Home for a Furniture Maker
Mourne | Northern Ireland
The house is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, on lowlands to the south of the Mourne Mountains. Buildings are typically grouped in clusters across the rolling countryside with agricultural land sub-divided by dry stone walls. Building forms and materiality generally relate to local agriculture and create distinct forms and compositions within the landscape. Our proposal follows this established pattern of development.
The dwelling is a modern interpretation of the vernacular traditional cottage. Through the formation of a single volume, reminiscent of the cottages, the main living space is open plan with the individual functions defined by elements of built-in furniture. Our proposal is an efficient series of inter-connected spaces organised around a courtyard.
Drawings
The building's composition is layered and forms a series of courtyards providing privacy, micro climates and enclosed outlook from the interior spaces. This arrangement encourages the external spaces to be inhabited and act as an extension of the internal volumes. By contrast, the topography and carefully positioned openings allow framed distant views to the dynamic landscape beyond.
The relief and texture of the façade breaks down the buildings scale within the landscape.