All the projects. In one blog post. 1-50+

I’ve been thinking about the projects I’ve undertaken since moving to Ireland and this post is to document all of them.

A few points to note:

I’ve done my best with the sequence but it’s easy to lose track so I’ve done my best on this! I’ll try and split them into rough years.

These are only the Ireland projects; I’ve done a stack in the UK before moving here but these are omitted here

They don’t include unbuilt projects or those that have been handed over to someone else & I’ve lost contact (there are a stack of those)

I’ll give a short, single-line description

I’ll be using mostly my own photos but where I haven’t got time – I’ll steal a StreetView image from Google

This blog post is going to keep running

They’re not all perfect; I liken working as an architect to working as an actor – Michael Caine had to do a few ‘Jaws-4’ but every now and then there’s an ‘Educating Rita’

Also some of the photos aren’t perfect; I’ve had to rack my brain to find piccies from Flickr, IG etc…

This post is in the context of that when we arrived into Ireland from the UK in 2003 I was definite that I wouldn’t be working as an architect here! Guess you should never say never

So here we go…

2005 onwards…

1. First experience of working with an Irish cottage; lots I’d do differently but hey I had to start somewhere. This is also pre-registration as RIAI architect

Our house (early on) in snow

2. The project that started it all. Our own house

Barn style extension & refurbishment to traditional cottage

3. Now several owners later – this project still gets traction and helps getting new work

Rear Extension & refurbishment to Ballycastle Cottage

4. Haven’t been out to see this in a long while!

4000+ sq ft house – Hollymount Co. Mayo

5. Almost forgot to add this one in – everyday I remember one to add to list

Asymmetric pitch 1 1/2 storey courtyard house

6. Probably the first high insulation, airtight house with MHVR, triple glazing, A rated house we did

1 1/2 storey passive in nature house

7. Again nearly missed this one from the archives. Mix of traditional white render and cedar

My double pitched roof

8. Now sold to lovely new neighbours, originally redesigned & constructed for another neighbour! (who still is a neighbour my OH goes walking with each day)

Contemporary extension to traditional cottage with curved walls.

9. Can you see the references to Ronchamp here? Met with client last week & still happy

Swinford Cottage Exterior, Garage & Cobblers Cottage

10. Still see the clients on this project, another well insulated house and one of the first with airtight tape on openings etc…

Contemporary, stepped, glazed corner extension to previously extended bungalow

11. You can see the Dermot Bannon influence here at finding my feet in Ireland!

Rear extension, new kitchen and ground floor remodelling following initial Simon Consultation

12. I also did some Simon consultations and this kitchen was the result of one

The square footage of the existing house has been increased by over 200% but the extensions understand the scale and proportion of the existing house. They are not trying to be identical; just showing a little politeness to the existing cottage.

This shows the approach to the house, the central section is the existing and the parts to left and right are new.

13. Should really go back to this one and get some good photos; shows a departure into real architecture, working with an existing building & pushed to limit with planning & construction – this is what it looked like before we started

14. A favour to family member – straightforward & definitely #Mayo

15. A double pitched house near Westport – drove past it a little while back & has been remodelled a bit since

16. A large extension and refurbishment to this property in Co. Galway

17. One of my favourites with exceptional clients. You can see the modernism wanting to come out here!

18. I did promise no unbuilt projects but hey – this was in the papers as one of the best un-built due to the Celtic Tiger!

Total view

19. Great forms in this one; truly Mayo but contemporary

20. Nearly forgot this one; one of the few houses I did for developers

21. Nearly forgot this one too; refurbishment & large extension to traditional 2 storey Irish farmhouse

22. I should definitely go back and see this one again; contemporary extension to traditional Irish cottage near the sea

View of curved walls & ‘barges’ from rear

23. Double extension, one end with curved walls, the other with a curved roof!

24. Unusual for me to do a house effectively in an estate (albeit a very fancy one); this one in Co. Galway

25. A good distance from me in Co. Clare. Here’s the rendered image plus it completed. Very Dermot Bannon again!

26. I’m really hoping this one got finished. My first foray into linked forms

27. 2 storey with linked contemporary ‘pavilion’ at rear

28. Our own office. Practically derelict when we took it on

Exterior – AFTER

29. Refurbishment of cottage in Co. Sligo

The existing cottage

Cottage restoration & extension

30. Before and after of restoration of very small cottage with extension for family (lovely clients too!)

Interior showing new media wall & sitting area

Interior showing extension to rear with extensive glazing, access to garden & rooflights

Exterior of new extension

31. Rare to be this far from home too – contemporary extension to house in Dublin

32, 33 & 34 – Rare for me to do public sector work – this was for 3 extensions to city projects

The Chalet as it was prior to our interventions

The ‘Chalet’ AFTER

35. Restoration, refurbishment & repurposing of The Chalet at Ard na Gaoithe – again a rarity of public sector work for Galway County Council

36. Sligo cottage restoration and extension

37. Double extension to house in Co. Mayo in (nice) estate

38. Irish cottage restoration and extension – this was in a real state

39. More of a refurbishment with external insulation, floors, windows etc… You can see the state of the original by looking at the house next door!

PHPP double checked house in Mayo – article in Passive House + Mag

40. The PHPP double-checked Passive House (Passivhaus) near Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Image was from when it was featured in Passive House + magazine

41. Another rarity, commercial project for new Intreo office in Swinford – design and fit out

42. And another rarity! An office fit out in Claremorris

43. House outside Ballina, Co. Mayo

44. Conservation report & services for Dromahair ‘Millers House’ (Protected Structure) in association with Eugene O’Neill Architects

44 & 45. 2 projects in Gurteen, Co. Sligo; need to go back to the one below to get some better photos (finished in lockdown). Photo shows extensions & refurbishment + new porch. No photo yet of Design + Planning on 2nd Gurteen project…