Fiona and Mark Magennis
LMN10
INSPIRATION
Wanted to move out of Dublin in order to do the things they like doing more often: hillwalking, being in the landscape, growing things. Lived in Ballygawley for a year to try out country living; enjoyed it and started to look for a property.
Knew what they wanted and spent months looking. As soon as they saw their house they knew they wanted it. Lived in the house for a year before deciding they needed to change it. Wanted more light, everything was pokey. Found LiD architects who created a design they were very happy with. Architect Deirdre McMennamin was very much in charge of the build after that. She had strict ideas about what she wanted. They were generally happy with her decisions but had to fight with her for certain things. They didn’t want the chimney breasts rendered, wanted to see the stone – they won that one. Also, they wanted some colour in the furnishings and battled to get orange covers rather than the grey.
They lived in a mobile home on site while the work was going on. Mark found that very difficult, especially as he had to work from home too. The project took a year but there was 3 months where nothing happened as the builders had gone to Germany. - very frustrating times for them.
TYPE OF HOUSE
Renovated and extended stone cottage. Award winning design (RIBA 2010). Next to the waterfall ‘Sruthinaghidhanairde’: ‘the stream that flows upwards’.
POINT OF INTEREST
Have great shed linked into the house. From the shed the door into the house leads to a workshop/shed/storage area which then leads to the kitchen. Perfect set up for gardening, timber management and working outdoors in the the Leitrim climate.
ECO ELEMENTS
- Restoration of old house.
- In keeping with landscape.
- Extensive gardens.
- Keep animals: ducks, pigs and donkeys.
CREATIVE ELEMENTS
A great fusion of old and modern. A beautiful ‘landscape room’ for which the architect won a RIAI award. The doors open out onto the patio creating a covered outside space.
ARCHITECT/DESIGN BY
LiD Architect Deirdre McMenamin
BUILDER
Kai and Kirsten (German journeymen/women), Nick Hughes, Shea Boyle.
MATERIALS
| Foundations |
Original and concrete. |
| Walls | Original stone and concrete. |
| Roof | Slates and original cement slates. |
| Insulation | Fibre glass. |
| Finishings | Modern. |
HEAT SOURCE
Oil burner for under-floor heating. Liked the idea of coppicing their own trees for a wood fired burner but thought realistically it would be too labour intensive. Some solar gain from south facing windows.
WATER SOURCE
Well.
WASTE
Septic tank
GARDEN
- 23 acres of broadleaf forestry, 15 year old trees.
- 10 acres fields.
- Extensive vegetable and flower garden.
- Pond with ducks.
- Woodland area with 2 pigs.
- Donkeys.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Hated living in the the mobile home, would not do that again, ever.
- Time Scale: from March 2004 – December 2004 when they moved in. Wasn’t completely finished until June 2005.
- Satisfaction rating: 100% happy. Everything finished to a high spec.
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