RIAI | Irish Architecture Awards

Citation

This Dublin extension sensitively adds to a listed building by hiding away and yet not being small and retiring in itself. There is a strict palette of colours and materials but these shades and fabrics are in themselves expressive. Overall the extension is functional and human at the same time with elements placed in ways that enhance life, such as seating within the fabric of the home and plenty of natural light. This is a design for people and the city.

Architect's Comments:

In the dense inner-city quarter of Portobello, Dublin, an existing single storey terraced cottage is remodelled to take advantage of its long plot. Adding to the diverse variety of existing typologies in the quarter as well as adhering to stringent planning conditions, a new house is made accommodating one new bedroom upstairs, one retained front room downstairs and one deep living space at the lower garden level articulated by a series of glazed screens. The existing front room with a single window to the street is retained. From here, a new split stairs both descends to a study, kitchen and dining space at garden level and ascends to the bedroom and bathroom to enjoy views of the grassed roof and the city beyond. Two new party-walls re-establish the width and depth of the plot. An interplay of concrete beams and soffits rest on the party-walls allowing for uninterrupted space below. Sunlight is brought deep into the plan through a series of deep baffled roof-lights that further reflect the light and a glazed outdoor room at the heart of the house. Colours from Le Corbusiers’ Salubra Collection (1931) are used to accentuate the spatial layering and length of the plot, while maintaining harmony between elements.

Client's Comments:

11 Carlisle Street was built late 1800’s as a 4 roomed terraced property incorporating living, kitchen and two bedrooms. An outside toilet completed a ‘des res’ of the time. I acquired the property in the early 1990’s impressed by its proximity to the city centre, a good sized rear garden and the classic features that remained. My original plan of immediate renovation was overcome by my enthusiastic indolence and this was not helped when a planning application I made in the late 1990’s was refused. I did not use a qualified architect at the time. I was not motivated again until 2004 when roof leaks caused water damage and electrical problems. Having lived in the property for 10 years, I knew it’s limitations (one bedroom) and charms (private rear garden with sunny aspect and the character filled front room) Overcoming this limitation whilst retaining the charms formed the basis of my brief and I now needed an architect. I reviewed numerous articles and websites as well as receiving recommendations from family and friends. I visited the RIAI offices and discussed the selection and costs of a full architectural service and was put in touch with two emerging young practices. Both impressed with their enthusiasm. A2 Architects were commissioned. Numerous meetings and discussions took place over the following months with A2 Architects showing true professionalism (and tolerance) as I requested changes to the design to try and get maximum return for minimum outlay. With design and budget agreed, the project really took off with A2 making the planning process a simple, painless and ultimately successful exercise. Some design features were presented to me during the build that A2 believed would add to the overall concept such as the exposed concrete surfaces, the polished concrete kitchen worktop and the ‘Le Corbusier’ colours. While initially I showed some scepticism, I bowed to their knowledge and experience. Allowing A2 the opportunity to complete the project as they originally envisaged was totally correct and the results prove the point. This was not a ‘carte blanche’ as I was kept in the loop at all times, but rather a belief that they fully understood the brief and that any suggestions being made were in keeping with the innovative design solution. With the project complete I look around and wonder why I did not do it earlier. I now know why I did not do this project earlier – I was waiting for A2 to arrive!