About Ian BlackOne Off House Clogherhead
North facing site sloping steeply up from the road with stunning views of the sea , Cooley & Mourne mountains & surrounding rural landscape.
The building line was set by the adjacent property which resulted in the front of the house being located at the high northern front end of the site . The design response was to create a storey height stone podium or plinth at the building line or high point of the site on top of which two separate single storey buildings or blocks are located in a ‘H’ shaped plan with a glazed link between each building . No internal floor space is wasted on internal circulation , as the living block is open plan , the bedroom block has a small stairwell & short corridor serving access to two bedrooms at lower level within the podium , Master bedroom suite is at entry level .
Two split level courtyards are created between each building ,one north & south of the glazed link. Shallow plan forms are used to exploit dual aspect from east & west to optimise solar gain .Each building has its own identity but has a simple form ie the east entrance & bedroom block has a pitched slate roof & white rendered finish , the west living block is cedar clad & has a mono -pitched roof with large feature window in a double height internal volume to living room allowing spectacular views of the landscape .
A simple palette of natural materials was used , stone , cedar cladding , slate roofing
A sustainable reed bed drainage system was planned for the front & west garden.
