Private Homes \ Ard Na Mara, Dalkey, near Dun Laoghaire, Ireland

Situated in an exclusive area of outer Dublin, this large house is positioned on a spectacular site which slopes down to the north offering a spectacular view of Dublin bay. Planning requirements imposed a severe height restriction to allow the continuation of a public view from the street to the sea across the site, meaning the structure had to be kept below the horizon line.

The sight line, taken together with the natural fall on the site, released a “wedge shape” of potential accommodation, single storey to the south and double storey to the north. The design placed the house deliberately along its eastern boundary facing west onto a terraced garden, so that both garden and house have benefit of afternoon and evening sunlight. A roof light the length of the roof admits light into the interior throughout the day. Almost all the main habitable rooms face west with the circulation forming a spine down the eastern side. A panorama of the spectacular view is reserved for the living room, study and master bedroom.

The garage is distinguished by a flat green roof which merges into the landscape, with the main house defined itself by an inclined plane clad in zinc and floating above the rest of the house with a clerestory between it and the enclosing walls. Entry is made more dramatic by the use of a bridge across the falling topography.

The building was completed in 2019.

 All photographs by Paul Teirney