The Brief

CK Architecture was contacted to design the refurbishment of a retail unit to be used as an Indian food take-away restaurant. The client Co. Bahoo Ventures ltd, runs Indian food Take-away in Ireland and the UK. The clients' brief included for a large and modern commercial kitchen with a reception area providing seating facility for the customers to order. The 77 square metres unit is located at ground floor of the Charlestown Shopping Centre with access from St Margaret's Road. The clients were buying a lease subject to planning permission being granted for the change of use. The management company of the shopping center imposed restrictions on the front facade as well as other restrictions regarding staff access. The unit is fully glazed to the South on St Margaret's Road, while the rear walls are within the shopping centre. The unit was equipped with a mezzanine and sanitary facilities. The unit was not equipped with central heating or a ventilation system. It was equipped with a basic fire detection and alarm system connected to the shopping centre main.

The Project

The client was buying the lease subject to planning permission being granted. There were long periods of discussions around the design and the lease negotiation. 6 month free rent was offered by the owner, in order to complete the design works, organise the tender and carry out the construction works. We progressed towards a modern and functional solution as required by the client's brief. The design proposal included a large and modern commercial kitchen with walls covered using Altro Whiterock uPVC cladding and floors protected by Altro Stronghold flooring in the optic of a good hygiene standard and non-slippery floors. A new sanitary facility was proposed in compliance with part M of the Building Regulations 2010. A rear fire safety exit was proposed to access a fire protected corridor from the shopping centre. The access door also provides access to the shopping centre waste disposal. A services engineer was appointed for the ventilation and exhaust system which required an elaborated design and installation. A fire detection and alarm system was provided with emergency lighting as required per I.S. 3218 and I.S. 3217. Delays occurred during the planning application due to a dispute with the shopping center management in respect of providing food for consumption on site, which was not the client's intention, but the shopping centre and planning department's preferred option. Planning permission was granted in June 2014.

The Construction

A kitchen designer and a fit-out contractor from County Mayo were appointed. In September 2014, a seven days notice for commencement of works was submitted with the fire safety certificate and disability access certificate applications. All construction works were completed in December when commissioning of the ventilation system, fire detection and alarm system, kitchen equipment was carried out. The opening between the shopping centre and the unit was carried out by the Charlestown Shopping Centre management company. A new louvre was fitted to the front facade to facilitate the exhaust ventilation. The louvre color and profile were selected to match existing. Additional fire protections were requested by the fire officer in respect of an electric water boiler and a switch board. A secondhand grease interceptor was dysfunctional and had to be replaced with a new unit prior to the kitchen opening in January 2015.