I’ve been thinking about the projects I’ve undertaken since moving to Ireland and this post is to document all of them.
A few points to note:
So here we go…
2005 onwards…
1. First experience of working with an Irish cottage; lots I’d do differently but hey I had to start somewhere. This is also pre-registration as RIAI architect
Our house (early on) in snow
2. The project that started it all. Our own house
Barn style extension & refurbishment to traditional cottage
3. Now several owners later – this project still gets traction and helps getting new work
Rear Extension & refurbishment to Ballycastle Cottage
4. Haven’t been out to see this in a long while!
4000+ sq ft house – Hollymount Co. Mayo
5. Almost forgot to add this one in – everyday I remember one to add to list
Asymmetric pitch 1 1/2 storey courtyard house
6. Probably the first high insulation, airtight house with MHVR, triple glazing, A rated house we did
1 1/2 storey passive in nature house
7. Again nearly missed this one from the archives. Mix of traditional white render and cedar
My double pitched roof
8. Now sold to lovely new neighbours, originally redesigned & constructed for another neighbour! (who still is a neighbour my OH goes walking with each day)
Contemporary extension to traditional cottage with curved walls.
9. Can you see the references to Ronchamp here? Met with client last week & still happy
Swinford Cottage Exterior, Garage & Cobblers Cottage
10. Still see the clients on this project, another well insulated house and one of the first with airtight tape on openings etc…
Contemporary, stepped, glazed corner extension to previously extended bungalow
11. You can see the Dermot Bannon influence here at finding my feet in Ireland!
Rear extension, new kitchen and ground floor remodelling following initial Simon Consultation
12. I also did some Simon consultations and this kitchen was the result of one
The square footage of the existing house has been increased by over 200% but the extensions understand the scale and proportion of the existing house. They are not trying to be identical; just showing a little politeness to the existing cottage.
This shows the approach to the house, the central section is the existing and the parts to left and right are new.
13. Should really go back to this one and get some good photos; shows a departure into real architecture, working with an existing building & pushed to limit with planning & construction – this is what it looked like before we started
14. A favour to family member – straightforward & definitely #Mayo
15. A double pitched house near Westport – drove past it a little while back & has been remodelled a bit since
16. A large extension and refurbishment to this property in Co. Galway
17. One of my favourites with exceptional clients. You can see the modernism wanting to come out here!
18. I did promise no unbuilt projects but hey – this was in the papers as one of the best un-built due to the Celtic Tiger!
Total view
19. Great forms in this one; truly Mayo but contemporary
20. Nearly forgot this one; one of the few houses I did for developers
21. Nearly forgot this one too; refurbishment & large extension to traditional 2 storey Irish farmhouse
22. I should definitely go back and see this one again; contemporary extension to traditional Irish cottage near the sea
View of curved walls & ‘barges’ from rear
23. Double extension, one end with curved walls, the other with a curved roof!
24. Unusual for me to do a house effectively in an estate (albeit a very fancy one); this one in Co. Galway
25. A good distance from me in Co. Clare. Here’s the rendered image plus it completed. Very Dermot Bannon again!
26. I’m really hoping this one got finished. My first foray into linked forms
27. 2 storey with linked contemporary ‘pavilion’ at rear
28. Our own office. Practically derelict when we took it on
Exterior – AFTER
29. Refurbishment of cottage in Co. Sligo
The existing cottage
Cottage restoration & extension
30. Before and after of restoration of very small cottage with extension for family (lovely clients too!)
Interior showing new media wall & sitting area
Interior showing extension to rear with extensive glazing, access to garden & rooflights
Exterior of new extension
31. Rare to be this far from home too – contemporary extension to house in Dublin
32, 33 & 34 – Rare for me to do public sector work – this was for 3 extensions to city projects
The Chalet as it was prior to our interventions
The ‘Chalet’ AFTER
35. Restoration, refurbishment & repurposing of The Chalet at Ard na Gaoithe – again a rarity of public sector work for Galway County Council
36. Sligo cottage restoration and extension
37. Double extension to house in Co. Mayo in (nice) estate
38. Irish cottage restoration and extension – this was in a real state
39. More of a refurbishment with external insulation, floors, windows etc… You can see the state of the original by looking at the house next door!
PHPP double checked house in Mayo – article in Passive House + Mag
40. The PHPP double-checked Passive House (Passivhaus) near Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Image was from when it was featured in Passive House + magazine
41. Another rarity, commercial project for new Intreo office in Swinford – design and fit out
42. And another rarity! An office fit out in Claremorris
43. House outside Ballina, Co. Mayo
44. Conservation report & services for Dromahair ‘Millers House’ (Protected Structure) in association with Eugene O’Neill Architects
44 & 45. 2 projects in Gurteen, Co. Sligo; need to go back to the one below to get some better photos (finished in lockdown). Photo shows extensions & refurbishment + new porch. No photo yet of Design + Planning on 2nd Gurteen project…
46. Markree Castle Courtyard – Conservation report & services (Protected Structure) in association with Eugene O’Neill Architects
47. Conservation report & services for grant applications on windows & thermal improvements
48. Should go back to this one too to get some better photos. Again finished in lockdown. Long convoluted story of owners, design & planning
49. Contemporary extension to traditional thatched cottage in Mayo
Completed house – Mayo
50. Mayo Rural House design that fits the guidelines well in forest
51. One of my favourites & great clients – will hadd a link to sepparete post HERE
52. Experimenting here with colliding forms
53. This is what happens when you ask an architect to do a sun room
54. This was in conjunction with Scandanavian Homes – low energy timber frame build
55. Mayo extension
56. Over the hill from us on this extension to hipped Irish cottage
57. Contemporary extension to Westport terraced house
Original Cottage – BEFORE
58. Before & After on this extension to Irish cottage
House – BEFORE. (Google streetView)
Upper level. Photography by Tony Healy
The thatch reinstated. Photography by Tony Healy
59. Before & After on this contemporary extension & restoration of Balscadden thatched protected structure/cottage
Roof on main building front complete
60. Ongoing project of the restoration of Ballyglass Lighthouse keepers cottage
Completed house – Mayo
61. Exceptional clients & site for this very contemporary yet traditional new Mayo house in Belmullet
63. Nerve-wracking but wow to the end result to this contemporary & delicate extension to cottage near Louisburgh
65. Computer visual and end result to this Castlerea new house self-build in Co. Roscommon
Exterior – rear
66. Deep retrofit on this refurbishment & extension to traditional Irish cottage
67. Double pitched, rain chained extension to house in Co. Mayo which includes 3x extensions
View down from mezzanine to kitchen
68. Interiors & construction only on this single storey new house near Straide, Co. Mayo
69. One of a few small, glazed kitchen extensions – this one in Ballina
70. Similar to 69. This one instead in Castlebar
71. Very contemporary extension to traditional 3 storey farmhouse in Beltra, Co. Sligo
72. No names,no pack drill on this secret project for an artist’s studio
Here’s the animation we did at sketch design stage:
73. We’re frequently asked to undertake Conservation reports for planning & grant application purposes; this is one of several as an example – the Saw mill that was at Lissadell House, County Sligo
74. This courtyard style house is now finished – need to revisit
75. This is very close to our house, deep retrofit of existing cottage with external insulation, new windows etc…
76. We build stacks of sheds but this one is special; a. it’s ours and b. There’s not many sedum grassed roofs in Co. Mayo; this and the intensive grass roof on our house are 2 examples
The photo below shows what happens when you over fertilise – gorgeous!
I also won a competition for ‘Best Selfie on a grass roof’!:
77. Didn’t do a lot on this Irish Cottage, just some remedial work, insulation, new window etc…
78. Very classical and exceptional finish – not my usual style but very classy (new house – not a restoration!)
79. Not designed by us but we undertook construction drawings & inspections. Another Covid lockdown project that I need to go back to get current photos
80. Image to follow – new house in Co. Mayo
81. A planning non-exempt extension that opens a can of worms on septic tanks… I remember helping the builder get similar tiles from DoneDeal on this one!
82. A planning exempt extension. <40m2 at the rear and a 2m2 porch - taking exemption to the max (some of the existing house is render)
83. Very little work done on this one; a few drawings at the beginning but what a transformation of before & after that the clients have undertaken
84. Another lockdown project that I popped back to recently; kitchen extension + utility : tricky build
85. Another kitchen extension done a good while back; Kitchen by https://www.conroyfurniture.com/
86-90 These 4 are reserved for projects I’m not going to show here. Great designs or restoration but for whatever reason the clients were more than difficult & I’d rather forget the projects!
91. Showing a couple well on the way. A mix of styles in this house in Swinford. Special thanks to Brian Forkan (Contractor)
92. Well on the way with this low energy build near Mayo Abbey – special thanks to New Era Homes (Contractor)
93. Just design and planning on this one. Another Covid Pandemic project; progressing well & end in site!