Sandymount
“Full of light and warm details. A series of roof lights, interspersed with sculpted plaster curves, also allows light and shadows to move through the space during the day, creating beautiful effects.'
“Thoughtful and clever use of natural light.”
Awards jury commentary
A 1960s semi-d in Sandymount is refurbished and extended with a new two-storey addition to the rear. At ground floor level, an offset in the plan allows Southlight to reach the back of the house.
This 1950s semi-detached house lies in the heart of Sandymount. The inefficient layout with a compact kitchen overlooking the long, north facing garden was ill fitted to modern family life.
While maintaining the character of the existing front facade and Dublin streetscape, the internal spaces are to be reconfigured to create large, open plan spaces.
A two storey extension pushes out from the rear of the house, accommodating a double bedroom and spacious kitchen living dining area which stretches into the garden. A series of roof lights with sculpted plaster downstand bulkheads flood the wall and space with light throughout the day, creating a warm, bright family area.
The two-storey garden elevation has evolved from carefully considered domestic and functional considerations to become a layered play of interlocking planes with a somewhat industrial character. As opposed to treating drainpipes and gutters as after thoughts, they are incorporated into the design. The tall aluminium rainwater pipe and box gutter are prominent articulating features of the rear façade.