Construction has begun on a new cafe and terrace in Merrion Square, central Dublin.
Dublin City Council has retained property consultants Colliers to secure a tenant for the property, which is set to be completed in the autumn.
The cafe, which has been designed by Bucholz McEvoy Architects, will take up about 362sq m (3,897sq ft). It will include a dining area, kitchen and staff areas as well as bathrooms and baby-change facilities. There will also be a 96sq m terrace.
A foyer space can accommodate temporary cultural uses as well, said Colliers in a statement.
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The building will be near the original perimeter path close to the playground and Oscar Wilde memorial sculpture. It is being made available “under a new long-term lease and will be handed over in an enhanced specification ready to accommodate a successful operator’s fit-out”, Colliers added.
The development adds to the growing number of public parks in Dublin having a cafe installed.
There is already a coffee shop in Herbert Park on Dublin’s south side, while there is also set to be an outlet in Palmerston Park in Dublin 6, among others across the city.
The property’s “timber and glass facades will incorporate opening sections of various sizes capturing views in different directions whilst optimising the quality of sunlight in internal spaces” while a roof will “extend horizontally at particular locations to provide” cover from sun and rain.
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