RETURN OF THE STUDY MODEL

While doing a recent sketch design for house alteration I thought it was about time I again reached again, after many years, for the craft knife and foam board and made a scale model. The clients loved it! Problem was...so did I but I had to leave it behind with them! Maybe I'll make 2 next time!

2 SUNKEN TERRACES REVITALIZE HOUSE

We have just completed the extension remodelling and refurbishment of a house in Haddington Road, Dublin 4 and by creating sunken terraces at front and rear we have opened up the basement ( or should I say...Garden level). The return was clad in external insulation and a sedem (green) roof was provided over the dining area. Original period features were retained and restored. The job finished ahead of schedule. These 2 images are by Denis O'Farrell ( http://www.digital-den.blogspot.com/ )

TEN GOOD REASONS TO EMPLOY AN ARCHITECT

1 The building industry in Ireland is highly unregulated. You need guidance through the minefield.
2 Architects are independent of builders. i.e. no kickbacks
3 Architects are qualified following minimum 5 years full time third level and 2 years post graduate. Title "Architect" is now legally protected
4 They are insured and operate under a code of professional conduct.
5 Their design skills optimize construction spend. Lateral thinking is often applied to give unexpected good results.
6 ...and add a wow factor without breaking the bank.
7 Architects administer fair building contracts fairly.
8 They protect and optimize your biggest investment. Too many people enter big projects with poor design and poor agreements and no architect or contract administrator.
9 They guide you through the maze of planning and building regulations. Violation of these codes puts your investment value at risk.
10 For a fraction of the overall construction budget they represent excellent value.
Contact Anthony at ABA Architects on 01-6683519 to discuss your project. In the current climate good advice is more essential than ever.

UCD CRECHE ENTERED IN WORLD ARCHITECTURE NEWS EDUCATION AWARDS

If a child arrives at the new Oakmount Creche at University College Dublin (UCD) they will meet a fun building which is both welcoming and exciting. The glazed entrance area immediately gives sight of the coloured playground beyond. The blue floor has an arrangement of yellow "stepping stone" circles. The blue "Magic room tower" has an odd assortment of windows of different shapes and sizes vaguely imitating a freckled child's smiling face. The low horizontal windows at the bottom are designed for toddlers and waddlers to look through either to the outside world or to the oncoming parent!

In this extension development an entrance courtyard, terminated by the said tower was created and large corridor windows to the front are deliberate to make the building as bright and friendly as possible. The setting for the building is an Arboritum which belonged to the now disappeared Roebuck Grove Georgian mansion (demolished in 1970).

Stated Assessment Criteria:
Originality: A blue tower with funny windows on a third level campus.
Innovation: A fun building to observe the world from
Form: A welcoming courtyard and a transparent entrance
Special Quality: Not for stuffy adults...just kids.
Sustainability: Passive and active solar energy, humidity variable diffusion resistance vapour barrier, timber frame
Context: Arboritum on university campus
How the design addressed the key elements of the brief: Although functionally meeting all the childcare guidelines space requirements for the 50 additional children (110 total) it remains a "home from home".
Specific examples of how your building has enhanced the education process: The Montessori principle of "learning by fun" has been significantly enhanced by the buildings colour, openness and relation to playground and outside areas.
Different age groups mix in the Magic Room and develop social, creative and imaginary skills.

POST CRASH LIFE

We live in a different country to the Ireland of the mid naughties. The denial about debt has caught up with us like a bad liver catches an alcoholic and one is left wondering in the carnage is there any light. We recently launched the "Help My House" scheme giving "Smart Advice for a fixed price" Nationwide (we have 19 RIAI colleagues in other counties). This service has led to some "micro projects" something I am happy to do, primarily because there a re many who have been left behind with house problems and no obvious place to go for independent advice. Look at www.helpmyhouse.ie for details.
Many people still have houses, money and problems and are more careful about how to spend it. Some are "greening" their homes like the sei.ie "Greener homes scheme where some grants are available for renewable technologies like Solar Panels, wind turbines and the like. Others are improving insulation, always a good idea, and again sei (Sustainable Energy Ireland) are offeing grants. Ideally people are working towards debt freedom and a degree of self sufficency...This approach to the current crisis (or "adjustment" as the optimists call it!) is in my opinion highly commendable. The other bright light is the restoration of communities where people are again passing the head of cabbage over the garden fence to the neighbour. Let's hope Celtic Tiger Obsession with SELF is a thing of the past. The things that cannot be shaken will remain at the end of all this shaking and that, ladies and gentlemen, is something more than a bandaged up ecomomy.

Grants for Protected Structures

If you own a Protected Structure you might be consider applying for a grant from Dublin City Council (or your local Planning Authority) where Annual Grants are awarded for approved works. Dublin City Council have a deadline of 30-1-09 but our experience is that some preparation works are required in issuing a valid application. As RIAI Conservation Architects at Grade III ABA Architects can advise you and assist in the preparation of such applications. Other Grants can also be sought like the "Building at Risk" grant from The Heritage Council (deadline 31 March 09). Contact Anthony (01 6768333) if you require more information.

RIAI Awards Entry

ABA Architects have entered an infill house in Irishtown to the RIAI Regional Awards.

Architect’s comments:
We were approached by the clients regarding preparing an appeal for a planning refusal they received for a different scheme prepared by a technician. When we examined the design we advised that their best option would be to prepare a new design and we were thus commissioned. The driving concept for this tight urban site was to provide the private open space at first floor level with translucent privacy screens to avoid overlooking. This lead to the idea of creating the principle living space at first floor level.
The existing terrace set up the framework for the overall size of the house but we deemed it more appropriate to alter the fenestration and provide a bright self finished render instead of the adjacent brickwork. The attic bedroom was cleverly arranged open to the stairwell and with sliding glass walls revealing generous walk in wardrobe and bathroom, both neatly tucked into the front roofspace.
The ground floor has a guest bedroom behind the small lightwell with a meticulously planned external space which includes planter for tree, cat toilet and granite cat ladder built into the one non-glazed wall. With a high standard of workmanship and finishes the end result proves to be a delightful example of how to infill in the historic core of a village like Irishtown.

Client Comments:
We had an old terraced house in Irishtown with a garage at the end of the garden and rear access onto the street behind. We wanted to cut the property in two and build a new townhouse on the site of the old garage. It was a very limited site with houses adjoining it on either side.
We had applied for planning permission for a totally different design of house, prepared by a different designer, and it had been turned down. We couldn't figure out how to fit everything we needed into such a small plot - 2 bedroomed house with outdoor living space.
We then approached our architect to do a new design for us. He came up with an exceptionally clever design, maximizing the space available. The result is a totally functional house with everything we asked for, including a walk-in-wardrobe and a real fire. It is light, bright and has plenty of storage. The sitting room opens onto the roof terrace which has opaque glass screens so as not to overlook anyone.
We worked with our architect to squeeze everything into the space. The inner courtyard on ground floor has a raised planter for herbs with storage cupboard underneath for bin bags and the cat litter tray.
We even set a ladder into the wall for the cats to get to the roof garden above. Attention was also given to the flow of doors so that I could get my bicycle from the front door into the inner courtyard with relative ease.
We were also very lucky to have worked with an exceptionally good builder, who turned a great design into reality. We think it is a remarkable blueprint, perfect for tight city spaces.