Bangor Replacement Dwelling

Located behind a large 1930s farmhouse just outside the city of Bangor, this project involves replacing a small derelict cottage dating back to 1909, which was in use until the 1960s (highlighted in red in the aerial photograph below).

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The design concept started as a series of three independent masses to break down the new architectural form's scale and create a proportionate continuation of the farm outbuildings' aesthetic. As the design developed, the principal house elements combined into a T-formation, allowing the house to maintain an efficient and narrow overall footprint and minimize its visual mass from any vantage point. This T formation has been oriented to maximize sunlight to the south while aligning the principal living spaces to take advantage of views to the west. A double garage, forming the third massing element, is situated immediately behind the existing buildings. It features a simple garage space with twin doors and a small office space above, accessed via a traditional barn-like external staircase.

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A simple material palette has been chosen to help the new building blend with the existing farm buildings, using white render for most of the external walls and natural blue slate for the roof, with some areas of external wall faced with natural stone to add decorative variety while continuing the traditional agricultural style.

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The fenestration includes small domestic windows on the north elevation, and larger barn-like openings on the south, east, and west elevations to maximize views to the west and sunlight from the south while minimizing heat loss to the north.

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A simple floor plan ensures space efficiency for the new property, with principal rooms at the extremities of the T-form and hallway, bathroom, and service spaces located in the centre of the T, where daylight is limited and services (hot water & drainage) can be centralized for efficiency.

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Planning permission was granted in May 2024.