Living in a Landscape

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 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 rock 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.

The house has been designed with a low parapet level, the three elements are planted on top 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.

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 courtyard brings additional light to this level.

The garden is characterised by playful meandering concrete paths and pads stepping down the hillside, set between bio-diverse native planting.

Photography by Simon Menges