Restoration of a Protected Structure, Dublin

This Victorian semi-detached house is one of many Protected Structures in Dublin that was subdivided into flats during the last century. Here, the upper two storeys comprised 8 self-contained apartments with the lower ground-floor occupied as a single garden-flat.

The client's brief was to convert the upper floors into a single-family residence, carefully removing all recent interventions relating to the subdivision of the property and bringing all rooms back to their original form. The works include a full refurbishment of the mechanical and electrical installations as well as repair of original windows, cornicing and internal joinery. Arigho Larmour Wheeler have designed a bespoke kitchen for the new dwelling in the rear reception room, a space which once more connects to the front drawing room allowing a dual aspect living space to be enjoyed. 

The lower ground floor is retained as a separate unit with minor repair works. The house originally had a staircase from the upper ground floor leading directly to the garden which extends 50m to the rear laneway. A bespoke steel and concrete stair and terrace reinstates this access externally, re-connecting the newly refurbished main living spaces at first level with the beautiful mature gardens below.

Photography by Ste Murray