Tobar Rí an Domhnaigh
This late 18th-century house was part of the ensemble of buildings that serviced the former Good Shepherd Convent site in Sunday’s Well, Cork city. The house itself is semi-detached and was built into the beautiful boundary wall that enclosed the former convent’s grounds. Large beech and ash trees which line the north side of the boundary wall give this urban site a unique condition, while a secluded south-facing garden offers owners serenity and privacy. The client’s brief was to reorganise and improve the existing internal layout of their home in order for the house to connect more with their garden. The reorganising of the house involved the creation of a slender linear volume which sits between the house and the boundary wall. The massing and proportions of this extension respect the conditions of the architectural conservation area in which the house sits. From the new kitchen-dining area, a tripartite series of openings connect to the south-facing patio, while a large window to the west frames the beauty of the garden.