The SiOO X Story – Protecting the Planet - Book - Page 59
Case Study 05
The Private Home
Clifden Bay House
Tierney Haines Architects
This building located on Clifden Bay, County Galway is a new
family home and office, designed to nestle into the side of a
low hill overlooking Clifden Bay in Connemara in the west of
Ireland. Like nearby outcrops of rock, the grounded heavy form
of the house is inspired by limpet shells, coastal defences and
stone piers. The battered limestone cladding is positioned at the
exposed corners to give some sense of resistance to the salty
south westerly prevailing winds while Siberian larch cladding
treated with SiOO:X and pillars set up a simple rhythm with the
glazing. The low grey irregular roof form echoes the erratic rock
outcrops in the surrounding landscape.
The clients, a couple with three young children, were clear that
the sociable kitchen should be at the heart of the house and
enjoy sunshine throughout the day while being loosely connected to the sitting room and office. There was a planning
requirement for the building to be discrete and of low impact
in this sensitive landscape and the clients were keen to develop
an unusual design solution that took inspiration from its unique
position. The interiors which are deliberately quiet, highlight the
seascape and changing light.
One of the challenges of the site was to make the most of the
views of the bay while also providing some shelter in a very
harsh seascape climate. The elongated plan follows the contours
