Marking the start of the Adare Manor experience, guests are greeted with a grand new main entrance and ornate gatehouse inspired by the historical entrance of the Lantern Lodge.
The new estate entrance sets out a spacious landscape of parkland meadows and beautiful new Oak trees embraced with ornate gates and railings signifying the grandeur within. Through the ornate gates, glimpses of the mature estate parkland beyond start to reveal the estate's extraordinary collection of trees.
Adare Manor, Ireland
Adare Manor, Ireland
A magical Irish estate
An enchanted 13th Century Irish parkland estate and gardens has been sensitively transformed with a new contemporary landscape design reflecting the estate's heritage.
The parkland at Adare Manor dates back to the 13th Century with the current 19th Century Manor House being the last formal seat of Lord and Lady Dunraven. It was purchased by local businessman J P McManus in 2015, with the vision and brief to renovate and transform Adare Manor into a world class 5-star hotel resort, while respecting and enhancing the estate’s heritage.
The evolution of the development proposals sought to balance operational practicalities of the hotel with conservation and enhancement of the regionally significant heritage assets of the estate. The entire project includes formal parterre gardens, cloister gardens, walled courtyard gardens, arboretum planting, meadow parkland planting and swathes of new woodland habitat, woodland under-storey planting and native hedgerows.
A remodelled arrival sequence has reinstated a historic approach to the Manor House, affording a direct private drive from the entry gate to the grand front door. The siting of the new arrival road elegantly meanders northwards between existing oak trees setting up a new vista across the River Maigue to Desmond’s Castle beyond.
This was an important concept for the landscape masterplan, to introduce the unique setting of Adare which means ‘The ford (or crossing) of the Oak’.
This was an important concept for the landscape masterplan, to introduce the unique setting of Adare which means ‘The ford (or crossing) of the Oak’.
The parkland drive continues alongside the River Maigue past some of the Estate’s finest Weeping and Copper Beech trees to the historic bridge and river crossing to the Franciscan Friary, founded in 1464. Nestled amongst the tree canopies is the first glimpse of the Manor House and the majestic new archway of the West Wing extension.
Entering through the new archway of the West Wing extension creates a sense of drama and intrigue, culminating in at the grand arrival plaza, with an intricate tapestry of peacock tail porphyry sett paving.
Entering through the new archway of the West Wing extension creates a sense of drama and intrigue, culminating in at the grand arrival plaza, with an intricate tapestry of peacock tail porphyry sett paving.
Opposite the main entrance an array of sculptural topiary balls is informally laid out within the lawn as a playful interface between the formal manor gardens and the informal estate parkland beyond.
A series of smaller cloister gardens are located around the main manor house providing more intimate settings for contemplation and provide a dedicated garden space for the existing clocktower.
A series of smaller cloister gardens are located around the main manor house providing more intimate settings for contemplation and provide a dedicated garden space for the existing clocktower.
To the south of the Manor House sits the Formal Parterre Garden and centrepiece of Adare Manor’s landscape and gardens. A set piece of beauty and formality, the formal garden is a playful celebration of forms, shapes and scales, deeply rooted in the historical layout of the past.
Framed views and focal points act as invitations to explore the riverside walk, wider parkland and arboretum with mown paths, and an impressive new lawn amphitheatre.
Framed views and focal points act as invitations to explore the riverside walk, wider parkland and arboretum with mown paths, and an impressive new lawn amphitheatre.
5m tall yew topiary columns and cones, and a dramatic 2m high beech hedge, with stepped topiary arches reference the castellation of the historical gates to the estate. New Irish limestone paths create new routes through the gardens with an upper terrace for weddings and events at the hotel.
From the adjacent bar, lounge and restaurant area, this majestic garden offers a stunning vista of the estate and distant views of the hills beyond.
From the adjacent bar, lounge and restaurant area, this majestic garden offers a stunning vista of the estate and distant views of the hills beyond.
Project:
Adare Manor Hotel, Ireland
Client:
Tizzard Holdings
Size:
340 Hectares
Services:
Sitewide Masterplanning, Landscape Design of Estate & Gardens
Planning Approval, Concept to Tender, Construction monitoring
Awards & Accolades:
Condé Nast Traveler Awards 2023: #1 Resort Europe
Condé Nast Traveler Awards 2022: #1 Resort in the World
Condé Nast Traveler: Gold List 2021
ALCI Landscape Awards: Best Commercial Development 2019
Society of Garden Designers Awards 2019: Finalist ‘International Garden or Landscape’
European Heritage Garden Awards (EGHN) 2018 / 19: Finalist
AHEAD Europe Hospitality Design Awards 2018: Finalist in Landscape Category
Collaborators:
Hotel Architect: ReardonSmith Architects
Clubhouse Architect: Michael Healy & Partners
Conservation Architect - Consarc Design Group
Interior Designers: Richmond International, David Collins Studio, and Kim Partridge Interiors
Golf Course Architect - Tom Fazio
Planning Consultant - Tom Phillips and Associates
Heritage and EIA - Creagh House Environmental
Civil and Structural Engineers - Punch Consulting Engineers
Mechanical & Electrical Engineers - Arup (MEP)
Lighting Design - Kate and Sam Lighting Design
Photo Credits:
Adare Manor / Jack Hardy / Paul Lehane