Teachín tuí +

Bundoran, Co. Donegal

teachín tuí + (simply translating thatched cottage, the + meaning the extension)

The clients, a retired couple have holidayed in the adjoining house in Bundoran’s East End for many years. When the property next door, a derelict thatched cottage came up for sale, there was a unique opportunity to provide a larger holiday home for three generations, buy into a piece of Irish heritage as well as address a more pressing problem of water ingress that was causing damage to their neighbouring property via the derelict cottage.

Built c.1820, the cottage is the only thatched example of its type still extant in Bundoran. Originally a house and for a time was small convenience shop until the 90’s, locally known as O’Brien’s Shop, the little cottage lay derelict for years and in desperate need of repair, care and attention. This simple building of just 40sq.m is an integral element of the built heritage of the seaside town, and makes a positive contribution to the Main Street. It exhibits the simple and functional form of vernacular building in Ireland and of significant interest, the survival of the thatch roof, that is sadly now becoming increasingly rare in Donegal. The long narrow site enjoys a north-westerly aspect to the Atlantic Ocean and has access from the rear via Kearns Lane. The majority of buildings along the street, turn their back to the seaside with ad-hoc extensions added over time, we saw an opportunity to open up and frame the sea views with a new extension.

The brief, with pressure of children and grandchildren’s usage suggested the possibility of flexible living and sub-division, teachín tuí being a self-contained retreat with a link to the new 1.5 storey modern cottage (teachín tuí +) for larger gatherings. The planning solution was to completely restore the thatched cottage to include a new locally cultivated Rye thatch (including traditional a build-up of two layers of sod/scraw also grown locally), replacement of the unsightly plastic windows with timber sliding sash windows and restoration of the entire fabric. In turn, the planners accepted a contemporary extension to the rear of the cottage to provide the clients the additional space they required for open-plan living at ground floor and two additional bedrooms above. The extension is split-level to follow the sloping nature of the site but from a planning perspective, the extension is hidden from view from the Main Street, keeping the simple vernacular appearance intact.

The planning process was relatively straight forward, our clients met with the local authority after they purchased the property and were advised to engage the services of a registered architect with conservation expertise. Impressed by other projects completed by our firm, our clients engaged our services. We saw immense potential and were delighted to have the opportunity and therefore the relationship began. Conservation projects by their nature, throw up challenges and surprises along the way but with the reliable assistance and master craft of McHugh and Gallagher Builders on the project with their ‘nothing was a problem’ attitude, the project ran relatively smoothly. Our clients were keen to use local tradesmen including local renowned thatcher, Ivor Kilpatrick who harvested the Rye locally in St. Johnston, Co. Donegal, MacBride Bros Joinery made the sliding sash windows and Patterson’s Kitchens who fitted the ultra modern kitchen in the contemporary extension to name but a few.

The existing cottage, a simple narrow plan with a 45º pitched roof is echoed in the form of the uninterrupted white frame of the north-west elevation of the extension. The first-floor bedrooms of the extension floats above the lightweight glass walls at lower level to accentuate the relationship of the new extension and the original cottage. A basic decision in the redevelopment process was that old and new would read as separate elements. To achieve this, a transparent glass link was required. This link would become the new entry and circulation hub between both cottage and extension and this is where the age-old tradition of stone walls meets contemporary minimal detailing. There are also visual links to the powerful thatch be it through the glazed roof or through the framed window at the top of the stairs in the extension. A stone wall anchors the extension into the sloping site on the east elevation and contrasts with the clean white acrylic render of the walls above.

The project included many trips to salvage yards, antique shops and old ruins that were beyond repair to source material, be inspired, learn and get a deep appreciation of how these little buildings were inhabited. We found that process very rewarding and our clients really enjoyed it too. We found that locals were helpful and bought into the project, we managed to source reclaimed brickwork to match the existing and additional Leitrim sandstone for the cottage and carried out the necessary tests to determine the appropriate lime render.

Unfortunately, although a very powerful symbol of Irish Heritage, getting insurance for a thatched cottage is very difficult indeed. Even with all the fire retardant certification data and properly lined chimney flues, the problem is that there are currently no underwriters left in Ireland and you have to look at the UK market to get cover. It is unfortunate that the insurance problem has presented very regrettable concerns for the preservation of thatching around the country as the ever increasing premiums, never mind the capital cost puts off people taking on a project like this. With only 2,500 of these thatched cottages left in Ireland our clients should be commended for doing their part to keep another one alive whilst providing an adaptive and sustainable new use for future generations.

Unassuming on the streetscape, teachín tuí + provides a vital role in the heritage of Bundoran, on the opposite side the extension is surprising which engages its users and the public and allows the dwelling a unique character, but more importantly it fulfils the client’s requirements whilst extending the life of the cottage.