Category: Architecture (Page 9 of 29)

River House – Kilkenny

September 30, 2016 / barros / 3 Comments

There is something magical about being so close to the water.

From the very first visit we felt this was a unique location and we wanted to make the most of it. The brief asked for additional accommodation to meet current lifestyle demands.

The site presents a number of challenges, including a house over 150 years old, the proximity to a Special Area of Conservation (River Nore), the existing topography, and so on…

Early in the design process a strong direction was identified as being the one that would respect the existing wood while taking full advantage of the river views.

The proposal calls for an adaptive reuse of the existing house. The new volumes create an amicable relationship with the old house, mimicking it in a contemporary way.

A new axis is created to link the different elements. This axis regulates the space by creating a clear circulation path that works like a journey of discovery around the house. The light and views are captured and framed to enhance the all experience.

The main living space offers a full open view to the river. Framed views of the surrounding landscape are provided by projecting windows that puncture the main structure.

The concept resolves the complex constraints on site by designing a house that is in harmony with the site and with the existing old house, which dates back to the early 1800’s or possibly late 1700’s.

The main living space offers a full open view to the river.

Framed views of the surrounding landscape are provided by projecting windows that puncture the main structure.

See more animations here.

Do you have a similar project? Talk to us today!

The Secret Guide to Deal with Architects – Take 9

April 5, 2016 / barros / 1 Comment

Our 9th secret tip about how to deal with an Architect focus on money and respect.

If you have just landed here do not miss our previous tips:

9. Pay on Time

Everybody likes to get paid for their work- it is fair, it is simple. Normally you and your Architect will agree staged payments at the start of the project. Many times the payments are due after the work is complete and this may have involved many many hours of hard work from your Architect – think about Respect. If you do not pay promptly the Architect cannot proceed to the next stage of your project and this can have multiple implications depending on the stage of your project.

Hot tip: Once you pay one stage make sure you start organizing funds to pay the next stage as it may be just a matter of weeks between payments. If the payment schedule proposed by your Architect at the outset does not suit you just ask to be changed.

Go to Take 10 – Provide Feedback

Start from Take 1 – Stages

Invisible Business

February 17, 2016 / barros / 1 Comment

There are mainly 3 methods for fixing timber cladding: secret fixing, face fixing and invisible (or concealed) fixing.

In this article we look at some options for Invisible Fixing Timber Cladding. This is the less used method, the least available and likely to be the most expensive. This method is mostly used for open joint timber cladding when a face fixing is not desirable for aesthetics reasons or where cladding boards are prefinished with a film forming coating and there is a preference for not penetrating that film.

FassadenClip

These clips are manufactured in Austria by SIHGA. Russwood in UK can supply them to Ireland.

Below is an animation showing how these clips are assembled.

TIGA

These clips are manufactured in Austria by the FixingGroup. The boards need to be grooved to receive the clip.

ClipJuAn

This is actually a deck clip but can also be used for façades. The boards need to be profiled to receive the clip. There are only 4 machines in Europe that are able to profile the timber for this fixing system.

These clips are manufactured in France by Architecture du Bois – Terrasses grad™.

Below is an animation showing how these clips are assembled.