Clogherhead Renovation & Extension Feasibility Study

Existing Semi -detached single storey 1950s cottage located on a corner sloping site, which was too small for young growing family, was not energy efficient & did not make the most use of the site.

Ian Black architect was commissioned to undertake a Feasibility study and the results are illustrated in the gallery.

The conceptual design was based on the following principles: –

Existing house would contain all the sleeping accommodation utilising as much of the existing cellular spaces as possible. In addition, the existing house would be energy retrofitted to nZeb standard.

All living accommodation  required in client brief would be  located in a new purpose made storey & a half standalone building , which would take advantage of orientation , levels ,sea views, and was  attached to the existing building via a glazed link. The space between the new & old buildings was transformed into a sheltered courtyard.

A new front entrance would be relocated to the glazed link, to give ease of access to both living & sleeping accommodation without the addition of corridors & wasteful circulation space. Front entrance is defined by a ‘pergola route’ to front door.

Instead of making the proposed extension a ‘pastiche’ addition attached to the original dwelling , we decided to give the extension a new contemporary identity  completely different to the original building , and  this manifested itself in the zinc clad barrel vault roofed  ‘barn style’ building  consisting of , open plan living , kitchen , dining space , with  TV room  & home office in the vaulted  mezzanine space, which had views of the sea through a porthole window.