Delaney Osborne House

Client

Arjan Delaney and Maria Osborne

Project Type

House

Location

Rock, Kilrush, Athy, Co. Kildare

This 350 m² home was designed to be energy efficient and environmentally sensitive. The L-shaped house is oriented to exploit the site’s full potential for sunlight and views. Bedrooms are placed along the eastern edge to benefit from morning light. Living areas are located to the south and west to allow passive solar gain through their windows, and to maximise views. All rooms are designed with a double aspect to aid natural cross ventilation and reduce its energy foot print. A heavy natural stone wall wraps around the north façade to provide shelter from the elements, with smaller picture windows to provide glimpses of views to the north, and reduce heat loss.

The walls, floor and roof all have U-values of 0.15W/m²K, which is passive standard. Windows and external doors are triple-glazed high thermal break aluminium and the building was constructed to ensure a high level of air tightness.

The massing of the house is low and it sits sympathetically into the landscape. Its public facades are simple and proportioned to mimic the small whitewashed vernacular cottages found dotted over the Irish countryside.