These are examples of how modern extension designs can be added to more traditional homes. The height, form, scale and massing of the extension can compliment the existing house, yet still offer the conveniences of modern day interiors, with high level ceilings, rooflights and again, open plan living areas for the modern family. With increased insulation in the fabric of the building, ongoing heating costs can be offset by using the benefits of the sun. Solar energy is free. So why not make use of it, by clever orientation of the interior spaces. With the right designer, you too can have your very own “grand design”. By using a qualified RIAI registered architect, you will be reaping the benefits of formal architectural training. As a cost comparison, a qualified architect will actually save you money in the long run and also provide you with a living environment in which you will always have that feel good factor. Remember, you are a product of your own environment… So why not give yourself a head start and demand the best?
contemporary design
This is a recent example of Contemporary house design in County Limerick. Large amounts of triple glazing were incorporated into the ground floor spaces to make use of the Solar gain and facilitate a closer relationship between interior and exterior.
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FOR GREEN INSULATION PRODUCTS
THESE ARE A FEW OPTIONS FOR GREEN INSULATION PRODUCTS… I have not tried the products out myself, but hope to have some further information soon… Stay tuned.. Conor
With Elastopor® H and Elastopir® by Elastogran you will find the perfect insulation solution with best thermal conductivity values for all application fields in the construction sector: Polyurethane insulation boards, PU Sandwich panels, pipes and spray foam insulation for industrial and residential buildings.
Hemp in Construction – The environmental way forward
Hemp-based Building Materials
The following article contains information on Hemp and its use as a Construction material……..
Hemp Concrete & Insulation
…..
Processing Hemp Stalks
Hemp bast or long fibre and hurds or inner short fibre can be processed and used with existing technology in construction. The hemp stalk can be incorporated into building materials straight from the field. Hemp fibre added to concrete increases tensile and compressive strengths, reduces shrinkage and cracking.
The demand for renewable raw materials is increasing. Currently many companies produce non-woven products like mats for insulation and car/vehicle composites based mainly on flax but increasingly now on hemp fibres. Hemp fibres have excellent potential – they can reinforce plastics, substitute mineral fibres, be recycled, can be grown ecologically, and have no waste disposal problems. A range of products can be derived from non-woven mats for a range of uses: insulation, filters, geotextile, growth media, reinforced plastics and composites.
Natural fibre composites (NFCs)are formulated from a blend of natural fibres such as kenaf, hemp, flax, jute and sisal, and thermoplastic polymers. NFCs are approximately 25 percent stronger than wood fibre reinforced thermoplastics and have none of the negative handling or environmental issues associated with glass fibre.
Hemp Concrete & Insulation
Hemp hurds are not only very absorbent, but are also uncommonly rich in silica. When mixed with lime, hemp hurds change from a vegetable product to a mineral. In this mineral state it is often referred to as hemp stone, and it weighs between 1/5 and 1/7 that of cement based concrete. Several hundred houses have been built in Europe using this material. Research is ongoing in the UK and Germany, where hemp hurds have been used for the construction of floors since the mid 1900s. Sometimes the hemp hurds are mixed with lime, water and either gypsum or river sand. When it is poured it hardens, and becomes mould and insect resistant. It can be used in drywall construction between formwork, as an interior and exterior insulation or be poured as a floor. The formwork can be removed within a couple of hours.
One advantage of hemp concrete is that it makes it unnecessary to have several layers of conventional building materials – it is outer and inner wall, and insulation all in one – it can replace bricks or cement-concrete, a vapour barrier, insulation, and plaster board or panelling. All that is needed as a finish is an exterior coat of whitewash to which pigments can be added if desired. The interior surface is an attractive cork-like texture that can be waxed or varnished (using a hemp based varnish).
One of the most popular hemp concrete products is Isochanvre, a French product. The manufacturers claim:
- excellent acoustic insulation
- breathes, prevents condensation
- self-draining and waterproof
- non-flammable (no toxic combustion products)
- resistant to rodents, termites, insects, fungi and bacteria (because of the silica content)
- easy to use, flexible and crack-resistant
- ideal for cyclone and earthquake prone areas due to its strength/weight ratio
- lightness
- able to use fewer finishing such as no plaster, painting or wallpaper.
With all this in mind, hemp can be viewed as an exceptional building material, whether we use ecological, architectural, practical or end-user criteria. Ecologically, using hemp hurds as concrete and insulation, makes sense. From a ‘life-cycle analysis’ perspective hemp construction materials win hands down. From its origins as an annual crop, hemp supports agriculture, it provides an alternative to timber/tree use and therefore tree clearing, does away with the need for mining, and requires no chemical processing in the defibration or stabilisation stages. Because of the simple, natural materials used, there is no air or water pollution, no waste is produced since all parts of the plant are used, and only minimal energy is required for processing. From the human perspective, it is easy and safe to work with since it is lime based, and it doesn’t require maintenance. The petrification process continues resulting in a stronger, better material with age. Like all hemp products, it is biodegradable.
LIME HEMP.. A Low Carbon Solution?
I recently read a very interesting article by Joseph Little Architects,
which discussed the potential for using Lime-hemp as a potential solution to Carbon sink global problems.
I found the article fascinating and have provided a direct link to the article on his website.
The link is as follows:
http://www.josephlittlearchitects.com/documents/hemp_lime_paper.pdf
I have also copied some of this article in the following page, without any of the attached images. I trust you will find Mr. Little’s article as interesting as I did.
COLD BRIDGING DETAILS FOR 2009
Since late 2008, all new houses are required by law to be built using a new set of construction guidelines. These new guidelines have increased the level of detailing required in all new buildings.
The most obvious changes are in relation to the AIR-TIGHTNESS of buildings and the higher insulation requirements.
One area that isn’t so obvious to solve is the area of cold-bridging of the various elements of a building.
Cold briging? what is it?
ON-SITE PHOTOS IN LIMERICK (may 09)
The project is moving forward nicely.
The roof has been waterproofed and the interior work is starting to take shape. Exterior cladding will be starting on May 18th, with the solar panels being organised for the same week.
ON-SITE PHOTOS IN LIMERICK (april 09)
Photos taken in April 2009 of a new house extension in Ballinacurra Road, Limerick City.
The rear extension is constructed using a steel frame structure with a timber frame infill panel.
DESIGNING WITH LIGHT
Sometimes, getting light into a room cannot be achieved by using standard windows. This is especially true in city centre locations, where terraced houses are common. One simple solution is to fit rooflights overhead, allowing the sun to penetrate deep into a design.
LIMERICK ARCHITECT GOES GREEN
As the rush to get projects from the drawing board to site seems to have waned since mid 2008, Irish architects are getting the opportunity to take stock of the needs of the now fewer client numbers coming throught the front doors of their once bustling offices. One could bury one’s head in the sand and hope that things will get better on their own, or, as one Limerick Architect has discovered, one can re-evaluate the importance of quality in the Irish building industry.
Conor Dennison has taken the latter approach and is now exploring the world of future green technologies. Research plays a vital role in the education of a modern architect and having some extra free time has given Conor the ability to search out the best in technologies across Europe. Some may not believe it, but Ireland is currently at the forefront of solar technology and is slowly catching up with the Scandanavian countries in relation to Geothermal tecnology.
To catch up with Conor during his intensive research, stay tuned to this website and watch out for the latest updates, as he posts his findings. Why not subscribe to this website and have the latest news posted right to your own computer, where you can browse at your own leisure. Just click subscribe in the top corner of the denarch homepage.
BRICK DIMENSIONS
Completed in 2006, this commercial building was designed for Nessans road in Limerick city.
The site was an old petrol station, just off the Crescent roundabout, heading towards the Regional hospital.
ARDAGH HOUSE
A recent design for a house extension in Ardagh. This site is just over an acre in size, giving plenty of space for privacy to an upper floor terrace. This elevation of the house is facing due south, so large areas of glazing were incorporated into the design, to maximize heat from solar gain and to avail of the fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
The house is to be constructed with a welded steel frame, with infill panels of glass, stone and timber.
ON SITE IN LIMERICK
This project is currently on site and will be the featured house and interior over the next few months. Updates will be posted on a weekly basis with photographs of the progress on site.
Almost traditional in Ardagh
This house was designed and built in the late 1990’s. The larger than life client wanted his very own “castle” with its very own stair tower. The stone finish was created using a reconstituted stone product, which fitted together like a jigsaw. 10 years on and the building has kept it’s fresh appearance, much to the clients satisfaction.
Sketch Design of Prefabricated House
3D sketch design drawing of a concept ecohouse, using steel frame with timber panel infill. The building is to be built off-site in factory conditions, then pieced together on-site, keeping project timescale on-site to a minimum. The benefits of this type of construction are immense, with all detailing examined in the workshop prior to delivery on site. We can offer this service in conjunction with our nominated contractor, or indeed any reputable contractor of your choice.
For more information please call us and we will be happy to expand on the details involved. We have a very good prefessional relationship with a specialist contractor and can incorporate any design style into the prefabrication mothod of construction. This building approach guarantees a high level of finish and the new Building Regulations on Airtightness and Energy conservation can be easily achieved.
Save money and time and reap the rewards into the future…..
Wood works in Abbeyfeale
Located just off Colbert’s terrace in Abbeyfeale, this three bedroomed house is designed so as to enable a change of use to an office, as the client has the intention to open an office once his baby daughter is old enough to go to school.
UL Boathouse Competition Winner
This is a photomontage of the winning design for the UL boathouse in Limerick City, by Thompson Architects, with whom Conor Dennison worked and prepared the drawings for the original design team presentation to UL.
Neo-classical Design in Dublin
Some examples of previous work, while working with Douglas Wallace Architects in Dublin.
Photos of Duggan House on site
The photographs of this house were taken in 2007. The following photographs were taken during the construction phase……
ABBEYFEALE REDEVELOPMENT TO GO AHEAD
The new redevelopment project in Abbeyfeale town centre has eventually been given the green light by Limerick County Council. The project, spearheaded by Donal and Mary Murphy, will involve the creation of a new commercial centre in the town centre, in an area currently occupied by the Abbey Stone and Tile centre, behind Main street and Church street, with access being provided onto Colbert’s terrace.
It is hoped that the development will provide the catalyst for the further regeneration of the town centre, which has to date seen a demise in the number of thriving businesses, for which it was once famous.
NEW APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT ABBEYFEALE
Planning Permission has just been obtained for a new three storey apartment development on St. Itas terrace, Abbeyfeale. The building has been designed with Sustainability and Energy conservation at its core. All apartments will be dual aspect, providing light from the east, south and west. The living accommodation is generous, providing a warm sun-lit environment in evening time.
Low-Energy Building Abbeyfeale
Phase 2 of Abbeyfeale Regeneration Project.
As part of the Abbeyfeale regeneration project, neighbouring properties are joining in by redeveloping the basks of the buildings on Main street. The overall development will consist of three storey buildings, paving the way for three storey development in the town centre of Abbeyfeale.
This is a three storey development of a Ground floor retail unit, with two apartments overhead. The roof of the building will contain an array of solar panels, with a view to providing the hot water needs of the building with solar power. The stairs shaft on the left hand side will be clad using copper effect sheeting. The shop unit itself will have a cut stone exterior, adding to the general appearance of Abbeyfeale.