contemporary Archives - Allan Curran Architects

Posts Tagged ‘contemporary’

Allingham Arms Hotel, Bundoran

Posted October 5, 2018 by Allan Curran Architects

Under the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) we have been trawling through old files, before committing them to the shedder and we came across this old photograph of the Allingham Arms Hotel in Bundoran as it was back in the 60’s and 70’s.

It reminded us of the exciting times we had working with the late Sean McEniff. He was a man of seemingly boundless energy and a drive to move forward, at speed.

Original Allingham Arms Hotel 1960-1970’s

In the late 1980’s we were engaged with Sean in adding to his hotel in Letterkenny, the Mount Errigal (previously the Ballyraine). During design discussions he announced that he had just purchased the Allingham Arms and asked us to work with him on the development of the hotel. From the start there was opposing views on the best way to commence that development. One option was to refurbish the existing building and to extend it, thereby getting an income stream started in the shortest possible time. The option we favoured was the demolition of the existing and the erection of a new hotel set on the front of the site as close to the sea as possible. As architects, we also wanted to showcase our skill by creating an extension to the wonderful Bay View Terrace, but in a modern format. We lost the argument and photos below show the early 1991-92 development.

Bay View Terrace picture from Twisted Limbs & Crooked Branches

Allingham Arms Hotel 1990’s

Allingham Arms Hotel – Dining Room

Allingham Arms Hotel – Old Cafe Bar

Ironically the hotel proved so popular that we have been adding to the building ever since and in 2006 we finally got to build an extension to the hotel on the seafront to make use of those magnificent views.

We were delighted recently to see that the success of the hotel under Peter, Elizabeth and family has brought it to four-star status. It’s come a long way since 1991.

Allingham Arms Hotel

Allingham Arms Hotel – New Cafe Bar

Refurbishment and extension to family dwelling, Co. Leitrim

Posted December 22, 2017 by Allan Curran Architects

One of the most enjoyable aspects of our work is witnessing architecture make a family fall in love with their home again. This was our experience of a recent refurbishment and extension to a family dwelling in Co. Leitrim.

Everything about the pretty village of Leitrim, that attracted them twelve years ago, still appealed to our clients. They had simply outgrown their first home. Family visits from Donegal were now an expanding entity in themselves as cousins for their two girls arrived along.

Entertaining family was never going to be compromised by this pair, so they came to us seeking to expand and open up their kitchen-dining space and to find a way to incorporate a snug sitting area.

Although the site is narrow we were able to add on a small extension to the side. We flooded the new extension with light from above, as well as improving access to an existing patio garden directly from the kitchen, with the addition of new glazed doors.

Reconfiguring the existing internal layout created a transformation of the boxed, defined spaces too often the property developers’ layout of choice. The look of the new space is contemporary, a light filled soothing palette of whites and blue greys with pops of colour in the soft furnishings.

Now at the end of a busy working week our clients like nothing better than to avail of the stunning amenities Leitrim has to offer and return home to the space that more than ever is the heart of their home. We know they are sure to maximise their new kitchen over the holiday period. We wish them and all Allan Curran clients and friends a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Our clients wanted to open their house up to create more room for entertaining family and friends, and although the site is narrow we were able to add on a small extension to the side. We also removed a few walls inside the house, so that with contemporary finishes, fittings and furniture the whole look and feel of the house has been transformed. Our clients are delighted with the light- filled Scandi- feel of their new kitchen, dining and living areas and are sure to make good use of them over the holiday period.

Co. Leitrim Before

Co. Leitrim After 1

Co. Leitrim After 2

Co. Leitrim After 3

Co. Leitrim After 4

Co. Leitrim After 5

Co. Leitrim After 6

Co. Leitrim After 7

Refurbishment, renovation and extension of 1980s dwelling located Co. Fermanagh

Posted January 27, 2017 by Allan Curran Architects

As part of the refurbishment a good portion of the existing ground floor was reconfigured to put a kitchen/dining space at the southern gable with an increased window size to maximise the light and the view. The old kitchen was turned into a “winter snug” that was separated physically from the garden room with a screen but this was glazed to maintain a visual connection and once again to maximise the southern light, feeding as many spaces as possible.

Existing interiors of dwelling

refurbished main living room

The first floor bedrooms and dressing areas were also reconfigured to give two top quality bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and additional storage space.

New extension to rear of dwelling

View of new glazing to extension

We have a growing awareness, as we pull ourselves out of the recession and start to build again, that there is a distinct shortage of sub-contractors. The contractor, Stephen Farry, has done his best to keep to the programme but is continually delayed by the sub-contractors, who, in turn, are stretched to meet the growing demand while honouring long standing relationships. In short, delays that we are experiencing on many jobs are nobody’s fault, just a symptom of a general shortage of skilled labour.

In this, and many other cases, we are left to rely on the clients understanding and tolerance. So far that has been forthcoming and the work is proceeding, albeit at a slower pace than hoped for.

Refurbished bathroom

Refurbished Dressing Room

Refurbishment, renovation and extension to existing 1980s dwelling located in Co. Fermanagh

Posted January 20, 2017 by Allan Curran Architects

In the early designs it was envisaged that the refurbishment needed to include a half or two storey extension to accommodate the client’s brief which gave the extension a form similar to the existing but with a much more contemporary feel. However, when they revised their brief the reduced accommodation could be incorporated into a single storey. Adding a single storey extension to the existing format of the refurbishment was problematic without using a flat roof, which the Client wanted to avoid. We therefore devised a delta wing roof which, as well as avoiding a flat roof solution, gave us a number of positive contributions to the project. It provided a clear distinction between old and new while a deep overhang created much needed shadowing for the wall of glass that was important to the Client in order to link the garden room to the landscaped patios and beyond.

To further accentuate the separation between traditional and contemporary the “garden room” extension is to be clad in natural cedar contrasting with the heavier wet dashed block work of the existing dwelling. The refurbishment and extension are designed to passive house levels of airtightness and insulation.

Refurbishment of 1980s dwelling – Delta wing roof taking shape.

Refurbishment and extension of 1980s dwelling – block work and steel to Pavilion extension