Ballymagarry House by 2020 Architects | 2020 Architects

Ballymagarry House Project Portrush / United Kingdom / 2015

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A 100-year-old blacksmith’s forge, rescued and transformed by 2020 Architects in Northern Ireland creating a modern, sustainable and super insulated straw bale and timber frame extension.  Nestled into its existing terrain along the Portrush peninsula, this family home opens up to spectacular, uninterrupted panoramic views from Scotland through to Donegal. Set in an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,’ the building takes its queues in both form and materials from the agricultural heritage of its surroundings.


The site consisted of a 100-year-old derelict blacksmith’s forge and the crumbling ruins of an attached blacksmiths cottage sitting on the edge of a country road, but benefitting from some of the best coastal and rural views on the North Antrim Coast, with uninterrupted panoramic views from Donegal to Scotland.


The concept behind the ‘Ballymagarry House’ project was conservation of the old forge and rebuilding the ruins of the original dwelling creating a visual barrier for a modern, highly glazed, curved roof living accommodation block to sit behind.


These two blocks are only visible together gable on.  The two gables create strong basic shapes that can be seen in the agricultural buildings throughout the Irish Countryside. 2020 Architects and the planners wanted to retain as much of the original forge as possible, conserving the character which would help to ground the design in the Irish vernacular. The curved roofed element of the extension was a solution to the need for two storeys while still being lower than the roof of the original forge. The two strong forms are divided by a flat roofed section planted as a wildflower meadow. Due to the sloping nature of the site, the building increases in height as you drive along the road from west to east, this is an original feature used  to enhance the drama of design internally.


The completed house creates a guided journey from the moment a visitor arrives on site; it unfurls slowly leading the visitor through differing scenes. The dwelling is approached from the lower western gable where the flat roof of the dividing section is at eye level.  On opening the door, a 16m long wall of natural unpainted stone pulls your eye into the depth of the house, this 500mm thick stone wall was partially rebuilt using the original stone from the site and utilising traditional masonry skills. The wall is a ‘touch stone’ for the house; it can be viewed from all but one room and continually ties the modern house back to the history of the site. The wall increases in scale as you walk down a corridor created by the wild flower roof above and between the two strong competing forms of the building.  The tension of these two spaces sets up much of the drama of the house, the curving wall of the modern extension pushing against the heft of a massive stone element. The stone wall is punctured as little as possible to form openings to bedrooms & utility spaces beyond. The house is on seven different levels ensuring that it integrates discreetly into the undulating fields beyond.


A timber structure was used for the ‘Ballymagarry House’ project due to the environmental implications and also the natural beauty of timber, which 2020 Architects wanted to use as one of the defining features of the house.


 Due to the open-plan nature of the design and the curved shape of the roof, the curved glulam structure was always going to be one of the most important components of the project.  The decision to expose the timber glulam beam structure and use it as one of the main features of the house, made it a unique and innovative solution. The curved glulam beams, don't just break up the long cylindrical ceiling, but bring a natural beauty and warmth to a largely blank canvas. 


2020 Architects believe that this particular project demonstrates the flexibility of design that timber can provide. That the structure of a building should not only be seen as a means to supporting the roof and walls, but can be integrated into the design as a main focal point and a thing of beauty.


The ‘Ballymagarry House’ is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and stunning builds in Northern Ireland.  As winner's of the 2016 RICS Award for Best Residential Project, it has also been shortlisted for the National Award. With the choice of timber structure and straw bale insulation, this project has demonstrated that contemporary design and sustainability can go


 

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    A 100-year-old blacksmith’s forge, rescued and transformed by 2020 Architects in Northern Ireland creating a modern, sustainable and super insulated straw bale and timber frame extension.  Nestled into its existing terrain along the Portrush peninsula, this family home opens up to spectacular, uninterrupted panoramic views from Scotland through to Donegal. Set in an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,’ the building takes its queues in both form and materials from the...

    Project details
    • Year 2015
    • Work started in 2014
    • Work finished in 2015
    • Status Completed works
    • Type Single-family residence / Country houses/cottages
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