Stylish and sensitive transformation is planned for iconic Tipperary site

Another spectacular quayside transformation in Clonmel is about to take place, where the former Methodist Church is to be transformed into a restaurant.

The sensitive and stylish hand of Cash Powell Design is a hallmark of the Camida offices at No 15 and 16 on the quay, as well as No 3 Anglesea Street; the same design consultancy firm are involved in the new restaurant project.

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Eileen Powell of Cash Powell Design told The Nationalist of the challenges that they faced with the quay buildings: “They were townhouses with a mews and stables, and the design team was set with the challenge of making a workable modern office out of two 1830 buildings, taking into consideration the historic fabric of the buildings and the fact that they were protected structures.

“No 3 Anglesea Street was completed two years ago and again, that was turned into a modern workspace with a flow while at the same time protecting the historic fabric of the building,” says
Eileen.

“Camida never wanted to go to a green field site. They have taken the built heritage of the town and managed to protect it and enhance it.

“When that happens in a town, it revitalises the town, and people can see the possibilities”.

Cash Powell Design are involved with the former Methodist church's transformation into a new restaurant, Comida, and Eileen has been a regular visitor to Clonmel since 2008, when the Camida quayside transformation began.

She is delighted to be part of this new project, with a protected structure that needs to be worked with sensitively.
“The building is an archetecurial gem. The Weslyenans had three chapels in use in the town. The setting in this case is incredible. The simplicity of the building is what makes it beautiful. It is simple and pure. There are no complications internally,” said Eileen Powell.

Brian Grubb, a Clonmel man of Limerick-based Grubb, is the conservation consultant on the work.
“Everything from a conservation point of view, we work with Brian on that,” said Eileen.

The church, said Eileen is a completely different conservation project.
“lt is more challenging in a way. The building was in poor condition, there was a lot of damp ingress rising from the floor, and water had damaged the roof and the walls,” she said.

Eileen explained that while the building was in use, the fabric was deteriorating significantly.
A successful section 57 application has allowed Camida to work on maintaining and enhancing the building to make it water tight so that the new work can begin, and that phase of the work will finish in six or seven weeks time..

During that preparatory work, Eileen was surprised and delighted to discover a beautiful brick that had been covered over by inappropriate plasterwork and painting.

“That beautiful brickwork we found in the church was a real gift. It was discovered where the dining area in the church will be. New plaster was put on the wall and painted over in 1983, so it was lovely to discover this lovely brick there.

“We took off the inappropriate plastering, which did not allow an old building like this to breathe. The building was being suffocated, and by doing this work, we uncovered this massive archway and beautiful brick.

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“The external stone on the building is beautiful and when it is treated and properly pointed it will also look amazing” said Eileen Powell.

“The internal space is high and the feeling of the space is gorgeous. The simplicity of the building is what makes it so beautiful,” she said.

A modern building with kitchens, toilets and a private dining area will be provided at the rear of the church building, so as not to interfere with the integrity of the space in the original building.