The Urban Cottage

The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy

THE URBAN COTTAGE

Wrkshop Architects

ARCHITECT
Séamus Bairéad, David Williams

MAIN CONTRACTOR
Vitas & Co.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Lynch Engineering Design

MANUFACTURERS
AutoDesk, Dulux, Gyproc, Viking, Cedral, Xtratherm

PROJECT ARCHITECT
David McInerney

PHOTOGRAPHS
Peter Molloy

AREA
43 m²

YEAR
2021

LOCATION
Dublin City, Ireland

CATEGORY
Houses, Renovation

Located close to Dublin City Centre, this existing single-bedroom terraced cottage was in very poor condition.The cottage, like many others of its type, was built well and has lasted for generations but was now dark, damp, and unsuitable for contemporary living.

The project involved the careful refurbishment and extension of the cottage to provide a new 2-bedroom dwelling within a footprint of only 43sqm.

The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy

Extensive demolition was required, and planning permission was granted to demolish a derelict chimney and fireplace which occupied a large amount of space within the house.

This unlocked the potential to add a 2nd bedroom and provide as much new living space as possible.

A new pinwheel of timber beams and walls divides the space of the house in plan, creating a central rooflight that illuminates the house, replacing the old fireplace with a contemporary light tunnel around which the rooms are arranged.

The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy

The living spaces are compact and efficient. A high-level library is accessed from a ladder in the living room, maximising the available space of the cottage roof.

Folding timber window shutters were added where the house faces the street, for privacy in the bedroom and bathroom.

These split shutters can be partly opened or closed, to allow light in while protecting privacy. The new bedroom and kitchen look onto a small outdoor terrace at the rear of the house.

The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy

A new concrete floor, timber roof and masonry rear walls were inserted behind the existing retained facade, highly insulated, and lined internally with simple plaster and white-oiled timber finishes.

The completed cottage is bright, warm, and airy with underfloor heating throughout. Colour is used sparingly and intensely to emphasise the central light tunnel while the timber is exposed to warmly contrast the other muted tones.

The project was delayed by restrictions on construction activity during the Covid-19 pandemic, but started on site in May 2021, and was handed over complete in December 2021.

The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy

By bringing this home back into use, this refurbishment shows the potential within the many cottages like this all over Ireland, to bring them up to today’s standards and provide housing for the way we want to live today.


The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy
The Urban Cottage
© Peter Molloy


The Urban Cottage
Elevations


The Urban Cottage
Details
The Urban Cottage
Sectional perspective


The Urban Cottage
Section 01
The Urban Cottage
Section 02
The Urban Cottage
Section 03


The Urban Cottage
Isometric
The Urban Cottage
Plan