M E S H A R C H I T E C T S
Grade 1 Conservation and Contemporary Design Architects
69 Middle Abbey Street,
Dublin D01 P5Y4
01 563 9021
Glauneavin House extension, Naas.
Glauneaven House is an attractive and well designed suburban house, dating from the first decade of the twentieth century. It was built at the edge of Naas' historic core by a local merchant, during a period or relative prosperity prior to World War I, and stands among a small group of similar houses.
Glauneaven is remarkable in the degree to which it has not been altered or modernized. The only alterations appear to be the installation of a very basic electrical system during the early 20th century, and the installation of a cast iron bath during the 1970's. Otherwise, the house stands virtually as it was built.
It is a two-storey detached structure, built in a simple unadorned style. Externally its primary features are the attractive brick masonry and natural slate roof. The handmade sand-struck bricks have retained most of the original lime putty jointing, with remnants of the red wash intended to imitate fine red brick. Most of the red coating has weathered off of the bricks revealing the yellow sanded surfaces of the bricks.
Our clients asked us to prepare designs for a new extension to provide family living space which will connect to the large rear garden. The existing main rooms suffer from a lack of sunlight and the extension will seek to maximise sun penetration and create sheltered outdoor patios and courts which will receive direct sunlight at various times of the day.
We are also prepared designs to replace the existing two-storey outbuildings of about 100 Sqm to provide a contemporary space for guest accommodation, an artist's studio, storage and plant equipment associated with the planned solar thermal roof panels (to be located on the south-facing roof of the outbuildings) and wood chip or pellet boiler.
The house itself is to be sensitively renovated throughout to retain the character created by room proportions and detail elements such as staircase, window and door joinery. Measures to improve thermal performance of the house will be carefully considered in relation to impact on the original fabric. Certain environmental upgrade works are inappropriate to Protected Structures such as Glauneaven despite their thermal and financial benefits. Where this is the case, we seek to employ or compensate with other less invasive or visible changes to improve the houses' performance.
One of our initial steps has been to apply to Naas Town Council to avail of their Grant Scheme for Conservation Works to assist with critical roof and rainwater goods repairs. This has required the preparation of a thorough Conservation Report to accompany the application.
Credits:Mesh Architects - Tom McGimsey, Paul Mulhern, Noel Shortt, Structural/Civil Engineer - John Considine of Barrett Mahony Consulting Engineers, Main Contractor - Ard Glen Construction
1
2
3
4
5
