Niamh Chambers and Declan Crowley from Studio Anois Architects were the best match for these homeowners, whose focus was on sustainability and comfort
Creating a sustainable, energy-efficient and comfortable home was priority for the owners of this Victorian redbrick. They found a great match in Niamh Chambers and Declan Crowley from Studio Anois architects for whom climate change is at the forefront of their designs. While this Phibsborough home was in major need of upgrading, including the problem of damp ingress and poor electrics and plumbing, the clients and architects agreed that as much as possible of the original fabric should be preserved.
The owners initially considered a small extension to create additional ground floor living space. However, with rising building costs and being conscious of the environmental impact of construction, they decided to continue works within the existing house. “We can reduce carbon emissions by adapting existing building layouts, rather than demolishing and rebuilding,” say Studio Anois. To create a comfortable home, the house was insulated and upgraded throughout. “A key challenge when insulating a period property is that old buildings need to breathe,” explain the architects. “When dry-lining, it is important to allow a ventilation cavity behind the insulation so that moisture can escape.”
The compact garden has been redesigned into a usable outdoor space.
Having achieved a B-rating for this period home, as Studio Anois have provided a plant room, the home owners can transition easily to additional renewable technologies, such as a heat recovery system. For now, there is much to enjoy in this period house with its stylish and energyefficient interior.
While significantly improving the energy performance, the architects ensured that modern interventions would harmonise with the period home.
The architects designed the storage solutions to enhance the sense of space.
Instead of adding to the existing house, the layout was reworked for a better flow and use of space.
