This project consisted of the renovation, alteration, extension and thermal upgrading to an existing semi detached residence in a North Dublin City Victorian neighbourhood located on the periphery of an Architectural Conservation Area.

Typical of its built genre, the original property housed generously proportioned living and drawing rooms with high ceilings making for grand communal spaces, however the dining and kitchen area nestled within the rear return were poorly lit and spatially compressed. We sought to align these spaces and create a balance of hierarchy within the ground floor so that this generosity was extended beyond the experience of the front rooms.

Initial studies of the existing plan and section in tandem with the client's desired brief followed by careful refinement allowed us to achieve our aim whilst remaining within the rights of exempt development. A courtyard was introduced between the existing rear facade and the new outline of the extension, allowing us to retain the original stained glazing features of the drawing room whilst forming a courtyard to be enjoyed from both the existing property and the new extension.

Materially, the project is held together internally through old and new by a restrained palette of pale oak and painted plaster. Herringbone timber floors and joinery on the ground floor are dominant up to a datum of 2.4M, above this, a language of white washed light wells, exposed beams and expanding volumes express the clarity of the architectural intent. Externally, finishes are vernacular of the city backlands, dashed render, smoothed render, concrete and mill finish aluminium create a homogenous palette distinguished by texture. The elevation addressing the garden is formally held by a circular concrete column and spandrel overhanging the southerly facing glazing to provide shade & shelter from the direct sunlight & elements.

The three main functions within the rear ground floor extension of dining, kitchen and living are articulated by three separate volumes. Each volume expands in section as it reaches the new garden facing living room. Bound by garden walls on all sides, by stepping the heightened pop up volume one metre off each neighbouring boundary, we manipulated how light was experienced in this room for different times of the day. Along the eastern length, a roof light spans the depth of the plan to allow morning light to wash down the space to be enjoyed as a family at breakfast time preparing for the day ahead. Along the western length, a clerestory spans the depth of the room so that the warm evening light can also be enjoyed as the day closes out.