the curtilage of a pair of semi-detached three-bay two-storey over basement houses. Protected Structure, NIAH. (March 2006 to June 2006)

  • Bansha Castle, Co. Tipperary, 1760: Large residential development within the curtilage of a late Georgian wing attached to a medieval tower house. Protected Structure, NIAH No. (April 2007 to July 2007)

  • CYMS – Orbital Route, 1815: New road forming part of the orbital route in Limerick City, impacting a freestanding three-bay two-storey over basement building with historically significant architectural features. Protected Structure, NIAH. (February 2009 to May 2009)

  • St. John’s Place, Birr, 1850: Renovation/refurbishment of existing dwellings for use as apartments and offices, including construction of a residential development in the rear garden. Protected Structure, NIAH. (April 2008 to December 2010)

  • Anvil Inn, Portarlington, c. 1840: Retention of previous internal and external alterations in an end-of-terrace seven-bay three-storey house. Protected Structure, NIAH. (July 2008 to September 2008)

  • 22 Hartstonge St., Limerick, 1830: Comprehensive renovation and refurbishment of a mid-terrace Georgian red brick dwelling to return it to a single residence. Protected Structure, RPS No. 157, NIAH No. 21517086. (Spring 2010 to Summer 2011)

  • St. John’s Hospital, 1785: Construction of a car park area within the curtilage of an attached multiple-bay three-storey over basement hospital building. Protected Structure RPS 020, RPS 024, RPS 345, RPS 346, RPS 348, NIAH No. 21513042. (Summer 2011 ongoing)

  • 7 Lower Cecil St., Limerick, c. 1810: Renovation of a terraced two-bay four-storey over basement brick house for use as apartments. NIAH No. 21517034. (Summer 2011)

  • Chapel Hill, Castleconnell: Renovation of an existing single-storey cottage within an Architectural Conservation Area for return to use as a dwelling. (Summer 2010 to Summer 2011)

  • 4 / 5 Inverness Mews, Queensway, London, 1840: Renovation of two mews buildings at the rear of Inverness Terrace for use as offices. At the rear of a Listed Building and within an Architectural Conservation area. (Autumn 2009 to January 2011)

  • Flat 4, 24 Onslow Gardens, South Kensington, London: Renovation of a 19th-century terrace apartment, the former caretaker’s apartment within a Listed Building Grade II. (January 2012 ongoing)

  • Ballymackey Glebe House, Tipperary North, 1814: Renovation of the stable buildings of a detached three-bay two-storey over half basement former Glebe house for residential use. Protected Structure, NIAH No. 22402111. (Summer 2011 ongoing)

  • Shelbourne House, North Circular Road, Limerick: Renovation of an early 19th-century Greek Revivalist dwelling with an impressive main façade for multiple residential use. Protected Structure RPS 259, NIAH 21511015. (November 2013)

  • Salesians, Pallaskenry: Expansion of a 19th-century country house, ‘Copsewood House’, used as a secondary school, involving an extension to the existing school. Protected Structure RPS No. 637 B3(ii). (July 2014)

  • 7 Cecil St., Limerick: Renovation and refurbishment of a four-storey over basement, Georgian style building dating from the early 19th Century for multiple residential use. Architectural Conservation Area, NIAH. (Spring 2014 to Summer 2015)

  • 57 Elizabeth St. & 3 Gerald Mews: Refurbishment of a three-storey early 19th-century terraced building and demolition & reconstruction of mews to rear. Grade II Listed & Curtilage. (September 2014 to Summer 2016)

  • 31 Blomfield Road: Basement extension, rear extension, and refurbishment of one of a pair of mid-19th-century villas within the Maida Vale Conservation Area. Architectural Conservation Area. (November 2013 ongoing)

  • Ardhu Bar, Ennis Road, Limerick: Refurbishment and alterations to an ancillary structure to Ardhu House, part of a Protected Structure. R.P.S. No. 281 Limerick City Council. (March 2020 ongoing)

  • Bridge St.: Proposal for use as residential accommodation in a former courthouse building, a Protected Structure. RPS No. 637 B3(ii). (March 2020)

  • Croom Railway Station: Conservation report for essential works for grant funding application for a railway goods shed. Protected Structure RPS No. 1122, Railway Station, Tooreen, Croom, M30(26). (February 2021)

  • Ballyhahill: Repair of slate roof & structure of a heritage farm building, preparation of report and Method Statement. Heritage Farm Building. (June 2022)

  • Enright House CAT: Preparation of Conservation Advice Template under Dept. funding to refurbish to bring back into use as a dwelling, a two-storey heritage dwelling. (October / November 2022)

  • Cooke House CAT: Ongoing conservation works at a thatched cottage, preparation of Conservation Advice Template under Dept. funding. Protected Structure. (October / November 2022)

Applications Requiring Minor Conservation Input & Advice

  • The Forge, Adare (2006): Conservation report for a protected structure.

  • Lohan’s Shop, Adare (2004-2006): Conservation report for an architectural conservation area.

  • Iona Cottage, Adare (2006-2007): Conservation report for an architectural conservation area.

  • Shopfront, Main St., Adare (2006-2007): Conservation report for an architectural conservation area.

  • 48 Thurloe Square – RBKC (Autumn 2013): Architectural heritage advice for a conservation area.

  • Croom Castle, Co. Limerick: Conservation advice and report for a protected structure.

  • 21 Blomfield Road, Westminster (2013-2015): Architectural heritage advice for Maida Vale Conservation Area.

  • Tuamgraney National School (Summer 2014): Conservation advice for a protected structure’s summer works project.

  • 20 Chesterton Road: Architectural heritage advice for Oxford Gardens Conservation Area.

  • 20A Pembridge Villas (2017-ongoing): Architectural heritage advice for a conservation area.

  • 15 Mallow Street (2020): Conservation advice for repair and remedial works for a protected structure.

  • Kilbride (2020): Architectural heritage advice for a conservation area.

  • Fort Shannon, Glin (2020): Conservation advice for repair and remedial works for a protected structure.

  • Northfield, Clancy Strand (2020-ongoing): Conservation advice for repair and remedial works for a protected structure.

  • 86 O’Connell St. (2021): Feasibility and conservation advice for a protected structure.

  • Athlacca Emergency Works (2022): Conservation advice for modification works for a protected structure’s new use.

  • Gerald Griffin Memorial Hall (2022): Feasibility and conservation advice for a protected structure.

  • Croom Pre School (2022): Feasibility and conservation advice for a protected structure’s funding application.

  • Glenlevan, Ennis Road (2020-ongoing): Conservation advice for repair and remedial works for a protected structure.