Status: Complete

Located amongst the undulating landscape of rolling hills and drumlins of North County Meath the form and materiality of this timber framed home are derived from the features of the surrounding landscape. This project has been a self-build undertaking by the clients.

The home is set within a rural landscape which is given over to agricultural activities including cattle rearing and dairying. Field boundaries comprise drystone walls and vegetation-topped earthen and stone banks with occasional mature trees dotting the boundaries. Two ringforts dating between 550-900AD are located to the north of the site.

The building comprises of a simple strong form in the landscape. Natural slate clads both walls and roof, with openings puncturing the exterior to frame the views of the surrounding landscape. The building is set gently into its environs, with undulating internal floor levels reflecting the surrounding site.

The interior has been carved out around a central roof light, with all rooms opening off this central space. Varying floor levels & ceiling heights differentiate zones for eating, cooking and relaxing. The minimal white interior of the home is designed to act as a subtle backdrop framing views of the Irish countryside.

Photos: Aisling McCoy

In Leixlip, County Kildare, this 1990s family home is situated on a challenging sloped site with a raised garden. This residence faced the dual challenge of limited light and an obstructive existing extension.

The project's central aims were clear: infuse natural light into the interiors, maximize storage capacity, and establish a seamless connection with the garden.

The existing wall between the utility and the ground floor WC was removed to create a spacious shower room at ground level. A large utility area was placed in the darkest section of the home, offering easy access and functionality.

The kitchen, now relocated to the east of the floor plan, gained a new window overlooking a planter, ushering in morning light. The existing double doors between the kitchen and living areas were replaced with a double wall of storage, the rooms remaining connected via a hidden full height door. The choice of a clean oak palette, adopted throughout the design, contributes to a minimalist yet inviting aesthetic.

The previous extension, was replaced by a modest brick extension. Extended to the rear to meet the raised garden level, it was scaled down to the side, creating a larger patio that enjoys the morning sun. A full-length bench caters to storage needs and seamlessly bridges the gap to the garden level.

The distinctive shape of the extension emerged from the need to provide rear access to the utility and offer ample floor area for a seating and dining area within the new extension. This design choice resulted in a striking staggered brick wall that captures the play of light.

A touch of playfulness was introduced through a series of rounded windows, providing a contrast to the sleek interior palette. A strategically placed rooflight above the kitchen island casts light deep into the floor plan.

The white brick used in the new extension reflects light, and coupled with the exposed roof joists adds texture and character to the space.

Photography: Studio Anois

Contractor: Novus Construction

Engineer: Ross Somers

Architecture Team: Declan Crowley, Niamh Chambers, Finbarr Kinmonth Duerden

Situated in Skerries, a coastal village in North County Dublin, this terraced cottage holds a special place in the town's architectural history. It's located on the oldest street in Skerries, a designated Architectural Conservation Area.

The cottage has seen many changes over the years, with numerous extensions and alterations, resulting in a single-bedroom layout. Adjacent historic cottages on the street had been replaced with two-story structures, making the preservation of this building and its streetscape a central design concern.

The solution involved retaining the original cottage's front facade and introducing a new two-story extension at the rear. The previous extension had exceeded the neighboring buildings' footprint, prompting an alignment with the established building line.

Internally, the original cottage featured low ceilings. The ground floor ceiling height was retained, while the first floor was opened up into the eaves to create additional headroom. In the new construction areas, raised ceiling levels establish a clear distinction between old and new.

Upon entering the cottage, the front door opens directly onto the narrow street, without any setback. Timber screens on the ground floor offer privacy and conceal service spaces, including a WC, utility room, plant room, and cloakroom.

The doorway connecting the original cottage to the new rear extension was preserved, with the addition of a sliding door for flexibility. Double doors at the rear were replaced with a circular window to introduce natural light.

Upstairs, the master bedroom occupies the eaves, while the children's bedrooms are situated toward the rear. The original roof pitch at the front was retained, preserving the cottage's character.

One notable feature is the replication of the soft edges seen in the original cottage, including a curved staircase, undulating roofs, and a curved setback at ground level. This not only provides sun screening for a south-facing sliding door but also pays homage to the cottage's architectural heritage.

Sustainability and energy efficiency were prioritized in the project. The home was made airtight, and an energy-efficient Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system and Heat Pump were installed, resulting in an A-rated Building Energy Rating (BER).

Photography: Studio Anois

Contractor: Dempsey McGrogan

Engineer: Ross Somers

Architecture Team: Niamh Chambers, Declan Crowley, Joanne Cuffe

Status: Completed 2022

A mid-terrace Victorian red brick home has been renovated within its original footprint. The challenge was to respect the original reception rooms whilst allowing light to penetrate through the home and provide additional storage and ancillary spaces. The home has been opened up by connecting the main reception rooms via pocket sliding doors.

The rear of the home has been opened up to connect with the garden which acts as an additional space.

Photography: Studio Anois

Contractor: Novus Construction

Landscape: Cityscape Gardener

Engineer: Ross Somers

Status: Completed 2021

Awards: RIAI Awards 2021 - Highly Commended

This early Georgian terrace dwelling located in Dublin City Centre, has been carefully renovated to become a contemporary home preserving any original features. The majority of the dwelling was rebuilt after a fire in the 1980's. The design was configured around the existing steel structure from the 1980's.

Original brickwork has been exposed and restored and a new central stairwell allows light deep into the plan. The living spaces have been moved to the top floors to capture light and a roof garden allows expansive views over the city.

Photography: Aisling McCoy

Contractor: Butler Contractors Ltd.

Engineer: Ross Somers

Status: Completed 2019

This semi detached property was lived in by the clients family since it was built in the 1970s. The brief was to create a space suitable for contemporary life whilst respecting the rich character of this home. Key items such as the brightly coloured sanitaryware and original built-in furniture were carefully set aside for reuse in the project. 

The challenge was not to find more space but to get the existing house working better for our client. The works were restricted to the footprint of the existing dwelling. The ground floor was opened up by moving the bathroom to the front of the house, creating a large bright living space overlooking the park to the rear of the property.  The original parlour and master bedroom were re-instated in all of their original 1970’s glory.

A playful exterior comprising of green timber screening and handmade tiles is contrasted by exposed timber joists and subtle natural finishes internally.  

Photographer: Aisling McCoy

Contractor: Paul O’Connor

Status: Completed 2018

This mid-terraced brick house was in poor repair and suffering from severe damp ingress. A few simple architectural interventions; moving the stairs, exposing the original brick structure and the addition of new roof lights have transformed this bright modern home.

Contractor: Vincent Walsh

Photography: Kieran Ryan

Status: Completed 2020

This new family home is located in County Meath on an insular rural site, bound by a dense hedgerow.

The overall design is a contemporary take on the formal Irish country house. The main living spaces are carefully placed to capture sunlight throughout the entire day.

There is a simple palette of materials; white render, concrete and slate throughout.

More photos to follow.

Status: Completed 2019

More photos to follow

This semi-detached family home is situated on a slope. The kitchen lacked a connection to the rear garden, which was accessed via steps. A small 15m2 extension both bridged the gap between home and garden and added a bright dining space . A simple palette of brick and timber ties the new build elements into the existing kitchen.

Contractor: PJ Grealis

More photos to follow.

Status: Completed 2018

This project, a two storey stone cottage from the 1700's presented us with a challenge. A 20th century concrete extension had started to subside, and tear away from the original structure, resulting in structural cracks and damp ingress.

Due to poor ground conditions and a tight budget, the decision was made to demolish the extension, and reduce the total floor area by a third. The thick internal stone walls at ground floor level left small rooms, better suited as bedrooms and bathrooms.

Moving the living spaces upstairs, and raising the ceiling to the roof structure has created a large bright open plan living space which takes advantage of the evening light. 

Contractor: Tommy Forrestal

Photography: Kieran Ryan

Status: Feasibility

The main living space of this family home is characterised by a series of brick barrel vaults resting on exposed concrete beams. Over the kitchen, a vault is punctured by a large skylight creating a dramatic moment while ensuring maximum light entry. The coupling of brick, both exposed and painted, with blonde timber and polished concrete floors adds to the natural feel of this space.

Status: Completed 2021

More photos to follow

Located in Booterstown, this semi-detached home required expansion and upgrading to suit contemporary living. The design retained the majority of the ground floor plan with the hallway and both reception rooms kept intact.

A new modest extension and further conversion of the garage allows for a generous kitchen / dining space, utility and shower room. A polished concrete floor defines the renovated areas and creates continuity through the series of spaces. Frameless sliding doors allow for the spaces to be open plan whilst allowing for separation if needed.

The form of the single storey extension is sympathetic to the neighbouring property. An undulating roof recedes to the side of the party wall to minimise any overshadowing on the neighbour's side. Cleverly placed rooflights take full advantage of the roof’s varying pitches to ensure maximum light entry to the kitchen below.

Internally the exposed roof joists highlight the roof’s undulations and offer a more stimulating space by expressing the playfulness of the roof.

Externally, an exposed ring beam sets a datum and standardises opening heights, marrying the proposed and existing. To tie in with the existing house, the extension is finished in pebbledash below the concrete datum. 

 Contractor: Butlers Contractors

Engineer: CORA

Status: Feasibility

The Complex, “Dublin’s north side live arts centre for adventurous artists and audiences” required a new home for their performance space, gallery and artist's studios in Dublin's market district.

Our design intent was to retain the character of the area and to meet the extensive brief with minimal adjustments to the original warehouse structures, whilst establishing a clear brand identity for the arts centre.

Status: Feasibility

Our proposal for a rural craft distillery on the West coast of Ireland builds from the vernacular language of the site. Existing farm buildings are reimagined as the storehouse and administrative buildings.

A new corrugated addition centred around a large light well, focuses the attention on the copper still inside. 

Status: Tender

Located in Clifden, Galway, this terraced townhouse is in the client's family since construction in the 1940s. The house has been uninhabited over the last decade and requires a full renovation to avoid dereliction and bring the property up to today’s standards. The intended works will make this home as efficient and energy conscious as possible working with the constraints of the existing structure.

The proposed front façade respects the existing proportions but highlight the house’s contemporary transformation. The rear of the house compiled numerous additions over the years in the form of lean-to structures which compromise the quality of the spaces in the existing house.

By grouping service spaces and relocating them to the plumber’s workshop at the side of the house, the original ground floor of the house is allowed to contain the living spaces. The removal of several partitions on the ground floor transform the compartmentalised home into a contemporary, open planned space. Sliding screens allow for the closing down of the open spaces to cosier contained rooms when necessary.

The existing first floor layout suited the design brief and was left unaltered barring the addition of new bathrooms. This project highlights that reducing area can improve the quality of the space.

We were commissioned by Workhouse Union to participate in Town Ecologies 2022, focusing on the rural villages of Ballyhale and Knocktopher. The heart of our project, the "Ballyhale & Knocktopher Community Needs Analysis," seeks to explore the challenges and opportunities in managing and preserving these cherished village communities.

Our approach included a series of interactive workshops with diverse community members, aiming to empower residents to collaboratively shape a strategic vision for the future of their villages. This collective effort has yielded valuable insights that provide a foundation for sustainable, biodiversity-led, and achievable development.

Key Project Highlights:

- Public Space Enhancement

- Enhanced Village Connectivity

- Open Space and Recreation Development

- Ecology, Biodiversity & Heritage Preservation

- Streetscape Improvements

- Public Transport Enhancement

- Accessibility & Traffic Management

We are proud to play a small part of the in enhancing the quality of life in Ballyhale and Knocktopher, fostering a strong sense of community and preserving the natural beauty and heritage of these villages, under the wonderful mentorship and guidance of Workhouse Union, Kilkenny LEADER Partnership and Kilkenny County Council.