Our proposal for this red brick end of terrace house, set within the Victorian streets of Dublin 6, is to remove the ad hoc modern additions from the side and to construct a new extension to rear and side of the house which is a protected structure within a conservation area.

The proposed alterations and extension are in line many examples across Dublin where 3 storey terraced protected structures have been altered and extended successfully to make 21st century homes. The Victorian way of using these houses is long gone, servants cooking the lower level whilst the owners live in the upper rooms. Our proposal is to place the social spaces of the house at garden level, making an entrance and provision of a bedroom which is wheelchair accessible.

General repairs will be made to the existing protected structure and minor internal alterations, generally to remove non original alterations, and to allow the original building’s internal layout and details to be read clearly and respectfully.

Our proposal to the side and rear has varying set backs and heights to break up the massing to the street and allow for existing planting to be retained and pockets of space to be planted between boundary and building.

The design intent for the side and rear extension is to make it as discreet and invisible as possible from the street. The material finish to the extension takes its cue from the boundary wall which is a random rubble wall of dark grey Dublin calp limestone and light grey Dublin granite. Our proposal is clad in dark grey limestone with the vertical scale of a brick, 75mm which relates to the existing period structure. The addition of a wildflower blanket roof helps to combine the extension into the boundary wall when viewed from outside the site. The purpose of this is to ensure the new architecture does not compete, detract or overpower the existing protected structure and sits distinct from it.