Site Size: 7 acres

Project Size: 5,000 square feet

Program: The client desired a cottage that could be used as either a quiet winter hideaway or a summer holiday home for a large extended family. Located on the Atlantic coastline, the house is exposed to extreme weather and a corrosive environment. The client wanted to take advantage of the views but provide some protection from the rain and wind.

Solution: The architects divided the house into four rectilinear volumes organized around a courtyard, which serves as the main entrance. Much like the modest local farmhouses in the area, the 28-inch-thick walls are built of rugged sandstone with a timber frame and raft foundations.

In the winter, the two-story unit, containing three bedrooms, kitchen, dining, bathrooms, and living areas, can be closed off from the other unused spaces to conserve energy. The materials are simple: the local Lacken sandstone covers the floors, and limed oak appears on doors, window trim, and interior paneling. Curtains and blinds are undyed linen. The house was completed in August 2012.

Architect:
Tierney Haines Architects
96 Mount Albany, Newtownpark Avenue
Blackrock, Co
Dublin, Ireland
+353 1 2123748