MacGabhann Architects

Green Box Design Studio

Green Box Design Studio
© Ros Kavanagh

GREEN BOX DESIGN STUDIO

MacGabhann Architects

PROJECT YEAR
2005

CATEGORY
Extension

LOCATION
Rathmullan, Co. Donegal, Ireland

PHOTOGRAPHS
Ros Kavanagh

AREA
110 m²

Text description provided by architect.

Located in a scenic part of North West Ireland, this new designer’s studio and guest accommodation forms a courtyard with the client’s existing home (also designed by the practice).

Green Box Design Studio
© Ros Kavanagh
Green Box Design Studio
© Ros Kavanagh

This new studio belongs to the genre of the lean-to agricultural shed and the utilitarian necessity of rural Irish building.

It is from this precedent of local farmyards, in both materiality and form, that this building derives its inspiration.

Green Box Design Studio
© Ros Kavanagh
Green Box Design Studio
© Ros Kavanagh

The spatial arrangement of the courtyard springs from the typology of the rural building cluster of informal and often unplanned courtyards rather than the classical arrangements of the model farmyard.

The vertical nature of the corrugated cladding contrasts with the horizontal board marked concrete of the adjacent house, this contrast is accentuated by the mass and permanence of the concrete and the transience and delicacy of the corrugated metal.

Green Box Design Studio
© Ros Kavanagh
Green Box Design Studio
© Ros Kavanagh
Green Box Design Studio
© Ros Kavanagh

The studio itself is orientated to maximise its views and any available sunlight; for this reason the roof is lifted up on one side to get western sunlight into studio, and while the sunlight diminishes as it moves further west then the aperture of window reduces.

This upturned roof also serves to draw the eye to the wonderful views.

The studio has become a striking feature in a landscape used to the materiality but not the form.

Green Box Design Studio
© Ros Kavanagh


Green Box Design Studio
Elevation
Green Box Design Studio
Elevation
Green Box Design Studio
Elevation
Green Box Design Studio
Elevation

Green Box Design Studio
Section


Green Box Design Studio
Ground Floor Plan
Green Box Design Studio
Floor Plan
Green Box Design Studio
Site Plan

MacGabhann Architects
T +353 74 9129440
MacGabhann Architects
Ballaghderg, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, F92 Ta46, Ireland