Two as One

Location: Kilmuckridge,Wexford, Ireland

Area: 365 sq.m.

Year: 2020-2024

This project involved the reconfiguration and retrofit of two existing houses into a single, cohesive family home. The original cottage and the later two-storey extension had evolved independently over time, resulting in a disjointed composition. The primary challenge was to unify the buildings into one dwelling while respecting the character of the original cottage and improving the overall performance and layout of the house.

The design establishes a clear architectural relationship between the original single-storey cottage and the later extension through a carefully considered linking element. A restrained palette of materials and simple volumes was used to unify the composition, allowing the house to be read as one home rather than two attached buildings. The approach draws on traditional rural forms while expressing them in a contemporary way, appropriate to the setting.

Internally, the house was extensively reconfigured to support modern family living. The new layout prioritises natural light, solar orientation and views of the surrounding landscape, while improving circulation and flexibility. As part of the retrofit strategy, significant upgrades were made to the building fabric and services, greatly enhancing comfort and energy performance and extending the life of the existing cottage.