Three Houses in Portobello
Conservation
Three houses on St. Kevin’s Road in Dublin, a Victorian terrace in an Architectural Conservation Area.
Each house is two storeys and three bedrooms, with different briefs and architectural solutions. In each case, the integrity of the original house and its historical value is preserved from the perspective of St. Kevin’s Road.
Number 15 was remodelled and expanded from the existing living space, for a growing single-family unit. Features and areas of architectural merit were retained and repaired. As part of this process, it was necessary to remove more recent additions to the house. This allowed for the reinstatement of the rear entrance hall, a direct circulation, and a visual axis through a proposed kitchen to the south courtyard.
The new extensions extend as mono pitch forms at 90 degrees to each other and are finished with a modern, robust material, clearly articulating from the original structure and consistent with good conservation practice.
The new internal or ‘evening’ courtyard effectively reinstates the integrity of the rear reception room, feeding trapped south light and ventilation. The courtyards act as sheltered spaces used throughout the year for various functions. The kitchen and dining area to rear is an ideal family environment positioned to look out over both courtyards. Full height Iroko framed, glazed sliding doors seek to maximize the benefits of the south aspect creating undisturbed visual and physical links to the courts. The quality of light is enhanced by inclusion of a double height window, situated on the east side of the evening court, which draws on a westerly aspect. This controls a void which delicately merges the threshold of the old and new structures.
Number 15 has featured in national and international publications.
Number 14 also required removal of recent harmful additions and restorative works to the existing structure. The removal of an existing extension reinstated a visual axis from the hall door to the south facing garden. A new kitchen and dining area re-establishes an active relationship with the garden. Full height windows are staggered to exploit the benefits of a dual south and east aspect. The extensions are stepped in height to articulate function and to assist for the provision of an ensuite and bathroom on the first floor.
Number 21 was served by a front reception room with an alcove to a small kitchen devoid of natural light. The internally located kitchen is a result of modifications to the original layout by our client’s predecessors. The existing house had serious constraints and could not satisfy this client’s future requirements as an evolving family unit. The project consisted of internal removals, modifications, and remodelling. Removal of an existing kitchen enabled reinstatement of the front reception as a formal standalone space.
The extensions are envisaged as two sliding cuboid forms. These volumes step and stagger to exploit south, east, and west aspects. The extensions are dressed in a simple white sand and cement smooth render, and clearly articulate from the original structures.
Photography by Marie Louise Halpenny
