Castlecomer Housing

Castlecomer Social Housing consolidates the town’s existing settlement pattern introducing 33 new homes (from single bedroom apartments to four bedroom houses) into a backlands sloping site, its eastern side having mature deciduous trees (retained). This scheme of two-storey terraces on a complex topography accommodates full accessibility while avoiding the clutter of designated ramps. Gently sloping footpaths connect terraces of houses and apartments consciously designed with a consistent approach to elevation that avoids any hierarchy of dwelling types - the overall reading simply of community. Each home has a covered external patterned brick porch (reflecting Castlecomer’s manufacturing tradition) facing the public realm, supporting that very particular social interchange between neighbours. The architecture is simple, pitched roofs, rhythm of windows, and gables responding to their pivotal corner locations. External walls are dash rendered, durable and understood within Irish rural culture; internally, rooms are well proportioned availing of sun, aspect and spatial connectivity.