Small Crane Architects transformed a 1970s semi-detached home in Galway, prioritizing functionality and personalized living spaces for a couple who value biking and seaside swimming.
Small Crane Architects transformed a 1970s semi-detached house in Galway for a couple who wanted a home that maximized space and reflected their needs. The architects aimed to upgrade and extend the existing structure while preserving its original character, choosing materials and designs that complemented the home's history. \The couple, without children and preferring to host gatherings less frequently, prioritized creating functional and personalized living spaces.
This manifested in unique features like window seats in the kitchen, a sunken dining room, and a master bedroom offering diverse perspectives on the architecture and surrounding views. A dedicated boot room with bicycle storage and a shower caters to the clients' active lifestyle, as they regularly commute by bike and enjoy sea swimming. \ To ensure the rear garden remained intact, the extension involved adding a two-story brick and silver metal clad section between the house and an existing 16-foot ivy-covered wall. The project also incorporated a full energy upgrade, transforming the building from energy efficiency rating E2 to A3 with the help of government grants. An overhanging roof at the rear provides shade during summer months, mitigating overheating. Windows in the extended areas face the ivy wall, creating a unique connection to the greenery while offering privacy. \The kitchen was relocated to the rear, facing south and connecting to the garden, while the original kitchen space was transformed into a walnut-panelled library. The kitchen, living, and dining areas are open-plan but separated by a newly built painted brick wall. A sunken dining room is defined by open metal shelving and descending steps. A mezzanine level, clad in perforated steel and accessible via a ladder, was added to the existing vaulted stairs, creating a playful, treehouse-like space. Large north-facing skylights illuminate this core area, making it a light-filled heart for the home. A garden room/personal retreat was also integrated at the end of the garden. \ The color palette was inspired by the materials used throughout the house. White walls with textured details from painted bricks or 'kitkat' tiles, polished concrete floors, and walnut panelling are prevalent in most rooms. Black metal accents are consistently incorporated, mirroring the existing stairs and balustrades, which were retained. Modern teak windows, echoing the original architecture, replace the previous black PVC windows
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