Cadence is a dance and wellness hub located in Dundrum Business Park, Dublin, within a repurposed 1960s office building. The project explores how existing commercial structures can be adapted to support movement‑based activities and restorative wellbeing. This building reflects the functional office architecture of its time and has undergone multiple adaptations over the years, including the addition of a third floor, structural extensions, and service infrastructure. These interventions have created a layered and, at times, fragmented internal layout, while the original structural framework remains clearly legible. This condition informed the design approach, presenting an opportunity to reorganise and clarify the interior while working within the existing building envelope.

The building has been reconfigured to accommodate dance studios, yoga facilities, a wellness café, and quiet retreat areas. The original structure is retained and complemented by targeted interventions that support new uses. The design is guided by an understanding of movement in space, considering rhythm, pace, transition, and function. The central design concept draws inspiration from the flow of dance movements and the layered qualities of the silver birch tree. A central courtyard, anchored by a silver birch, forms the focal point of the building, introducing natural light and visual connections across multiple levels while supporting orientation and continuity.

Circulation routes guide users from open, high‑energy spaces to more enclosed, introspective areas. Subtle changes in materiality, lighting, and scale define each zone, creating distinct atmospheres without rigid separation. Visual connections to the courtyard are maintained throughout, reinforcing a cohesive and adaptable interior.
Designed primarily for dancers and yoga practitioners, Cadence also offers accessible wellness spaces for the wider community, encouraging engagement with movement, reflection, and wellbeing. The project responds to the pace of city life by providing a place to step away, reset, and reconnect.