SEA BREEZE

This new, single-story house is an overgrown piece of timber furniture overlooking the Irish Sea and the Cooley Mountains. The frame structure perches on a block plinth to allow every eastern room to take in every angle of this beautiful view. Three timber trusses interlock to create a cranked plan that comprises an introverted bedroom/study wing and an extroverted living/guest wing, meeting at a central kitchen. Its slate roof is a craggy range of pitches that crack open to the sky and that extend to hang over verandas.

The construction materials are selected from a natural, environmentally sensitive palette. Natural slate is used for the roof and window cills, while the building is insulated with wood fibre and mineral wool. A breathable lime render finishes the exterior, contributing to a healthy, durable building envelope. The house relies on passive strategies, using natural light, solar gain and ventilation to warm and cool the interior spaces throughout the year.

The garden design and planting are carefully considered in response to the coastal climate. Native hedgerows define the site boundary, while the existing mature trees have been retained and incorporated into the landscape. The kitchen opens onto a sheltered west-facing terrace, enclosed by curving garden walls. To the east, a timber deck and morning terrace frame views towards the mountains and coastline, creating a series of outdoor spaces that respond to the changing light and landscape.

The project has been developed in collaboration with Jack Hogan, an artist and former architect whose work focuses on the rich sociality of everyday life, foregrounding friendship and what constitutes good shared lives.