Knockraha house in County Cork, by TOB, selected for the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2019
Working with modest materials and everyday sites to impressive effect, Irish architect Thomas O Brien set up his solo practice in Dublin in 2013. A recently completed extension and complete reconfiguration of a rural house in the village of Knockraha in County Cork, neatly embodies his approach and creative flair through its pragmatic yet aesthetically pleasing and inventive solutions.
‘The extension seeks to modify and correct a problematic suburban-type house, that has been dropped on a rural green field site without any real consideration of its context,’ explains O Brien. ‘The project addresses this problem by reconfiguring the ground floor of the existing house and extending it in length to create a series of enfilade rooms and sheltered outdoor spaces.’
Working with simple, almost utilitarian materials and overall feel, the architect aimed for a project was feels ‘in keeping with its agrarian context’ – an element that remains very important in the studio’s work. ‘[Context] influences it greatly’, he says. ‘As much as I look to international and historical references, I think all of my projects are greatly referential to the eccentricities of the landscape and vernacular buildings of Ireland.’
The ‘deliberately’ odd roof made out of blue coloured zinc immediately makes the fairly low composition stand out. Interior materials range from simple timber boards, to bright yellow Formica, black fossilised Irish limestone and cork flooring tiles.
‘My projects reference the eccentricities of the landscape and vernacular buildings of Ireland’
TOB
The design responds to the brief in an economical way – both in terms of finances and aesthetic humility – yet remains robust and easily legible, making this a comfortable and practical home; in line with further residential work by the studio, such as a farmhouse in Killan and Normal House in Dublin, both of which helped earn him a shortlisting for an Emerging Architecture award in 2018.
‘I love designing homes for people’, says O Brien. ‘It is a privilege and hugely satisfying when someone places so much trust in you, and you see how happy they are with the final product.’
INFORMATION
-
Travel editor Sofia de la Cruz’s gift guide for the discerning globetrotterWallpaper* travel editor Sofia de la Cruz curates her festive wish list, packed with stylish essentials for those constantly on the go
-
Paul Smith’s Claridge’s Christmas tree is a playful slice of ‘countryside in the centre of London’Sir Paul Smith is the latest in a long line of fashion designers to curate the iconic Claridge’s Christmas tree. Here, he talks to Wallpaper* about the inspiration behind the tree, which features bird boxes and wooden animals
-
Victoire de Castellane nods to Dior motifs in a new fine jewellery collectionFor the latest additions to the My Dior collection, Victoire de Castellane turns the house’s signature cannage motif into golden wonders
-
Step inside the spirit world of Church of Oak's headquarters in IrelandNew Irish whiskey brand Church of Oak gets a headquarters with a strong identity designed by boutique studio ODOS Architects
-
Escape to this off-grid artist studio on the Irish island of Inis OírrFor the aptly named Drop Everything cultural biennial, a perfect pod has popped up on the rocky headland of Inis Oírr, the smallest of the Aran Islands, located off the west coast of Galway
-
Architects Directory Alumnus: Grafton ArchitectsThe Wallpaper* Architects Directory has turned 20. Conceived in 2000 as our index of emerging architectural talent, this annual listing of promising practices, has, over the years, spanned styles and continents; yet always championing the best and most exciting young studios and showcasing inspiring work with an emphasis on the residential realm. To mark the occasion, in the next months, we will be looking back at some of our over-500 alumni, to catch up about life and work since their participation and exclusively launch some of their latest completions. Ireland's Grafton Architects was featured in the magazine's first ever Architects Directory, in 2000, and has since grown exponentially in architectural output and influence, becoming, amongst other things, one of the world's go-to studios for inspiring education buildings. Here, we look at their School of Economics at Université Toulouse 1 Capitole in France.
-
Grafton's Town House is a celebration of openness and communityGrafton Architects designs Town House for Kingston University London, combining a library and a dance school in a building conceived around light, openness and social interaction
-
McGonigle McGrath’s County Down compound named RIBA House of the YearIn Northern Ireland, Belfast-based McGonigle McGrath has refined a former farmstead into a family home through a series of edits and additions made with restraint and clarity
-
Dublin house gets brutalist makeover by GKMP Architects -
Pálás in Galway takes arthouse cinema to the next level -
‘Freespace’ highlights openness and optimism at 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale
