Hasta La Ideas

Irish studio GKMP Architects added glazed white tiles to the angular walls of this extension to a semi-detached house in Dublin to help direct sunlight into the interior (+ slideshow).

GKMP Architects designed the Greenlea Road extension for the home of a family of five, who wanted a large, bright living area that improves the connection between the house and the garden.

“The old layout included a dining room and garage extension to the west of the ground floor, which cut evening light to the interior and enclosed the kitchen within the plan, blocking light and access to the garden,” architect Michael Pike told Dezeen.

The existing extension built in the 1990s was demolished to make room for the new addition, which contains an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area filled with light from the windows and a central skylight.

The shape of the walls and the shiny surfaces of the glazed tiles surrounding the doors and windows help funnel daylight into the extension.

“The tiles were used for the texture they bring to a facade and for their ability to bounce light into the interior to brighten the terrace and garden spaces,” explained Pike.

GKMP Architects used terracotta tiles that resemble brickwork to clad another extension in Dublin. Tiles are well-suited for use as a practical and decorative exterior finish said Michael Pike.

“Ceramic tiles are a very traditional material however they are not widely used externally in Ireland,” Pike pointed out. “We use the tiles as a cladding to bring texture and warmth to a facade and also to highlight or draw attention to certain details.”

Door and window frames made from iroko wood stand out against the white ceramic tiles, but also contrast with green tiles that surround some of the windows and cover a low planter that extends towards the garden.

A skylight lined with plywood introduces more light into the interior, while a polished concrete floor used throughout the ground floor helps to reflect it around the space.

The kitchen features a cast concrete countertop that complements the floor and contrasts with the natural surfaces of the birch plywood benches and cabinetry. There is also a store room, utility room and shower room that continues around the corner of the house.

Photography is by Paul Tierney.

Read on for some information from GKMP Architects:

32 Greenlea Road

This project involves the demolition of a 1990s extension and shed to the rear of a semi-detached suburban house in Dublin, Ireland and the construction of a new single storey extension to the side and rear extending to 31sq.m. A new plywood kitchen and dining space open out to receive west light and connect to the back garden.

White glazed tiles bring texture to the facade and bounce light into the interior and onto the new polished concrete floor, whilst the cast concrete countertop then continues the language of the floor into the new plywood kitchen.

New windows are made from Iroko timber and green ceramic tiles are used to highlight certain window openings. The green tile is also used to draw attention and add scale to the washed concrete terrace. A large planter, clad also in green, seeks to bring the garden right up to the dining room window. Inside, a large, plywood-lined skylight marks the transition between old and new construction and serves to bring light into the centre of the living space.

The post Tile-covered walls reflect light into Dublin
house extension by GKMP Architects appeared first on Dezeen.

Terracotta tiles resembling brickwork cover parts of this house extension in Dublin by Irish practice GKMP Architects (+ slideshow).

GKMP Architects removed the rear wall of the 1950s semi-detached house at ground level so the kitchen and dining area could be extended into the garden.

The extension was constructed from blockwork before white render and the decorative tiles were added.

The faceted shape of the new structure results in a series of angular interior spaces, while lower walls separate a patio from the garden.

“The angled walls create deep thresholds between inside and outside and make niches for benches,” the architects said.

A layer of sedum covers the roof of the new addition, making it appear to blend in with the garden beyond when viewed from the upper floor.

Other recent residential extensions on Dezeen include a faceted slatted wooden structure that seems to be scaling the back of an apartment in Italy and an addition to an Arts and Crafts-style house in England with glass walls that open out onto the surrounding woodland. See more house extensions »

We previously published a beauty salon in Japan with an interior covered in tiles arranged in a traditional English bricklaying pattern and a seaside art gallery in England by HAT Projects clad in shimmering black glazed tiles. See more tiles »

Photography is by Alice Clancy.

The architects sent us this project description:

House Extension at Silchester Park, Glenageary

The project involves the refurbishment and extension of a 1950s semi-detached house in Glenageary, Dublin, Ireland.

The ground floor rear wall is removed to open the house to the south-facing garden. A series of cranked and faceted walls are made that enclose a new dining area and associated external terraces. The angled walls create deep thresholds between inside and outside and make niches for benches. They are made from blockwork and are faced in render and terracotta tiles.

The timber roof of the extension is covered in sedum to have a visual connection with the garden when viewed from the upper floor. A rooflight is made at the point of connection between the new and the existing to pull light into the plan.

About the practice:

GKMP Architects is a practice that designs high quality modern architecture. We place a strong emphasis on the careful and inventive use of materials, the qualities of light and the relationship between the building and its context. We consider these issues to be more important than working in a particular style and hope that each project will be a creative interpretation of the client, site, brief and budget.

Grace Keeley and Michael Pike graduated from UCD in 1998 and established GKMP Architects in Barcelona in 2003 before relocating to Dublin in 2004. The practice has designed a number of high quality housing and public space projects. We have received a number of awards including First Prize in the recent Docomomo Central Bank Competition. Our work has been published internationally and has also been included in a number of exhibitions, including the ‘Rebuilding the Republic: New Irish Architecture 2000-10 Exhibition’ in Leuven, Belgium in May 2011.

Architects: GKMP Architects
Contractor: Sheerin Construction
Engineer: Downes Associates
Lighting Consultant: Wink Lighting

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by GKMP Architects appeared first on Dezeen.