Cathal O'Neill & Associates, Architects, Dublin - Projects

image of building

Millrace
Loughrea, Co Galway

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This is a design for a modern country house for a couple with teenage children and occasionally visiting grandmothers. Husband and wife had both lived in 19th century houses and were anxious to recreate some of the atmosphere of those, without the stuffiness, and also to provide facilities for their interests in horses and boating. We were extremely anxious to depart from the model of the standard 18m setback demanded by so many local authorities, which, we feel, creates a suburban feel to many rural areas. This rule is applied even on large sites where rural housing is not generally permitted, and unfortunately our clients have suffered from its blunt application in some other counties. In this case we persuaded the council to permit a lengthy set back and a grouping of buildings in the manner of a modest 19th century farmhouse. The outbuildings were not built in the form shown.