ROBERT IGOE

‘Artist In Residence’: An Artist Work Space And Dwelling, No. 17a The Mall

The project brief is to rework an existing building and site in the cultural quarter of Sligo Town Centre.

The intention for this house is to create a space that inspires creativity and artistic expression. the building need to successfully house and maintain the relationship between the three main functions required by the artist. A space for creating art, a space for displaying their art and a space for living. The spaces for the client to create and display their painting needs to be well lit by natural light when possible. In my design these spaces are lit by southern light or diffused light through a light well. The intervention is mainly focused on the interior while preserving the character of the building in it's context.

The project brief was to rework an existing building and site in the cultural quarter of Sligo Town Centre, to repurpose for an Artist in Residence, a place for living and working and public engagement.

The concept for this project was inspired by the transitional qualities of the artist’s work. The client is an enamellist who uses glass powder on metals like steel and copper. The end result is a completely new creation, with unpredictability and one-of-a-kind pieces. Strategies I brought forward in the early design stage were respecting the existing skin of the building by using an insertion strategy into the existing footprint. Separating the floor plates from the existing chimney and original walls was a second strategy used for the same reasons. Like the fluidity of the artist’s work the internal living spaces will flow around the large chimney shooting up the building. A clash of atmospheres creating a stronger internal experience. The internal void at the North of the house is intended to create drama in the experience of transitioning from the existing building to new internal insertion. A change in materials, space and light reflects the uncertainty in the transitioning of glass powder when put into the kiln. The result is a completely new and unique element. The space is intended to reflect the art of enamelling and its process.