Lorcan O’Herlihy Greens Up a Historic Home Renovation in Dublin

Los Angeles-based <a href="http://www.loharchitects.com/">Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA)</a> made a trip across the Atlantic to Dublin, Ireland recently to design the renovation and restoration of an 1847 Georgian manor house, which was transformed into a modern four-bedroom single-family <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mews">mews</a>. This <a href="http://aiacc.org/2012/11/06/flynn-mews-house-dublin-ireland/">AIACC Residential Honor Award-winning</a> home was designed to preserve the historical nature of the home’s façade, the modern addition expands out into the courtyard garden with a modern, transparent structure, which invites nature in at every corner. The Flynn Mews House, named after client Ella Flynn, is a perfect blend of historic preservation, modern exploration, and sustainable innovation.

The juxtaposition of architectural styles becomes apparent as a glass volume literally punches through the window of the historic façade creating an interior hallway connection between the two living volumes.

Located in the heart of Dublin, the existing Georgian Manor was combined with a converted coach house and an additional 160 square-meters of living space to create a modern home with a historic flare.

The entry from the street is through a diminishing volume in the original mews through the historic facade, which is on the other side.

The historic façade is highlighted in the forecourt for guests to enjoy just as the original owners would have back in the nineteenth century. Within the forecourt the restored Georgian façade now sits adjacent to the contemporary addition skinned in a glass curtain wall.

The interior living space and kitchen face out onto the forecourt garden and the historic facade.

The home was converted into a four bedroom single family dwelling in order to accommodate the owner's family as they visit Ireland from Los Angeles.

Materials including concrete with recycled glass content, high performance insulated glass, and high gloss plaster are among sustainable additions to the design.

Solar thermal panels provide domestic water heating, and radiant floor heating is provided through an underground heat pump system. The underground heat pump system even recycles gray water into the system.