Malahide Castle Summer Concerts
Turning Concert VIP Areas into Stately Home-Inspired Luxury
Back in June of this year, we had a truly incredible opportunity to travel to the depths of Dublin, Ireland, to install at Malahide Castle Summer Concerts.
Running individual concerts with artists from Charlie XCX to Justin Timberlake and Mumford and Sons, this installation was extended across 4 weeks.
Despite the cross‑sea logistics (and more than a few curveballs!), the outcome was more than we could have hoped for, equal parts theatre, comfort and old‑world charm, tailored for high‑profile guests in a festival environment.
Let’s take a look at the event in closer detail:
The Brief
Let’s break it down:
Audience: Guest promoters, VIPs and artist management.
Priorities: Style, comfort and grandeur; while remaining practical for an outdoor setting!
Creative brief: The client asked for the words “stately home”. Not something that typically pairs with a concert… but we embraced it wholeheartedly.
Alongside the visual aspects of our installations, it was also important to consider the experience for the guests. Hosted at such a prestigious venue, the elements of heritage and grandeur were to be clear, whilst using tactile and comfortable styling that invites guests to linger longer.
We translated the essence of old‑money luxury into elements that could be installed swiftly and safely within stretch tents, endure the weather, and still feel richly detailed.
Our Design Approach
As with the vast majority of our projects, we like to create visual mock-ups and designs to hand our clients, showing exactly the intention and props proposed for use in that event area.
Take a look at a few of the moodboards/mock-ups we provided for the team below.
Craft, Fabrication and Props
Interpreting the atmosphere of a stately home inside tents required a blend of building, finishing and restoration.
We used our textile skills to commission a fabric panelling system, creating the illusion of traditional joinery within the tent structure, upgraded our rustic bar with handmade panels, and designed a hotel-like cloakroom complete with rails and more.
Not to mention the faux wallpaper hangings, printed with the weather in mind, bringing a sense of heritage to the interiors.
To complement these builds, we sourced and refinished vintage dressers and sideboards, alongside smaller details such as books, vases, crockery, portrait paintings, mirrors, brassware and maps.
Layered textiles (such as rugs, throws and cushions) softened the acoustics and added warmth, creating spaces that felt intimate, transportive and unexpected in a festival context.
Sustainability Considerations
Sustainability was, of course, a part of our focus throughout the project.
We prioritised re-use by updating our core furniture and bars, restoring vintage pieces rather than purchasing new, and sourcing from charity, scrap yards and junk shops to allow props another lease at life!
The Logistics
Moving a large, detail-heavy design from the East of England to Dublin demanded precision planning.
After days of packing, checking and loading, the installation team faced challenges with transport and ground conditions, but overcame them seamlessly.
Heavy rain during the first days of setup required a wet-weather method statement, which was carried out with efficiency and with smiles still present.
Team morale remained high throughout. Shared dinners together and even an evening outing to watch Mumford & Sons helped keep spirits lifted, despite the long hours and demanding schedule!
Results
The finished spaces achieved exactly what was intended: immersive VIP environments that combined comfort, theatre and old-world charm, within the unlikely setting of a concert tent.
Operationally, the installs proved resilient, standing up to the Irish weather, the quick turnover of shows and the large amount of guests in and out!
And this project demonstrated that with the right craft and attention to detail, even the words “stately home”, in a tent, at a concert, can become a reality.
