Dalkey Cottage

Refurbishment and extension of a 1950s cottage.

The clients brief was to refurbish the existing 1950’s cottage, increasing its thermal performance and making a new kitchen living dining extension and a garage for use as a workshop and painting, within the parameters of exempted development, removing the need to apply for planning permission. The conditions for exempted development controlled the design and limited heights of gutters and parapets to a very low level, which meant the new roof structure had to spring from a height of only 2.1m. 

Upon entering the house, you are presented with splayed wall, which conceals a cloak press behind but has the effect of pivoting and leading you down the hall and ushering you into the newly configured open plan living space. The kitchen sits in the heart of the house, with natural light from a roof light. 

The dining and living space face east and south to the garden with views towards Dalkey Island.  The roof structure is an asymmetrical pyramid roof which peaks at the end and has its top cut off for light.  The gutters on the existing house set our datum for the eaves.  We built our walls to this level and placed the new zinc clad roof on top.  

To maintain unity across the two phases of the project, the materials used throughout were kept to a minimal palette of zinc, polished and power washed concrete, white walls inside and out and a stainless steel counter top.