WO Residence

  • WO Residence
  • Converted Garage
  • Limavady , Co Derry/Londonderry

This rural house outside Limavady has been refurbished and extended to suit the changing lives of its owners and their extended family.
As children grow up our parents also grow older and often we’d like to bring extended families closer together to help and benefit from each others company. It’s a very natural and admirable idea and a socially responsible one too.
This rural bungalow outside Limavady is home to such a family with children at various stages of independence and some already left home. A large and underutilised detached garage immediately adjacent to the house provided the shell for additional living quarters to be used by a variety of family members.
Taking advantage of the views from and adjacency of the garage a new ancillary living and sleeping wing was linked to the existing house. Transforming a plain block gable into a façade that related to its setting and orientation, gulping in views and sunlight created the essential connection with the outside to create a new double height living space. Behind this a couple of discreet bedrooms. Perfect for visiting friends, parents and children’s growing families.
This project illustrates how by using the underused buildings around home we can create new places to accommodate changing extended family circumstances. Bringing space and light and people together.