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Award winning green architects Solearth have been at the vanguard of
sustainable design in Ireland for over a decade. Solearth’s Brian O’Brien describes a highly ecological extension designed by the practice in west Dublin.
The clients Ruth MacMahon and Keith Murphy approached Solearth in 2005 for a consultation on their early 20th century cottage in Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin. We discussed the context of the building, their lifestyle and the kinds of houses and spaces they liked and tested each other’s eco ambitions and expectations. The consultation turned into a full appointment to transform the existing building into a bright, energy-proofed and healthful family house. Importantly, the clients didn’t feel that the main cottage itself should receive much attention as it had been recently upgraded and instead urged us to concentrate on the design of the extension. Our goal as architects then was (as it usually is) to uncover the untapped potential of the site and brief by (ecology led) design explorations. More specifically, we wanted to create a new element that contrasted with the old in terms of scale of spaces, orientation / solar access, connection to the garden and healthfulness.
Early design research showed that the existing building, dating from approximately 1903, was deemed a protected structure due to it forming part of an enclave of semi-detached workers cottages. Essentially two room cottages (with returns and outbuildings to the rear accommodating kitchens and outhouses), the buildings are of an intimate scale with simple attractive external details to the street side.
A wood polymer composite from JFC Earthwood was chosen for decking
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