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Energy-efficient retrofit

Energy-efficient retrofit

Monkstown EnerPHit - winner Green Residential Building 2013

 

We’re very proud to say that in late 2012 our deep retrofit & extension of a Monkstown semi-D was certified to 'EnerPHit' standard by the Passivhaus Institute of Germany. It is the first ‘Passive House’ or ‘EnerPHit’ retrofit of any building type to be certified in Ireland, & only the fifth ‘EnerPHit’ in the world. To add to this it was voted Green Residential Building of the year in 2013 at the annual Green Awards: a series of great achievements.

Setanta Sports Refurbishment

 

In this refurbishment project of a highly-serviced broadcasting facility the client never moved out!   

The brief included a general renovation, a significant increase in technical facilities, the provision of additional service routes, an allowance for future expansion of technical spaces, the structural upgrading of the roof to take a large increase in satellite dishes and a decorative/architectural programme to improve the working environment.   

A range of acoustic specifications for doors, walls, floors, windows and service penetrations were necessary.

California in Harmonstown

 

Our clients had spent many years in California and gained a liking for good light, cedar cladding, open plan living and dramatic spaces.

We developed a design that moved the living/dining room and kitchen to the first floor (getting better light and views) and a semi-circular stairs and void rising through the house and to an attic level den. The ground floor parent’s bedroom and garden room open to the rear garden and an external circular stairs gives access from first floor kitchen to garden.

Albany Road - house for garden lovers - winner Green Residential Building 2014

 

It always seemed as if this 1929 detached house and garage had landed on this site from outer space. Seen from the road it made sense - as they fill the site to front - but to rear it meant the house seemed pushed into one corner of a garden that grew and grew the further from the road one went. We learnt the builder had deliberately squeezed other plots to enlarge his own, but he didn't take advantage of the result: we put right an 84 year old missed opportunity!

Kilbarrack Road - seaside retrofit-extension,

 

The brief was to `put right the sins of the past´, recover the quality of the original 1940’s bungalow, sensitively extend and significantly upgrade its airtightness, insulation levels and heating systems.  The slated `carbuncle’ of the original attic conversion is replaced by a stylish dormer. The ground and first floor are visually linked by rendering both.

The original house had been butchered. The attic conversion had weakened structural timbers and the location of the stairs had left only one decent garden-side room.

Lucan - writer’s hemp-lime retreat

 

The elegant structurally-expressive simple structures of the `Centre for Alternative Technology´ in Central Wales, Aalto's Villa Mairea, traditional Japanese courtyard structures and willow living sculptures were all influences in this low-budget, environmental project.     

The accommodation schedule is for (1) a writer’s studio to rear, (2) a glazed canopy and deck to allow the house to extend into the garden in summer without decreasing internal lighting levels, (3) a garden/bin store, (4) a small utility room and (5) a tiny gym with shower and good ventilation!