* Residential Architecture: Martello Tower Y Residence by Piercy&Company

Residential Architecture: Martello Tower Y Residence by Piercy&Company: “..By restoring an 1802 Martello Tower and converting it to a family home, the principles of conservation were pushed beyond preservation, instead aiming to breathe new life into the ‘at risk’ structure..Strategically the intention was to clearly differentiate the old and the new, avoiding pastiche, with the contemporary insertions touching the original fabric as lightly as possible; allowing the heavily textured masonry to be the star.  Designed to be extremely sensitive to the monument and its setting, the new curving roof extension and re-sculpted interior seek to gain creative momentum from the tension between modern requirements and the need for heritage conservation..Converting a Napoleonic era defence tower built in 1808 into a 21st Century private residence was a demanding brief. As a Scheduled Monument on the At Risk register and located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the planning negotiations were matched in complexity by the on-site logistics. Ultimately however, the conversion won the support of English Heritage who heralded it as an exemplar of how to convert significant historical buildings..Materials and Construction: The tower’s fabric comprises 750,000 bricks but the quality of their construction was not immediately evident. As it was revealed, it set the standard for the design. The new roof is a 3D curved lightweight structure, constructed of steel and laminated plywood, tethered by five pairs of Macalloy bars. A detailed 3D model was used to create 2D cutting patterns for off-site manufacture.  A skirt of frameless curved glass below the roof expresses the distinction between old and new as well as providing 360 degree views. The roof, set back to minimize visual impact, is clad in a single ply membrane with three roof lights. The system is elemental as it had to be stored and installed from the gun platform..In order to bring light into the basement, six 450mm diameter holes were diamond-core drilled through 4.5m of fully bonded brickwork from just inside the window reveals into the magazine bedroom, utility, bunk room and bathrooms. The two other bedrooms have 60mm holes for ‘Camera Obscura’ views of the countryside to the southwest and northwest..200mm diameter holes were drilled from the top of the parapet to meet the passive ventilation system leading to the ground floor and basement. These brick ducts provide routes for water, electricity, gas for the kitchen and heating to the roof. They also accommodate the supply and exhaust ducts for the heat recovery ventilation system in the basement and ground floors..”  Extraordinary restoration and conversion of a defense tower in the UK; ample glazing, natural light, views; interesting fenestration including skylights; interesting materiality and interior volumes..

designalog : contact

image: © Edmund Sumner; article: “Martello Tower Y / Piercy&Company” 04 Dec 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/301773&gt;

* Residential Architecture: Connemara House by Peter Legge Associates

Residential Architecture: Connemara House by Peter Legge Associates: “..Connemara. A typical long narrow seashore to road plot; undulating rock  strewn stone walled irregular enclosures, enjoying a Southerly aspect seaward with fine vistas all around; the Twelve Pins mountain range dominating the skyline northward..Clients a retired professional couple with an existing holiday home adjoining the site acquired in the seventies. Pressure of children and grandchildren’s usage suggested the possibility of amalgamating and developing two existing derelict cottages to create a separate retreat, accommodating living, kitchen, dining and relaxing spaces plus three bedrooms en suite..The two cottages though close (a mere three metres apart) were not directly in line nor at the same level but were parallel. A basic decision in the redevelopment process was that they should continue to read as separate elements in the landscape. To allow the cottages read as two separate buildings, a transparent link was required, one totally glazed.  This link would become the entry and circulation hub for the house connecting the cottages at both levels..In the larger western cottage, access to the kitchen/dining area would be via the partially double height living room space, accessed from the glazed entrance and circulation link. Above, the library adjacent to the void leads to a large bedroom en suite..The smaller eastern cottage would accommodate the master bedroom and en suite.  A large store opposite the bathroom would house the main internal elements of the hot water and under floor heating system..The project explores the relationships between a comfortable interior and the dramatic rugged landscape..The cottages’ existing condition meant conventional restoration was neither practical nor feasible, the reconstruction entailed the careful removal and stockpiling of the stonework with the large existing quoins reserved for the gable corners, emphasising their unique quality. A heavily insulated stepped raft foundation would provide a base for this reconstruction..Apart from the glazing and RC wall to support the cantilevered steps in the link, the balance of the construction is of conventional blockwork with the cavity increased to accommodate insulation levels in excess of current regulations. The 300mm deep dry stone rainscreen is laid against the outer face of the blockwork. To emphasise the traditional simplicity of form, gutters and down pipes are concealed within the slate roof and stonework..The large glazing elements are secured by SS channel units, concealed in the dry stonework and secured to the building structure. The transparency of the link is facilitated by the individually cantilevered concrete stair threads leading up to the first floor and the glazed balustrade to the stairs and landing..The other element of modernity contrasting with the age-old tradition of the dry stonework is the again glazed lean-to extension of the south facing dining area. A slide/fold arrangement of four doors allows for a full width opening, thus dining and relaxing can move smoothly from kitchen to dining to terrace, all the time enjoying the southern aspect and views across the strand and islands to the broad Atlantic horizon. As with the above elements, the windows are fully glazed externally, framing views northwards to the Twelve Pins and southwards to the seashore..Inside, the interplay of colours and textures reference the varied landscape; the strand, the sea, the sky and distant mountains. The local stonework is an almost unique geological combination of granite and the darker pre-Cambrian Connemara migmatites. Polished concrete relates to the power washed external terrace and steps. Quality oak doors and floors to the bedrooms. Contrasting to this, soft furnishings and rugs replicate the natural colour palette of the surroundings. Locally crafted joinery add to the richness of materials to create a warm and comfortable atmosphere..An air source heat pump provides both domestic hot water and under floor heating requirements. This works even with the outside temperatures below zero..A combination of the contemporary and traditional, perhaps a more acceptable approach to rural development..”  Lovely site; wonderful restoration / renovation / extension; extensive glazing, natural light, views; interesting conception, interior volumes and materiality..

designalog : contact

image: © Sean Breithaupt + Yvette Monohan; article: Cifuentes , Fabian . “Connemara / Peter Legge Associates” 15 Oct 2012. ArchDaily.<http://www.archdaily.com/280660&gt;