St. Johns Point

St. John’s Point, Co. Donegal

St. John’s Point offers its homeowners a sensory experience that deeply connects with the surrounding environment while maximizing visual opportunities. The new living and kitchen areas are strategically stepped up the site, an intuitive response to the landscape that not only maximizes the views for the client but also minimizes the need for extensive excavation, allowing the natural landscape to remain largely undisturbed.

By stepping the new extension—containing the kitchen and main living space—up the site, we reinforced the journey through the building, guiding occupants along a natural progression. We angled the roof upwards in alignment with the path of arrival, drawing inspiration from traditional agricultural buildings, which allowed us to explore this form in a modern context. This simple yet dynamic response to the site results in a linear, dual-sided structure that integrates effortlessly with the landscape.

At the end of the living area, a striking four-meter-high up-and-over window awaits. The panes, finished internally and externally with a frameless detail, bring light deep into the room while providing an unobstructed view of the sky and the landscape beyond.

Externally, the new extension is predominantly clad in corrugated black metal sheeting, adding a contemporary edge to the design. The single-storey block and garage are finished in white render, while the one-and-a-half-storey block is wrapped in locally sourced stone, creating a balance between modernity and tradition that complements the surrounding environment.

Dedicated circulation space is limited to the compressed links, heightening the sense of delight when entering the central kitchen and entertaining space. Elsewhere passage is from room to room, further enhancing the spatial efficiency of the plan.

The restrained material palette continues inside, where earth tone diamond polished concrete lines the floors and steps. This singular approach fosters continuity while highlighting the beauty of natural materials. The interiors consist of predominantly painted white walls and ceilings, and dark wooden built-in furniture and cabinetry. The slimline windows are framed in black to draw attention to the outdoors. The home’s design embraces a minimalist approach to materials, creating a calm and uncluttered aesthetic. The stairs and the first floor are clad in dark wood to distinguish the private space from the rest of the house.

The composition of the building offers a sensitive balance between openness and enclosure. Openings are thoughtfully designed to capture intimate views of the immediate surrounds as well as the broader views of coast and sea. The design allows the home to age gracefully with its surroundings offering solid, timeless forms as the seasons shift around them.