Bloomfield Geriatric Hospital, Rathfarnham, Republic of Ireland

       As yet another European Country with an aging population, medical provision for geriatrics is becoming        an important issue in Ireland. The country possess a developed Government sector but also an        expanding private hospital range.

       This is the significance behind the redevelopment of the Bloomfield geriatric hospital in Donnybrook        near Dublin.

       BLOOMFIELD GERIATRIC HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION

       To be built on a 10-acre site on Stocking Lane, Rathfarnham, the new building is expected to be        completed in 2005 and will cater for about 95 people. It will replace the complex in Donnybrook which        has been caring for older people since 1812. A new purpose-built "Quaker House" is also to be provided        at Stocking Lane.

       Contractor John Sisk & Son, the largest general contracting company in Ireland, won the commission to        build the new hospital. The company recently completed Limerick Regional Hospital and University        College Hospital phase 2.

       The site in Donnybrook is currently home to Bloomfield (psychogeriatric hospital), New Lodge (nursing        care) and Westfield (residential home). Swanbrook House, on the same site, houses the administrative        office of The Religious Society of Friends in Ireland (Quakers).

       The facilities at Bloomfield Avenue will continue to operate as normal until the new premises at Stocking        Lane have been completed. It is estimated that the new development will take 18 months for full        completion and that the move to Stocking Lane will take place in early 2005.

       SITE DEVELOPMENT

       The Stocking Lane development follows a successful agreement between the religious Society of        Friends with Galway based developer, Edward Holdings, to swap the valuable existing site for new        purpose built facilities on the Stocking Lane site. The arrangement was negotiated by Bill Nowlan of W.K.        Nowlan and Associates in co-operation with Douglas Newman Good Commercial.

       Edward Holdings agreed to build a €22.86 million nursing home on a 10-acre site at Stocking Lane in        Rathfarnham in part exchange for the Bloomfield Hospital site, owned by the Quakers. It is believed there        was also a straight payment of around €5 million to the society. Edward Holdings, headed by Gerard        Barrett, then secured permission from Dublin Council for a luxury residential development and offices on        the hospital site.

       The developer amended its original proposal following a further information request from Dublin City        Council, reducing it in scale from 70 residential units to 66 and from 4,200m² (45,208ft²) of office space        to 3,162m² (34,035ft²).

       Since the agreement was signed a row has broken out with local Donnybrook residents who claim that        the new apartments will have a deleterious effect on the area, and, of course, its land values.

       Residents argue that, while Edward Holdings got permission for a relative low density scheme with        blocks no higher than five storeys, "this is entirely contrary to what is now proposed on the opposite side        of the road where blocks of apartments of mammoth scale and proportions will completely interrupt the        architectural theme of the area."

       The dispute is ongoing but has not stopped construction of the new hospital, which is so far progressing        to schedule. There have been no protests from neighbours and residents in Rathfarnham, apparently        due to the employment possibilities.

       HOSPITAL DESIGN AND FACILITIES

       RKD Architects designed the new premises. RKD is a well-established Dublin firm, which has wide        experience in the healthcare sector in Ireland having designed hospitals since 1963.

       The new building is seen as a relatively small commission as hospital assignments go. As a building        that will have to provide accommodation to the aged, it features as far as possible, smooth gradients for        wheelchair users and careful ergonomics.

       A spokesman for Bloomfield commented that, "building a new hospital gives us a chance to establish        the latest facilities. This was difficult in the last building which was a historical, rather than functional        edifice."