The site presents a south-facing slope offering open views in a rural landscape. A big tree dominates the northern boundary of the site and the design is strongly related to it.
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_20181031-49_-1024x987.jpg)
The neighbouring buildings are dwelling houses with one or two storeys and gable roofs. There are also some farm buildings with corrugated metal near the site.
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Place.jpg)
Concept Design
The design aims to create a contemporary composition using traditional forms. The proposal is inspired by the rural location and the traditional single-storey farmhouses with extended layout.
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_Related-Place-2-1024x721.jpeg)
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Farmyard_Wicklow_Row-Layout.jpg)
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Related-Place.jpg)
Our proposal is for a house that is shaped around the site contours to respect its topography and reduce the visual impact. The proposed gable roofs follow the traditional shapes whilst establishing a visual relationship with the neighbouring houses.
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_Design-statement1-1024x483.jpg)
The house is modest in scale and exhibits the simple and functional form of vernacular buildings in Ireland. The projections to south also emulate the traditional lobby-entry protruding from the main house.
A simple palette of materials is proposed – white rendered surfaces and grey/terracotta corrugated metal. The materials aim to connect cultural values with a contemporary built environment.
Sustainability
The house aims to be a ‘Nearly zero-energy building’ (nZEB), this means a building that has a very high energy performance.
The preliminary specifications indicate a Building Energy Rating (BER) of A2 corresponding to an Energy Value of 46.64 KWh/m2/yr. The calculations show an energy performance coefficient (EPC) of 0.273, and a carbon performance coefficient (CPC) of 0.278.
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_30-1024x566.jpg)
The house is designed and orientated to maximise passive solar gain and natural lighting.
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_1-1024x566.jpg)
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_7-1024x566.jpg)
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_13-1024x566.jpg)
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_11-1024x566.jpg)
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_24-1024x566.jpg)
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_21-1024x566.jpg)
![](https://isabelbarrosarchitects.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/18.174_28-1024x566.jpg)
See more animations here.
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