Luke's Room

Irish Architect, The Journal of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (Special Feature), Jan 2003

CLIENT: Terence and Clare Corish

ARCHITECTS
Terence Corish in association with Box Architecture, Gary Mongey
Engineer: Bill Doran
Main Contractor: Plunicky Building Services Ltd.

SPECIALISTS
Colour Consultant: Alice Sheehan
Built-in Furniture: Craig White

The brief required an additional bedroom and bathroom by extending an artisan cottage, whose plot and location presented considerable spatial constraints. The extension was realised through a contemporary structure, which complements the existing building. A timber structure was chosen to maximise internal space and to reinforce the initial concept. Access between the new and existing building necessitated the reorganisation.

The new element is set parallel to the site boundary leaving a side entrance passage. Triangular spaces result from the geometry of the new and existing structure, forming the entrance link and garden courtyard. The building is separated from the existing house by means of 100-mm wide glass slot, providing a snippet view in anticipation of what lies behind. This slot also allows a beam of light to move across the floor, further highlighting the tentative separation of the elements.

A simple stone step, handle and horizontal cut in the façade marks the entrance to the new building. One enters a tall narrow void contained by tall pivot doors, which allow continuity of the rooms throughout the new element. Access to the existing house is through an opening in the timber structure to a triangular copper-roofed linking space. The space provides views and access to the rear triangular courtyard, garden and kitchen.

Openings are either concealed when closed, as the doors to both courtyards, or slide into the thickness of the structure when opened, as the picture window at the raised garden section. The roof gutters are concealed within the cladding thickness to maintain the rigor of the box.

Roof lights are positioned over the bath, bed and wardrobe allowing a view to the sky. These openings and slots create a movement of light washing the walls, instilling an awareness of the time of day and the annual cycle of the sun, a solar timepiece.