rathfarnham house, dublin, ireland

Project Orange are designing a new four bedroom house, located in the village of Rathfarnham, Co Dublin, for one of our major hotel clients. The site is a beautiful wooded area, with a small meandering stream and several significant mature deciduous trees. The house is designed to relate to the natural features of the site, orientated with large windows and terraces towards the South West, capturing the light and framing views of the stream. Vertical timber louvres control direct sunlight and respond to the surrounding trees. The vertical rhythm is carried through to solid areas of wall, as timber battens. The Northern side of the building is a rugged, protective wall of natural, rough-hewn stone.

The internal spaces and immediate external landscaping follow the contours of the changing site levels, establishing an intimate connection between inside and out, and generating a dynamic, flowing living space. A double-height hallway and family kitchen provide a focal core which is linked and crossed by more personal, private areas. More formal living and dining areas flow out on a wide terrace that extends the whole length of the building. The house is conceived as a comfortable and contemporary family home, that provides interconnected living spaces, inside and out, that correspond to the client's lifestyle, and also stylish spaces for entertaining. The whole is achieved is an understated way that celebrates the unique site and natural materials suited to the rural setting. The project is currently at a planning stage.