Voted the finest project in 40 years of the architectural ironmongery industry’s Oscars, Adare Manor is a singular achievement
The AI Specification Awards are the Oscars of the architectural ironmongery world and at the 2019 ceremony, the Adare Manor project was crowned Winner of Winners, the top industry prize. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the awards in 2022, the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, in association with the Royal Institute of British Architects, presented a special Jubilee Award honouring the best of the best from the event’s history. We were over the moon to be awarded this accolade for Adate Manor.
According to the judges: “This project is a worthy winner of the Jubilee Award as it encompassed all that is good about our industry. Attention to detail, care in choice of material and co-operation with the design team and client produced an exquisite result.”
The project
The Adare Manor project consisted of the renovation of the existing manor house, a new build extension providing additional guestrooms, a new ballroom, spa, various ancillary buildings, and a new golf club and function suite. This resulted in a world class hotel and golf resort.
We were tasked with preparing hardware specifications for all areas and buildings (approximately 1500 doors), with three architecture firms and two interior designers. Project management with numerous subcontractors followed – to best achieve this, a joint venture with Ireland’s Mooney Architectural was decided upon.
The products
The project was an 18 month contract which meant a very small window for a project requiring an enormous amount of bespoke products. Further challenges were imposed upon the AI since the client wanted the same range of products to operate with the Vingcard locking system. These products were subsequently designed and tested to work perfectly in harmony with the access control requirements across the entire project.
Adare Manor’s Gothic architecture suggested ironmongery in a pewter finish. However, the products available in such a material/finish contradicted the designer’s brief of high durability, “built to stand the test of time”. Therefore the products selected by the AI for the guest rooms and public areas were from Sun Valley Bronze of Idaho, USA. The dark patina on white bronze cast products proved to be the perfect choice for meeting both the design and durability criteria. However, their products were only designed to suit the North American market which resulted in visits by the AI to assist with the re-design of their products to suit European hardware.
Door furniture was colour-matched with a range of quality products: hinges from Royde & Tucker, door controls from Geze, exit devices from Strand Hardware and locks from Hoppe. A bespoke design was created for the wardrobe fittings and the ballroom doors. Stainless steel products from Harbrine’s stock range were used for back of house areas and the ancillary buildings. The final results speak for themselves, combining the modern with the classical to create a timeless hospitality experience.
