Architect's Report

Clients:                         Mr and Mrs Young

Architect                       Kevin Barnaville     Tristans Architects Limited, Caterham, Surrey, United Kingdom

Structural Engineer      Peter Anthony        Horgan Lynch+Partners, Cork, Ireland

Quantity Surveyor        Ned Kavanagh       Henley Kavanagh McGowan, Cork, Ireland

Main Contractor            Brian Keohane      Ridge Developments Limited, Cork, Ireland

Situated on a superb site overlooking Kinsale Harbour, Cork, on the south coast of Ireland, the house merges the influence of local stone, white render and navy blue slates into a convivial, visual whole while taking full advantage of the unique views. The design combines the local, vernacular influences with the requirements of a modern house.

A glass entrance portico, providing a sheltered greeting space, leads to the entrance hall which forms the focus for movement and lines of sight within the house. Opposite the front door is the entrance to the kitchen with its high ceilings, informal dining area and visually calm, fitted kitchen. The principal, galleried reception room and the dining room feature pyramidal, tented ceilings in the whitewashed timber. All the principal rooms open onto the balconies overlooking the harbour, James Fort and the estuary of the Bandon River.

The house design spatially mediates the pattern of client lifestyle with site restraints, daylights the interior and frames views of the magnificent surroundings, making these original constituent realities of the location the source of creative opportunities for continually enjoying the house.

Clients' Comment

"We have been looking for a site to build our house in Kinsale over a number of years and are now absolutely delighted with the choice we made of the site on Compass Hill and the architect, Kevin Barnaville, who, along with Peter, Ned and Brian, guided us through some complex and difficult situations and ensured we achieved our ambition in fine style.  We love the design and it works beautifully for us.  We have no hesitation in recommending 'Tristans Architects' to any potential clients who might be thinking about having their own house designed by a practice that exhibit great expertise in the design, management and construction."

Billy and Antoinette Young

Brizay Park, Compass Hill, Kinsale, Cork, Ireland