Private house, South-east coast, Ireland
Completed 2023
Located on a steeply sloped site overlooking the sea on the south east coast of Ireland, the approach has been to design a contemporary new family home, integrated into the surrounding landscape. The site sits on a hill beside local parkland and overlooking a village and the sea. The local granite stone can be seen in the quarry nearby and is found in most garden walls in the locality. Taking cues from this, the mass of the new building has been broken up into three blocks conceived as granite outcrops. Though the proposed forms are simple, the gently pigmented concrete walls reflect the local granite tones and add a soft and gentle texture by absorbing the light. Stone from the excavations and site preparation was re-used in the new low stone walls in the gardens.
The house has been designed with a low parapet level, and the three elements are planted on top with wildflowers to form a new landscape and foreground over which views to the sea beyond are opened up for passers-by to enjoy from the road above.
The house itself is composed of a series of spaces linked by pockets of courtyard and voids to allow light and views through and from the interior to the landscape beyond – welcoming and celebrating the landscape at every opportunity.
Living spaces are gathered on the upper ground floor, with views opening up towards the sea. The bedrooms below face the gardens, and a south-facing planted sunken courtyard brings additional light to this level.
Architecture and interiors were designed by the architects as one and merge seamlessly, coherently and characterfully with a restrained palette of oak, painted plaster and painted brick.
The relationship between natural and built is important and the garden is characterised by playful meandering concrete paths and pads stepping down the hillside, with these outdoor rooms taking advantage of differing views and conditions, set between bio-diverse native planting all designed in collaboration between the architects Arigho Larmour Wheeler, Bernard Hickie Gardner and Landscape Design and Enzo Michel Landscape.
Mark Arigho, Jane Larmour, Patrick Wheeler
Arigho Larmour Wheeler Architects
The house has been the recipient of numerous awards including the RIAI Best House, and two awards from the Irish Design Institute for Best House and also for Best Residential Interiors, it was also a finalist at the World Architecture festival held in Singapore for best International house.
