Premier Construction

Lough Foyle County Derry

Lough Foyle
Written by Roma Publications

House Overlooking Lough Foyle

Marshall McCann Architects has picked up a top award at the 2019 Building and Architect of the Year awards. Their house, which overlooks Lough Foyle in County Derry, was named as Single House Building of the Year.

The home was designed by Marshall McCann Architects, owned by brother and sister Martin and Roisin. Judges praised the agricultural style of the house and, “how it blended into the landscape, created a streetscape with the existing stone barn, made the most of the amazing views over Lough Foyle, Binevenagh Mountain and the Donegal Mountains, as well as the use of typically agricultural materials.”

Niall Gribbin of Setana Construction said:

“We built architect’s own house, so we had a relationship previously established, which is how the job came to us. We were the main contractor on the project, which took seven months to complete. The brief was to make it energy efficient and air tight by using Passive House principles. We try to give the client the best value for money spent in the wall make up we decide to go with. It’s always important to us to build the correct house for the client, and an airtight and energy efficient one at that. We worked closely with the client’s and all our sub-contractors to make sure the fabric of the building was not compromised and that any damage to the membrane was properly repaired.”

Marshall McCann Architects said of the project: “We started by looking for the beauty and potential of the site with a photographer’s eye – the views that required framing. We analysed the site, taking into account the sun path, the palette of materials, the built environment; before starting to mould the client’s brief around the site.

“We took inspiration from the rural environment; looking at the pattern of existing built environment already on site; the haphazard scattering of rural buildings in the area; agricultural buildings, materials and colours. The design evolved from an ‘Irish Long House’ to an agricultural shed; situated behind the cottage; proportionally a shed, with lean-to outhouses arranged around it.”

Niall finished: “The initial feedback from the client has been that they’re really happy the house has retained the heat, so already they’ll be using a lot less oil than in their previous build. The client’s heating use should now be between £200-300 a year, which is great. More and more clients are looking towards living in energy efficient homes.

“This house won an award for House of the Year in Ireland last year and I’m always very proud to be a part of those projects and the notion that we’re going in the right direction.”

 

 

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Roma Publications