ROEWUarchitecture based in London, UK have recently completed a single family home for a retired
couple in Ireland. Following the design philosophy developed by the office it was essential to consider
all the natural factors impacting the building including wind, rain and sunlight. Instead of treating
the building as a defensive shelter, the weather conditions of each season are embraced. A folded
organic coat made up entirely of cedar shingles wraps every surface of the building (roof and walls)
without interruption. This consistent, arrayed material changes with the climate –glowing and fading
with the durations of the weather and the seasons. On wet days it is a bright red colour fading to a
soft grey when dry. In frost the individual shingles become outlined in white while in sunshine the
folds of the surface become accentuated. The buildup of the surface form multiple individual pieces
gives these transformations a pixelated appearance –a kind of digital organic effect.
The house is laid out on one level to accommodate the needs of the retired couple but because of
the steeply sloping site the house varies in height as one moves around. The section of the house
adapts to strict planning constraints by cutting into the site and dividing the volume into two long narrow
blocks each with a low short-span roof. One enters under a low overhanging canopy, into a
space filled with light which is modulated by an artificial “cloud” above. The public rooms have high
vaulted ceilings gaining maximum space from the limited section. These spaces which are filled with
natural light during the day can be used independently or combined into a continuous flowing space
through use of a movable wall. Bathrooms are treated as unique experiences -each saturated with a
bright colour, they immerse the users in a special atmosphere creating a feeling of separation and
privacy from the rest of the house.
In addition to being in tune with the weather in its moods and materials the house responds to the
local climate to give a very low energy and carbon-efficient building. The orientation of its form and
openings in relation to prevailing weather conditions maximizes the benefits of passive heating and
cooling –a South and West facing sunroom captures heat during the day—while heavy insulation
throughout minimizes heat-loss. The house is heated by an air-based heat-pump -an efficient lowenergy
solution which is particularly suited to the mild climate of Ireland. The timber structural frame
and cedar cladding use a low-embodied-energy material. Within the house natural light is maximized.
Light is a precious natural resource in Ireland. Light is filtered through a field-like cloud which floats
over the hallway. On a bright sunny afternoon, light beams shine through the cloud while light is
mostly diffused on a calm and clear morning. The cloud is made from a series of blades which
bounce light, of varying gradients into the space. The effect of the cloud is that the atmosphere of
the hallway space is always changing with the changing light outside, bringing the unpredictable
weather of Ireland into the heart of the house