“The Highlands”

This was a renovation and extension to a brick house in an estate in passage west in cork. The lower level where the bedrooms where was extremely dark, uninviting and had no connection with the upper living areas. The design solution sought to make a connection both physically and visually between the two levels by scooping out an entire room to allow light to flood the whole lower level. A double height window was installed which now allows views to the sea that my client never enjoyed before. The rooms are now reorganized upstairs and downstairs, and a new double height den now replaces an underutilized bedroom.

Client Testimonial

Our New Home

Our family loves the location of our home but as we grew as a family the layout of the house no longer worked. Downstairs we had 5 small bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Upstairs was dark and again partitioned into small unconnected living spaces. We agonized over how we could transform the house into a home that would meet our needs. Edel our Architect gave us the vision and courage to make the transformation. Edel spent a lot of time listening to how we wanted to live in our home and the problems we had with the existing design. The design concept she proposed to us was a dramatic change and over a number of design review meetings she convinced us to have the courage to make the change . We are now living in the transformed house close to a year and it has dramatically changed our way of life. Our teenage daughters now have their own space for privacy and study and as a family we have a light infused common space that brings us together for meals and family time. Our only regret is why didn’t we do it earlier and the reason was we did not have the vision to see the design that would work for us until we met Edel.

Radiology Clinic

Edel Regan Architects were asked to work with the medical company “Siemens” to accommodate radiology equipment, offices, a reception area, and meeting rooms. Careful attention was given to maximize the space and to allow maximum light to the areas that would benefit from it such as the waiting room for patients and reception area and offices. The scanners were placed where no light was needed. A gentle curve was introduced down the spine of the space and glass partitions allowed some light to filter into the centre of the space.The clinic has now been taken over by “Affidea”.

Client: Advanced Radiology Clinic.

 

 

 

Awen House

New Build Cork

This house was designed to achieve optimum privacy while allowing a southern aspect for all the living accommodation . The client wished to enjoy an open plan living area on the ground level with compact sleeping quarters on the first level. A gallery was introduced to make a visual connection between the levels, so both could enjoy the southern court and water feature. Materials such as vertical panels of “tecu” bronze and stone were used on the front northern elevation with small apertures, while large open glazing was utilized at the rear facing the private garden.

This 3240sq ft. house was built on two levels, on a 0.2137ha site. It is designed using a procession of spaces from a starkly designed front northern elevation with small apertures from the public front garden through to a southern private lit filled court with a water feature. Views to the court are designed into the floor plan. The open plan kitchen, living and dining areas can enjoy the southern aspect of the court through large glass openings and sliding doors.

The front elevation uses a variety of materials including stone to the left-hand side of the entrance and a bronze vertical cladding on the right-hand side of the entrance. A carefully designed link connects the two-storey element, on one axis, with the one-story element on an orthogonal axis. The junction is designed simply. A two-storey gallery connects the upper level with the lower living area offering an open landing area which can be used as an office or a quiet space.

Client Testimonial

Awen is a druidic term for inspiration depicted by 3 rays of light. And that is what this house means to us. It is inspired and inspiring, filled with light and space, where our 3 daughters have freedom to move, run and play.

On embarking on this project it was very important to us that our house was a home, an expression of how we live, as well as fit the plot of land. On meeting Edel we felt she really heard us, she was the first architect we met that thought outside the box and we knew straight away we wanted to work with her.

We have been living in this house 2.5 years now and find we never want to leave it! We never feel claustrophobic or on top of each other.

The large windows allow for real inside outside living. The triple sliding door means that we can open it out and really feel like we are outside. The South West aspect makes the most of the sun. Our house feels bright on the darkest of days. The HRV system keeps the air fresh with an even temperature through out the house. The solar panels give us constant hot water throughout the year. We only use the underfloor heating in Winter.

The open plan living allows us all to do our own thing whilst still being in each other’s company. I also love the flexibility of the space that we can easily move furniture around and create new spaces. When the kids get older we can add a sliding door to from the double height space into the main living space so that they can have their own space then. The studio allows me to work from home whilst still having a visual of the whole house. The den allows my husband to watch his matches in peace! Our library in the double height space is the heart of the house. This is where we read the Sunday paper, read books and play board games with the kids.

This is a house that fits outlives perfectly right now and a house that will mature with us as we develop the gardens and create new spaces within it as our lives dictate.

 

House Extension & Renovation

This project in Rochestown, a renovation and large addition was situated on a confined site on a split-level site in a suburban area. It was challenging in that it had to be sympathetic in scale with the surrounding small-scale neighbourhood while still accommodating the new area requirements of the client.

The new addition which was over half the existing house in area was designed around a southern court at the rear of the site for privacy. The open plan living dining and kitchen was placed at the lower level to afford higher ceilings and give a more spacious feel. Windows were carefully positioned to allow views to the garden. The new project achieved a high BER rating through the combination of a new heat recovery system, underfloor heating, solar panels and a new external insulated sand and cement plaster layer which wrapped the whole building and at the same time updated the image of the old 70s style existing cottage.

Medical center

Feasibility study completed for medical suites , consultant suites and offices in Cork