New dwelling in Blackrock, County Louth

The site is set back from the main road, behind the village church car park, in a highly sensitive location due to its proximity to the church and its prominent elevated coastal position. 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 maximise the views, while the first floor houses the sleeping quarters at right angles to it. 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 rotation of the floor levels also helps break down the house's scale and massing, and this is further supported by the stepped/fragmented profile of the front elevation. The sitting room extends beyond the kitchen line, and the first floor cantilevers 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 arranged to create and define a sheltered rear courtyard, to maximise views to the sea, and to maximise daylight and solar gain. The pared-back palette of natural materials, including brick, render, timber, and glazing, strengthens the house's form and helps anchor it in its surroundings. It is a robust exterior, wrapped in a restrained palette, devoid of fussy detail, and designed to withstand its exposed position.