Broadstone Architects were commissioned to design a single family dwelling and stables in rural Ireland. The form of the building itself is twofold – one side, the living area, reaching high in the style of a barrel-vaulted barn abutted to a lower mono-pitch roof, as witnessed in agricultural structures throughout rural County Kildare and Ireland. As these were originally built using corrugated metal in a dark red protective paint, a similar roofing material, unpatinated copper, is used.
Project Name: Ardnalea
Studio Name: Broadstone Architects
Location: County Kildare, Ireland
Photography: Paul Tierney
The bedroom area with internal courtyard is lower in height with a low gradient mono-pitch roof and a regular rhythm of openings to associate it with traditional stable buildings. The white rendered walls, and extended enclosure walls, which tie disparate elements of the dwelling together are analogous to typical traditional farmyards where white coloured stone and rendered walls tie together an archipelago of outhouses, dwellings, barns and stores. In effect the proposed design attempts to provide a dwelling in character with its surroundings by promoting its environment and applying a relatively traditional agricultural building language in a modern architectural style.
The Western wing accommodates, within high vaulted ceilings, living and dining areas that avail of panoramic views and solar gain to the South and West through large windows, clerestorey glazing and glazed doors opening out onto terraces extending into the landscape. The kitchen is located centrally in a South facing extension and addresses East, South and West aspects establishing its role as heart of the home.
The bedrooms are located in a more secluded North-Eastern extension and although gain views and light from the South and West are afforded privacy by a landscaped walled courtyard which also provides service access to the house. This courtyard, like the extending gable walls and entrance canopy try to bring the building into its landscape and vice-versa. In general the floor plan is semi-open in order to suit the needs of contemporary life whilst retaining some of its divisional nature to provide some flexibility and privacy.
