New dwelling in Blackrock, County Louth

The site is set back from the main road behind the village church car park, in a very sensitive location due to its proximity to the church and its prominent elevated coastal location. The design concept and organisational strategy are to stack the floors at right angles to each other. The ground floor with the living accommodation faces the sea to take full advantage of the views with the first floor housing the sleeping quarters at right angles to this. By orienting the first floor at right angles to the ground floor we are reducing the visual impact on the adjoining houses and minimising any potential loss of views.

The rotating of the floor levels also helps to break down the scale and massing of the house and this is further helped by the stepped/fragmented profile of the front elevation. The sitting room area extends out past the line of the kitchen area and the first floor cantilevers out over the balcony below. By fragmenting the main elevation to Sea Road, it will help reduce any perceived visual impact on the church or surrounding dwellings.

The simple stacked volumes are located to create and define a sheltered rear courtyard and to take advantage of the views out to sea and to maximise daylight and solar gain. The paired back palette of natural materials including brick, render, timber and glazing strengthen the form of the house and help anchor the house into its environs. It is a robust exterior wrapped with a restricted palette, devoid of fussy detail, and formed to withstand its exposed position.