Contemporary Dwelling with South Facing Courtyard
This large contemporary style low-energy/eco home situated in a clearing within a mature forest near Antrim town in Northern Ireland. The front of this home is south-facing therefore the design was focused around ensuring most the glass/glazed areas were to the front & facing out to the south facing courtyard at the front, particularly the kitchen / dining / living area to the right.
This house was constructed using ICF (Insulated Concrete Formwork) making the home very energy efficient, fast construction time and with superior air-tightness, making it even more energy efficient and a very sustainable self-build home. This home also features all the latest innovative and modern convenience systems in lighting, electrics and controls.
There is an Evening Lounge, Cinema room and Study to the left with the main kitchen / dining / living area to the right and a hidden utility to the rear, complete with wet room. You step down into living area, off the dining space and separated by a 3-sided feature gas fire. The living room to the front right, features a vaulted ceiling complete with corner window, and is linked by a covered veranda enclosed within landscape walls and seating which creates a covered patio area onto the south-facing courtyard, which can be accessed from the kitchen and dining spaces.
The main bedroom wing is to the left and rear with a shared “jack & jill” en-suite. The right wing above the kitchen / dining area features a 'floating box' with gradually stepping windows to the master suite and dressing room, this then leads out onto a hidden balcony overlooking the trees, and with the floating box design, gives it a “balcony in the tree-tops” effect.
The courtyard effect was created with a double garage linked to the house by a curving stone wall starting at a low level rising gradually and wrapping around to encompass the front of the garage, small arch then partially over hanging onto the house. This overhang then hides another balcony to the side of one of the bedrooms.
The interior of this house has a very luxurious hotel feel. This starts as soon as you enter as the double height entrance hall features with two curving flanking walls either side, with a sweeping curved poured concrete staircase which wraps up into a curved landing with glass and wooden balustrade. The curved handrail wraps right round to a enclose the 2-storey vaulted entrance hall.
The contemporary look was achieved by hidden gutter detail with no over hangs or fascia creating a very contemporary sleek look. The house is finished with a white coloured render and zinc metal cladding to the covered areas with a tiled roof and a grey aluminium window system. The wrapping round curved stone wall linking the garage, courtyard, house and sitting area is made of natural dry-stacked limestone.