Parnell Cottage Extension and Renovation
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ArchitectDavid Graham, Graham Architecture
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Structural EngineerRoss Somers, RS Consulting
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ContractorJoe Clinton, Balcon Construction Management
Traditional Irish Parnell Cottage Extension and Renovation
A contemporary extension and renovation of a traditional Irish Parnell Cottage, originally constructed under early council housing schemes where working families were provided with a modest dwelling and an acre of land.
The original cottage accommodated two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small kitchen/living space within a compact 45m² footprint. The client brief required the house to expand to over three times its original size while carefully preserving the character and scale of the existing cottage.
Achieving such a substantial increase in floor area without overpowering the original building presented a significant design challenge. This was resolved through the introduction of a carefully proportioned two-storey extension, connected to the original cottage by a glazed link. Matching materials and a restrained palette were used throughout to unify old and new.
Rather than becoming secondary to the extension, the original cottage remains central to the overall composition. The existing structure was fully refurbished and repurposed as the kitchen and dining space, ensuring the historic fabric of the house continues to define the character and atmosphere of the home.
Parnell Cottage Extension and Renovation
-
ArchitectDavid Graham, Graham Architecture
-
Structural EngineerRoss Somers, RS Consulting
-
ContractorJoe Clinton, Balcon Construction Management
Traditional Irish Parnell Cottage Extension and Renovation
A contemporary extension and renovation of a traditional Irish Parnell Cottage, originally constructed under early council housing schemes where working families were provided with a modest dwelling and an acre of land.
The original cottage accommodated two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small kitchen/living space within a compact 45m² footprint. The client brief required the house to expand to over three times its original size while carefully preserving the character and scale of the existing cottage.
Achieving such a substantial increase in floor area without overpowering the original building presented a significant design challenge. This was resolved through the introduction of a carefully proportioned two-storey extension, connected to the original cottage by a glazed link. Matching materials and a restrained palette were used throughout to unify old and new.
Rather than becoming secondary to the extension, the original cottage remains central to the overall composition. The existing structure was fully refurbished and repurposed as the kitchen and dining space, ensuring the historic fabric of the house continues to define the character and atmosphere of the home.







