New one-off private house, South Dublin.

The clients acquired the wedge-shaped site which is surrounded by mature Sycamore, Scotts Pine and Monterey Cypress trees with the intention of building a cosy and intimate family home. While it was important that the house was respectful of its immediate neighbour, a handsome Arts and Crafts house, and the wider Architectural Conservation Area, the principal characteristic which was to be protected here was the sylvan landscape setting. The suburb boasts a vibrant mix of architectural styles and the county council were clear that there was no requirement for an exercise in pastiche.

The new house employs a material palette which is sympathetic to the character of the neighbouring houses, but it is clearly modern. The composition of the windows to each elevation makes reference to functionalism and is driven by a close attention to environment and sustainability with minimal windows facing north and the road for both thermal performance and privacy. The bedrooms face east for the morning sun.

The living spaces are gathered so as to all face east and south, away from the neighbours and towards the garden and the surrounding trees which are so close they are within touching distance.  The necessary proximity of the house to the trees, called for the house to be raised up on mini piles to allow the roots of the mature trees to continue under the building.

The walls are purposefully imperfect, white painted lightly rendered soap bar blocks are gently knocked out in a pattern which softens the overall solid mass of the house. At first floor level, the painted vertical timber cladding around the openings further breaks up the massing of the house.

A mono pitch roof, finished with terracotta roof tiles - responding to the rosemary tiles of the neighbour -  springs from the west and reaches up to the tree canopy to the east, and the front elevation is held and articulated with a chimney at its peak.