Copeland Grove
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Construction Value: £150,000
Completed: 2014
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In commissioning the extension and refurbishment of Stephen’s childhood home, a 3-bed terraced house in North Dublin, Dolores and Steve Snr needed something light and spacious that would help them re-engage with their sizeable rear garden, previously hidden from view.
A large amount of glazing was employed to provide a transformative panoramic view, while also increasing the solar heat gain into the house. To counteract the clean, crisp lines of the glass, the solid elements of the extension were made as warm and tactile as possible. The timber frame was exposed internally, and timber was used for the interior finish of the window frames. The floor and walls were tiled for the most part, while even the dining table and pendants were made or raw timber and concrete.
For the exterior, charred timber cladding was chosen as the material that would embody the timber construction and provide a durable, monochromatic palette. Due to budgetary constraints, the cladding was charred on site by the main contractor, which gave it the desired roughness and tactility, while also revealing a natural sheen in the wood.
Lighting design was key to the success of the interior space, creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere for evening entertaining. Concealed LED strips illuminate the exposed timber joists, with LEDs on the kitchen units providing task lighting over the work surface. Add to this the dining pendants and the space is illuminated without the need for a grid of downlights.
Architect’s Thoughts
Costs were more of a limiting factor on this project compared to most projects, and so we responded to this from the start. The extension would be a cube, because that’s efficient to build. The structure would be lightweight timber, as that can sit on a shallow raft foundation. The kitchen would be “off-the-peg”, so the extension would be built to suit standard kitchen dimensions. The roof would need joists in any event, so expressing them gave us some low-cost joy. The glazing would be provided by a standard development-friendly company rather than a bespoke joiner. The pendants were from an online retailer. The timber cladding was charred on site. None of these smart decisions diminish the sense of quality in the end result - they just required a bit of extra work.
Client Testimonial
“Grateful to Stephen for arranging everything from planning permission to completion of the project.
Excellent design as well as a highly professional approach, even on such a personal project. The result is a detailed and refined project that was completed to such a high standard.”
Credits
Contractor: John Punch Construction
Structural Engineer: CORA Engineers
Photography: Alice Clancy
Kitchen: Kube Kitchens