Premier Construction

Glass House Ireland

Glass House
Written by Roma Publications

Glass House

A stunning, bespoke residential property situated at the foot of the Comeragh Mountains in south east Ireland, Glass House is an award-winning project from MDP + Partners.

Totalling approximately 400sqm, it was completed in December 2017 and has been drawing envious glances ever since. In November last year, Glass House and the work of MDP + Partners was recognised at the Fit Our Awards 2019 where it was named ‘Fit Out Project of the Year – Residential’.

The stunning backdrop provided by the Comeragh Mountains was the main inspiration for the design. Prominent glass walls capture panoramic views of the mountains while the contemporary feel to the house provides a welcome contrast to the immediate surroundings. To find out more about the project, PREMIER CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE spoke to MDP + Partners Director, Eddie Phelan. He said:
“The original brief from our client was for a modern, contemporary dwelling on a rural site that would be a holiday home for them. We worked closely with our client to understand what they liked and from there we designed a dwelling from 1st principles to suit the site. We were given full creative freedom in the design of the building.

“The house is designed solely to make the most of its surroundings. The house benefits from uninterrupted views of the Comeragh Mountains and the design intention was to allow the users to experience these views throughout the entire house. The house is defined as two blocks that follow the contours of the site; the rear block houses the bedrooms, with the kitchen, dining and living spaces located in the front block.”

The challenge for Eddie and his team was to design a contemporary dwelling on a rural site that was able to sit comfortably in its environment. From there, it was then key to maintain a look and feel that was simple and refined yet made the most of bespoke detailing prevalent throughout the property.

Reflecting on the importance of Glass House for MDP + Partners, and its recent award success, Eddie concluded:
“This project, with its site environment and the design, led us to push boundaries following the client’s brief for a minimalist design. It was very important for us to be involved to carry through the design principles from sketch to final completion.

“It’s great that we have now won a Fit Out Award, and we were thrilled to have our work recognised by our peers. It allows us to grow our practice profile.”

MDP + Partners was created as a result of the merger of two offices, Doyle and Partners and Merrigan Phelan Architects. With a combined 40 years of experience in the construction industry between the 3 directors, MDP + Partners aim to deliver high quality contemporary architectural solutions that maximise the potential of each project through a design led, fully integrated sustainable approach, on time and on budget. To find out more, please visit www.mdpandpartners.ie.

Launched in 2012, the Fit Out Awards celebrate excellence in the execution of world-class fit outs, and also the people and clients who drive these projects.

Glass House

About the author

Roma Publications