Approach

Company Approach

Mitchell + Associates is a multidisciplinary design practice incorporating Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Arboriculture and Environmental Impact Assessment at its core. Our designers are drawn from a range of backgrounds and professional experience which allows our clients to create development solutions that function to the highest design and aesthetic standards. The practice was founded in 1988 and over the last 25 years has established itself as a leading design practice. With this multi-disciplinary approach to design issues, we develop coherent, integrated design strategies for projects in a broad range of urban, rural and natural contexts. We bring a depth of understanding and expertise in issues that determine environmental, economic and social sustainability to all of the projects that we are involved in. This commitment to our core values of excellence, innovation and creativity forms an integral part of the design process and allows our designs to deliver the highest quality projects for our clients. Mitchell+Associates are accredited for Quality and Environmental Management Systems to International Standards ISO9001:2008 and 14001:2004

Masterplanning Services

Mitchell + Associates masterplans provides for a framework in which a balance can be achieved between the need for development and the need to conserve the valuable natural and built amenities that exist while delivering a comprehensible, useable vision that has the support of all relevant parties and which will clearly provide for the creation of land uses that will reinforce the role of the study area within the wider context. We identify and reinforce the ‘sense of place’ and our solutions for development options build on the individual character to propose coherent urban space structure and amenity/open space structure at an appropriate urban scale in terms of the density, scale, height, massing and architectural design of the built environment and to provide design guidance as necessary to achieve.

Urban Design Services

Over the years Mitchell + Associates have engaged in urban design practice in all areas of the discipline, from strategic framework assessment and planning, through 3 dimensional analysis and design of urban quarters and neighbourhoods, to detailed public realm design and construction projects. We have been engaged by public bodies and private developers to undertake these tasks and many of our strategic documents and design proposals have been adopted as, or have helped formulate, planning policy in many local authorities. The multi-disciplinary and collaborative nature of the practice means that the broadest spectrum possible of urban design projects can, and have been, dealt with by our in-house team. We have also successfully collaborated with other design and planning professionals in this regard. Place-making, character and identity, coupled with imaginative use of materials and design features, integrated with clear legibility and flexible use of space are all hall-marks of our built urban design practice.

Landscape Architecture Services

Mitchell + Associates is project focused and our involvement is centred on achieving designed solutions specific to the site which derive from its context, including; the historical, physical, economic, social and cultural processes at work and the aspirations inferred and emerging from the development brief. We are committed to the production of creative designed landscape solutions which acknowledge and exploit the links between man and the land. We believe that vitality and sustainability are essential contributors to successful design solutions. Mitchell + Associates is currently involved in projects in both the public and private environment and of widely varying scales, including: site master planning; urban design and regeneration; public parks and open spaces; commercial/corporate institutional; and residential projects. The practice has also contributed to policy documents such as the National Disability Authority Guidelines, Landscape Strategy Cork City and Play Space Guidelines for the Dublin Docklands.

Environmental Services

Landscape Environment is a core section of the multidisciplinary consultancy service provided by Mitchell + Associates. It has been developed over the past 20 years in response to both European and National environmental legislation to protect and improve the biodiversity of the Irish landscape and to promote environmental sustainability, environmental assessment and management of our landscape assets. Our clients are based in both the private and public sectors throughout the country. Our public sector portfolio includes input into strategic policy and land use guidance documents for local authorities, Local Area Plans (LAP’s), Area Action Plans (AAP’s), and Green Infrastructure / Open Space Plans and Development Plans. Our Private Sector experience is also extensive and includes landscape and visual impact assessments (LVIA’s), Landscape Management Plans and Landscape Conservation Plans for historic parks and demesnes and project experience covering the following sectors: national, regional and local infrastructure; major residential, recreational, commercial and town centre developments. We have subsequently developed substantial experience as ‘expert witness’ at oral hearings with An Bord Pleanala.

Arboricultural Services

Mitchell + Associates have developed a dedicated arboriculture section over the last 10 years and it has become a key element of the company’s activities. Our qualified arborists work closely with our landscape architects and architects inputting into the design development of our projects and also undertake surveys and reports on the condition of existing trees. Arboricultural work undertaken to date includes woodland, estate and individual tree surveys and management plans and the supervision and management of tree protection on construction sites. Mitchell + Associates completed the development of a tree management strategy for Cork City. In addition to tree surveys and tree management strategies Mitchell + Associates prepare tree work schedules and provide strategic supervision of relevant tree management contracts on site.

Project Management Services

Mitchell + Associates offer project management services in all of the design disciplines we are engaged in. Our strong skill base in planning, organisation, and management of resources coupled with our experience in honoring project constraints such as; scope, time, and budget, combine to provide our clients with all of the tools required to bring a project from the drawing board to completion. Mitchell + Associates also employ qualified project mangers to work in collaboration with our clients as well as a network of consultants to bring about beneficial change, added value and to achieve all of the project goals and objectives. Examples of projects we have managed are The Installation of the Francis Bacon Studio at HughLaneGallery and we are currently providing PM services to BRL in the procurement of three schemes in Phase 4 Housing in Ballymun

BER Assessment Service

From the 1st of January 2009 a BER certificate is required for any new or existing buildings offered for sale or letting. A BER (Building Energy Rating) is a standard calculation of the energy performance of a building, similar to the A to G rating for a household electrical appliance. 'A'’ being the most energy efficient and 'G' being the least energy efficient. The BER certificate will also indicate the Carbon Dioxide emissions rating, which can be used to check if new dwellings are compliant with Part L of the Building Regulations in relation to their carbon emissions. Mitchell + Associates now offer this service for both new and existing dwellings. Our fully qualified BER assessor has carried out numerous home energy assessments for both new and existing properties, and with over twenty years experience in the construction industry is on hand to offer advice on how to improve the energy rating of your dwelling