Refurbishment and extension of a private house, North Dublin.

The original house, built in the early 20th Century out of cast concrete and sat effectively on sand is in the late Victorian style.  The house was altered in the 1970’s with some ad-hoc additions and was in need of complete refurbishment.  The long garden on the north side of the house extended to a rear lane.    Additional social accommodation was needed for the family, the large garden could accommodate this, the challenge arose to capture as much light as possible on this north facing side.

The built extension incorporates a courtyard facing east, adjacent to the new kitchen, on the west side we have 2 no. roof lights above the kitchen and then dining.  The living space has a west facing clerestory window which captures the setting sunlight.   We played with the ceiling heights, reducing at the dining space for intimacy and elevating it in the living and kitchen.  Expressing this are a series of cast in situ concrete beams and flat plaster ceilings.