Barrister Magazine Issue 4 by barristermag

The Barrister Magazine Email: jason@barristermagazine.ie Address: 6-9 Trinity Street, Dublin 2

c The Barrister Magazine Ltd 2019 ISSN: 2009-9746

Samsung Galaxy NOTE 10+ STAR WARS

SPECIAL EDITION IS A MUST-HAVE FOR FANS

Over the years, we’ve seen Samsung partner up with various movie studios to create limited-edition versions of their devices. Collaborations with Marvel, DC, and the Winter Olympics are just some of the most notable ones we can recall. Now, its latest tie-in is an awesome one as sci-fi buffs eagerly wait for the epic conclusion to the latest Star Wars trilogy. To commemorate the theatrical debut of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker next month, the company crafted an exclusive handset. Fans and collectors alike will undoubtedly go crazy over the Galaxy Note 10+ Star Wars Special Edition. It looks like a tribute to Kylo Ren as indicated by the packaging and included Leather protective cover. Plus, the unique wallpaper is a dead giveaway. As with all things associated with the dark side of the Force, the colour scheme is mostly black with red accents. Even the S-Pen looks like a menacing red light sabre favoured by the bad guys. Perhaps the coolest thing about the Galaxy Note 10+ Star Wars Special Edition is one of the freebies. The bundle comes with a pair of Galaxy Buds that accompanies the overall theme. The Galaxy Note10+ Star Wars™ Edition will be available in limited quantities in an Unlocked by Samsung version, for $1,299.99 starting December 13 in the United States.

The DangoD007

GOLDFINGER PEN WALLET Is Inspired by James Bond

The way Dango wallets blend industrial hardware and plush elegance with multi-function setups and rugged durability has made them EDC staples. Their Dapper Pen Wallet got a limited edition upgrade just in time for the holidays with the D007 Goldfinger edition inspired by James Bond. This impressive wallet combines all the Dango hallmarks with a polished gold pen and body, jet black leather and a custom notebook so you can keep track of your life on the go like the secret agent you are. Get your Dango D007 Goldfinger Pen Wallet today!

MEN

New

GEAR

Caviar AIRPODS PRO GOLD EDITION

Apple products have always been sitting on the top shelf when it comes to pricing and quality. As such, we are expected to part with a lot of cash to own any of the items in the catalogue. This has been the ongoing trend for a while now and we won’t be seeing it change anytime soon. Nevertheless, the Caviar AirPods Pro Gold Edition is on an entirely different level. There’s this thing where certain upscale services take ordinary gadgets and turn them into luxurious pieces of technology. We’ve seen multiple iPhone models undergo the treatment as well as the AirPods. Now, Caviar is turning its sights on the AirPods Pro and the results are nothing short of jaw-dropping. An ordinary pair of Apple’s latest cordless earbuds will run you around $249, which is already a premium cost. However, after it undergoes the luxury treatment from Caviar, you’re looking at a $67,780 audio accessory. This is for the people who have money to burn and desire precious metals on all of their stuff.

NEW GEAR

Death MACHINE Kenzo of London

Motorcycle

Death Machines of London is a bike builder that requires next to no introduction around these parts because their work stands on its own merits. The Airforce bike. The UYC (aka Up Yours Copper) bike. The Moto Guzzi Airtail bike. The latest, most fantastical creation to come out of the Death Machines of London shop is the Kenzo, a 1977 Honda Gold Wing GL1000 that was built and inspired by a samurai general’s armor and named after a pioneering Japanese Isle of Man TT racer, Kanzo. It’s sleek. It’s stylish. It’s built as a nod to the past while being combined with all of the modern manufacturing techniques and precision engineering that make bikes better. It’s filled with tiny details from the instrumentation and the hand-crafted speedometer that set it apart from all other bikes. Combine all of that with an entirely unique body, modern LED lighting and state-of-theart performance and you have a recipe for a bike that’s as fun to ride as it is to admire. The Death Machines of London Kenzo Motorcycle will be available for $75,000 at some point in the near future. Quantities or availability haven’t been confirmed, so if you want one, you better get your name on the list now.

Segway 181-HORSEPOWER VILLAIN

Segway, the company responsible for that iconic self-balancing two-wheel transport is dabbling on something different. While we’ve seen the company create unique rides, its latest project is moving closer to that of a regular automobile. Meet the Villain – an ATV that’s surprisingly more of a cool hero than that bad buy.

Over the years, most of the mobility solutions offered by the company are largely intended for urban use. We can probably guess why it bears the name Villain as Segway defies all expectations. Given the brand’s nature of crafting cutting-edge products with a wow factor, this hybrid side-by-side has it all. Options are always welcome, which is why this ATV comes in two flavours. There’s your traditional 1,000-cc combustion engine, then there’s the 1,000-cc hybrid-engine. The latter appears to be the way to go as electric motor reportedly extends the range. Overall the setup is a liquid-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder, DOHC powerplant capable of 181 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of instantaneous torque. Owners can push it to the limit as the dynamic suspension system handles all the bumps the come with the territory. Up front is a dual-A arm with a stabilizer bar that supports travel of up to 15.6 inches. Meanwhile, on the rear end is a multi-link trailing-arm with stabilizer bar and travel of up to 16.7 inches. Just looking at the Segway Villain makes us want to take this bad boy out for a rough ride.

WOMEN

TOP 3

New

Fragrances

FALL 2019

Harry Styles told Dazed Beauty that this earthy new genderless fragrance smells “floral, clean, not heavy. It smells like what I imagine Joan Didion’s house to smell like.” So that’s reason enough to buy it in bulk. $120.00

If heavy scents just aren’t your thing, this will be. The latest launch in Chanel’s Les Eaux de Chanel line is all about citrus with zesty and bright notes of Sicilian orange and neroli. $130.00

GEAR

If you typically find Mr. Ford’s fragrances to be on the heavy side, you might fall in love with this vanilla-y, musky, floral take that’s not as bold as the rest of his portfolio. $195.00

Bottega

VENETA The Sponge Pouch leather clutch

Dolce GABBANA

Shake up your accessories edit with Bottega Veneta’s The Sponge Pouch clutch—the label’s daring update of a now-iconic silhouette. Crafted from golden-laminated lamb leather straps that are looped to create a shaggy effect, the design features a magnetic fastening and a delicate tonal shoulder strap for multiple carrying possibilities. € 4,350

Embrace Dolce & Gabbana’s penchant for glamour with these clip-on pendant earrings. Crafted in Italy from hypoallergenic and nickel-free materials, the golden design features light pink crystals and the label’s initials. € 475

Gucci

NEW GEAR

x Globe-Trotter carry-on suitcase Inspire envy in the departure lounge with this Gucci carry-on suitcase, which has been created in collaboration with esteemed British luggage brand Globe-Trotter. The hard-shell design features the house’s GG Supreme canvas for instant recognition, while its beige base and leather belt straps are offset with gleaming silver-toned rivet hardware and coordinating lockable clasp fastenings. The piece’s interior is equally luxurious thanks to a lustrous crimson satin lining, divided by adjustable ivory straps on either side.

Dior DIORIFIC LIMITED EDITION

Diorific, the legendary accessory with an Haute Couture finish, the signature of Dior glamour housed in a golden “jewel” case. Four new* shimmering, festive shades.

€ 2,395

JIMMY

Choo

Romy 85 glitter pumps Add a glamorous finish to an enchanting evening ensemble with Jimmy Choo’s silver glitter-backed Romy 85 pumps. Crafted in Italy, the classic pointed-toe silhouette sits atop high-shine golden stiletto heels. Style yours with floor-sweeping hemlines and playful cocktail dresses alike. € 525

Miu

MIU Organza and

cady minidress

Burberry TB leather belt

Burberry’s belt has been crafted in Italy from smooth calf leather in classic tan brown. It’s detailed with a glossy golden fastening in the shape of the label’s TB logo: the initials of founder Thomas Burberry. € 370

Tap into Miu Miu’s girlish appeal with this black and white minidress. Crafted in Italy, this style offers a simple silhouette of a sleeveless organza top and a straight cady skirt, while delicate lace trim and jeweled buttons promise feminine appeal. Ground yours with a pair of the label’s Mary Jane pumps. € 1,690

ennifer Maxwell is the founder of Dalkey Podiatry Clinic. There’s a story behind everyone’s career choice, and Jennifer is no different. She is from Cabinteely, County Dublin, and Jennifer can thank her ankle and her mother, for her career as a podiatrist as it was an area that she was interested in from the age of seven. As a young girl, Jennifer was fascinated with her family’s foot problems. Her grandmother attended the chiropodist regularly, and her mother suffered with her feet when she was pregnant. Her mother saw the keen interest, and did a lot of the research to find out how Jennifer could become a qualified podiatrist. There was nowhere in Ireland at the time to study it so Jennifer went to a college in Scotland.

Founder of Dalkey Podiatry Clinic talks to us

Jennifer’s grandfather and his family were originally from Edinburgh and she studied podiatry in Queen Margaret College and that’s how it (her career) started. There were no approved Irish courses at the time, and nurses were doing a short correspondence course, but Jennifer wanted a full time degree. She has continued to gain further qualifications throughout her career. Ms Maxwell is a member of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Dalkey Podiatry Clinic was established in 2003 and provide a centre of excellence for all your foot care requirements. All their practitioners hold a minimum of a BSc in Podiatry and have been trained in Universities in both the UK and Ireland, are members of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists of Ireland and UK. They are also HSE approved practitioners. The clinic maintain the highest standards of clinical hygiene and decontamination of their equipment and instruments to ensure the health and safety of their patients. Here, Jennifer talks to The Barrister Lifestyle Magazine about her career, the business and future plans.

“Establish a good team.’’

HEALTH

In conversation with

JENNIFER

Maxwell Words: Emer Kelly Image: Webpress

TBLM: Tell us about yourself? JM: I went to Edinburgh in 1991 to study in Queen Margaret College which is now St Margarets University. There wasn’t an approved course in Ireland at the time so I did a three year Bsc. in Podiatry and then I was working as a locum for 18 months before setting up my first clinic around 1996/1997 and then circumstances changed in 2002 and that is when I bought Dalkey Podiatry Clinic and I set up the business from scratch. I’ve been employing podiatrists since 2004 and a lot of the graduates who have worked for me are now working in the HSE. In 2011/2012 I did a PG Cert in the University of Ulster in Diabetes, Rheumatology and biomechanics. TBLM: What advice would you give to anyone who would like to set up their own business? JM: If I was starting again, I would basically look at all of the grants that are available through the Enterprise systems that are in place. I made the mistake of setting up and then I left it too late to qualify for any of the grants so I would tell people to go to their local Enterprise Board and look at what is available for new start ups because I had to spend a lot of money on equipment when I was setting up and I also took out loans whereas if I had done the ‘Start your Own Business,’ course which was done through FAS at the time it would have meant that I would have been able to cover the set up costs that were available through the grants.

“Look at the grants available.’’ TBLM: As to the future of Dalkey Podiatry Clinic? JM: I’m very interested in Podiatric Dermatology and treating skin conditions which involve the feet whether it is in wound care, treating skin and nail infections, verrucas or fungal infections. We’re the only clinic in the south of Ireland that has a swift microwave therapy so we are getting people from all around the country who have verrucas for one year to 20/30 years and we are treating those very successfully and that has been an added bonus to the clinic and we really enjoy that.

I love my work. The one thing about podiatry is that there are very few professions that will give you instant satisfaction because you can have somebody coming in in pain and you can send them home with a smile on their face and make them feel like they are walking on air and there is great job satisfaction in what we do as a clinician.

My aim is to get the clinic known for being the reference point and the centre point for the treatment of foot related skin conditions.

Establishing a good team and good communication with your fellow employees is vital to the successful outcomes.

ith last year we saw the first ever pub in Ireland receiving the coveted award, on the 2020 edition of the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland has officially been unveiled we seeing Five new stars in Ireland – two in Dublin and and one each in Cork, Limerick and Belfast – have been added to the 2020 edition of the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland, which was launched at an awards ceremony in London. Here’s the full, county by county list of Michelin-starred restaurants in Ireland.

CORK

Ichigo Ichie

Takashi Miyazaki’s incredible new dining experience, located in Cork, the restaurant is anchored in Irish produce, but represents Takashi’s own childhood and imagination. The Michelin Guide said: “Chef Takashi Miyazaki dips into the traditions of Japanese cooking but adds his own interpretation.”

Restaurant Chestnut

One of the country’s most anticipated openings of recent years, you’ll find Rob Krawczyk’s Restaurant Chestnut tucked away in the beauty of West Cork. The 18-seater restaurant is located in Ballydehob and the menu, which is inspired by nature, treats diners to innovative dinners such as mutton with smoked parsnip, eel with hamfat, asparagus and pennywort and hogget with yeast cauliflower and broccoli. The Michelin Guide said: “From neglected pub to delightful restaurant and now with a Michelin Star, Chef Rob Krawczyk has the confidence to know when to leave a dish alone.”

Mews Restaurant

Mews Restaurant was founded on the principle of exploring Irish cuisine through the extraordinary ingredients of West Cork. Supporting local producers, this destination restaurant takes its inspiration from the landscape and treats ingredients with the respect they deserve. The Michelin Guide praised Mews “for the fine craftsmanship of chef Ahmet Dede at this seasonal coastal restaurant”.

Bastion Restaurant

Bastion is an intimate wine bar cum bistro run by a keen young couple: Paul cooks, while his wife Helen looks after the service. A large bar splits the room in two and while its dark décor might give it a moody feel, twinkling candles add a welcoming touch. The Michelin Guide said: “Chef-owner Paul McDonald might be Scottish born but the cooking here has a strong Irish base, with regional ingredients leading the way”.

DUBLIN Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud

The restaurnt, which is located beside the 5-star Merrion Hotel, was awarded its first star in 1990 and received the second star in 1996. The team at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud cotinue to serve outstanding cuisine, matched by their excellent service and are experts in “the pursuit of excellence and delivering impeccable dining experiences”.

FOODS&WINE

The 2020

to Guide Michelin-Starred Chapter One

Restaurants

After fifteen years in business, Ross Lewis’ Chapter One achieved the ultimate seal of international culinary approval in 2007 when they were awarded a Michelin star. With head chef Eric Matthews at the helm in the kitchen, Chapter One continues to grow and is definitely one of Dublin’s finest restaurants. Speaking to TheTaste last year, Ross stated that with his new team, Chapter One is currently in the midst of a new term, looking at “how we evolve the food, make it cleaner, more clever. There’s a new vision, a new thought process.”

Ireland

L ‘Ecrivain

Heron & Grey

The GreenHouse

GALWAY

Run by Andrew Heron and head chef Damien Grey, can only seat 60 people a week. Awarded their Michelin star in 2017, Heron & Grey offers a unique take on modern international cuisine, something which excites the palates of diners focused on serving only the best seasonal ingredients available to us. Our menus change as the seasons do, to consistently maintain quality, freshness and creativity.

First awarded a Michelin star in 2003, l’Ecrivain has maintained an incredibly high standard since then, offering exceptional dining experiences to guests. Owned by Derry and Sallyanne Clarke since first opening in July 1989, the pair ensure that the team at l’Ecrivain are constantly innovating and creating a menu that will offer Michelin magic everytime. Head chef Sean Doyle is currently leading the talented kitchen team, ensuring that l’Ecrivain will be around for another 28 years.

Aniar

Restaurateur Eamonn O’Reilly, who also owns sister restaurant One Pico, opened The GreenHouse on Dawson Street in 2012, with head chef Mickael Viljanen’s creative flair catching the attention of Michelin, who awarded The GreenHouse with a star in 2015. While you can expect a predominantly French cooking style, the Finnish chef ’s innovation means the menu is a constant treat for the senses. The GreenHouse also has a number of talented young chefs working there, including Mark Moriarty.

Utilising the very best that the west of Ireland has to offer, JP McMahon’s Aniar has had a Michelin star since 2013. With his constant innovation, a second star could definitely be on the horizon for the chef patron, who has made a number of changes to the restaurant to help ensure that coveted second star is on the cards.

Loam

Just a year after achieving a star at Aniar as head chef, Enda McEvoy opened his own restaurant just off Eyre Square in the city, taking over a modern unit that was intended for retail use. His brave move paid off when Loam was awarded a Michelin star in 2016. McEvoy and his team continue to impress with their “modern ambitious cooking rooted in tradition”, warming the sparse, industrial feel of this large space with creative culinary ambition.

kilkenny The Lady Helen Restaurant

Located within Mount Juliet’s splendid manor house, the Lady Helen Restaurant boasts panoramic views over the 1,500 acre estate and nearby River Nore. With Executive Chef Ken Harker at the helm in the kitchen, the restaurant has retained its Michelin star since first being awarded in 2014. The internationally-themed menu consists of local ingreditents, many of which have been gathered from the kitchen’s very own garden and farm. These ingredients are then artfully transformed into fantastic dishes to delight the senses.

Campagne

Kilkenny’s title as a culinary destination was bolstered considerably in 2014 when Michelin adorned the county with not one but two stars. While diverse in location, Lady Helen Restaurant being set on a lush countryside estate in Thomastown, while city centre restaurant Campagne is hidden underneath old railway arches on Gas House Lane, both have upheld their Michelin standard again this year. Offering seasonal, local produce with a French gastronomic twist, Campagne’s solid pairing of chef Garrett Byrne in the kitchen and Brid Hannon running front of house has ensured it has consistently delivered the dining experience that they first set out to bring in 2008.

KILDARE Aimsir

Start with a drink in the cocktail lounge overlooking the garden then head past hanging meats and colourful jars of foraged produce into the elegant dining room. Jordan Bailey calmly leads the chefs in the open kitchen, while his wife heads the delightful service team – and their infectious pride radiates through all who work for them. He brings with him overwhelming passion, a great understanding of flavours, and supreme ...

belfast Ox

Chef Stevie Toman and restaurant manager and sommelier Alain Kerloc’h combined their fine dining pedigree when they opened OX in 2013. The pair had a strong vision for the restaurant from day one, which was to provide the same quality of food and attentive service as the restaurants of Paris, but in a more relaxed, simple environment. Stevie’s enlightened touch, transforming humble ingredients into something awe inspiring, ensured rave reviews were instantaneous, and after just two years, it was awarded a Michelin star.

Deanes Eipic

Similarly to Kilkenny in 2013, 2016 was Belfast’s year, with two restaurants achieving a Michelin star, though in the case of Deanes EIPIC this technically wasn’t the first time. Proprietor chef Micheal Deane held a star for a record 14 years before a flood devastated his original restaurant in 2010. In 2015, he opened EIPIC and head hunted chef Danni Barry to bring a star back to the Deanes’ restaurant family, a task which she completed just 18 months after opening. Danni’s departure from EIPIC saw Chef Alex Greene take over her role as head chef.

waterford The House Restaurant

If the incredible views weren’t enough of a reason to visit this stunning hotel, then The House Restaurant will definitely attract your attention. The exquisite cuisine crafted by Dutch executive chef Martijn Kajuiter at The House Restaurant ensures that a fantastic standard is reached and surpassed. Unrelenting in his commitment to regional produce, Martijn’s passion and innovation has ensured the restaurant has retained the star it first earned in 2010. The restaurant also boasts a private dining room which features a fire and dramatic 20-foot long oak table.

CLARE The Wild Honey Inn

The first ever pub in Ireland to ever be awarded a Michelin star, The Wild Honey Inn‘s entry into the guide book caught many by surprise, but not those who have been tracking the progress of chef patron Aidan McGrath, who has run the establishment with his wife Kate, for the past nine years. His cooking style was praised by the Michelin judges as having a “a classical French base that delivers on flavour.”

LIMERICK The Oak Room

The dining room of the impressive 1830s mansion Adare Manor, exhibits all the comfort and grandeur one would expect. Michael Tweedie’s assured, refreshingly understated modern cooking champions top ingredients from Ireland’s artisan producers, and dishes comprise just 3 or 4 ingredients, as he has the experience and courage to know when to hold back. The resulting combinations are refined and well-balanced, with complex flavours and great attention to detail. The wine list is a labour of love and offers a superb range by the glass.

LIMERICK Liath

It’s a chic, elegant place, and the open kitchen at one end allows the chefs to interact with their guests. Lunch sees a concise fixed price menu, where each course relates to one of the five senses, but it’s the set multi-course dinner menu that is the highlight; this evolves constantly and changes fully every 2 weeks, depending on the seasonality of ingredients. Intensely flavoured, well-judged dishes draw on natural flavours and are full of contrasting colours, textures and tastes.

“I never wanted to be a chef.’’

In conversation with

MARCO

Pierre White

Words: Emer Kelly Image: Marco Pierre White

FOODS&WINE

The Michelin Star Chef talks to us...

arco Pierre White is the name that belongs to the most outspoken, phenomenal, troubled yet rather self-deprecating, genuine and soft spoken Chef that has graced this land in more than 25 years.

Mr Pierre White was the youngest ever Chef to win three Michelin stars before giving them back a number of years later. Throughout his career, he has trained Gordon Ramsay not to mention when one chef complained about being too hot in the kitchen, Marco cut the back of his jacket and trousers off so as more air could get in! The chef worked like that from then on. Despite coming from a rather poor background and living in a council estate in Leeds, he has risen to the top and he is lauded by critics for it. Recently Mr Pierre White spoke to this publication from his home in Wiltshire in South West England.

LI: How are you, Marco? MPW: I’m very good, thank you. It is my pleasure to do this interview with you. LI: What projects are you working on at the moment? MPW: I’m working on two projects at the moment and they are ‘The English House,’ which has just opened in Singapore and I’m building a hotel just outside Bath and that will be called ‘The House in the Woods.’ I’m also busy running both of my restaurants in Dublin. LI: How hard is it to run a successful business and how do you juggle it all? MPW: It is very simple, it is about the team and not me. It is about having an infrastructure and infrastructure is the seasoning to everything as well as the people you surround yourself with. In a company you just become a link in a chain. The success of a company is made by the people around you and not by yourself. It is like when I won three Michelin Stars, I was just the composer or the conductor and the kitchen team I had were the orchestra and they won three (Michelin) stars not me. LI: What attracted you to cooking? MPW: It was all by default, I never wanted to be a chef; my father made be become a chef. My dreams as a young man were to be a river keeper or a games keeper because I like the outside life. Nature was my surrogate mother after my mother died. (Marco’s mother died of a brain haemorrhage when he was six).

“My life has always been spontaneous.’’

LI: You have had an amazing career and it is far from over. Would you have any highlights or stand out moments? MPW: Every moment within my career has been the same but they have all contributed to what I am today. LI: What advice would you give to anyone who would like to pursue a career as a Chef? MPW: Achieving your dreams is all about placing your career in the hands of the right person. If you place your career in the hands of the wrong person they will only teach you bad habits. LI: What is your favourite meal and who would you like to have a meal with? MPW: When I was last in Dublin which was about one month ago, I dined in the ‘Chophouse,’ and I had Peter Hammond’s Dolmonico Steak. I would like to sit down and have a meal with you, to say anybody else it would be very rude seen as I am speaking with you. LI: If you had the chance to do it all over again, would you do anything differently? MPW: I’ve done everything that I have wanted to do and I’ve achieved everything that I have wanted to achieve in my life; there is nothing left that I want to do apart from living and watching my children grow. LI: What is next for Marco Pierre White? MPW: I haven’t got a clue! My life has always been spontaneous and I would never want to change that.

Declan Markey of Jim Markey Mans Shop talks to us

im and Dorothy Markey first opened the doors to their Gents outfitters in Drumcondra, Dublin in 1978 and since then the Markey family have been supplying the highest quality menswear for both formal and casual occasions whilst keeping alive the family tradition of providing first class customer service.

The company is now run by sons Alan Markey and Declan Markey who have worked in menswear retailing for 60 years between them and they share the same passion and flair for gents fashion and style as their parents before them. In 2010 they added Club Blazers to the portfolio of services they provide. Club Blazers specialise in providing top quality blazers and the finest embroidered crests to clubs and associations across Ireland. Jim Markey stock top brand name clothing in large sizes up to 6XL and chest size 60’’. They launched Largesizes.ie in 2011 so gents from all over Ireland and Northern Ireland can purchase online formal and casual wear for all occasions. At Jim Markey’s size truly doesn’t matter, whatever your size you will be guaranteed top quality menswear and an excellent service. You will also be able to find top brands such as Bugatti, Olymp, Casa Moda, Digel, Magee and Eden Park as well as Barker Shoes to name but a few brands. Here, Declan Markey talks about the family business, the secret to the shops success and what the future holds.

“Business is going very well!’’ 30

FASHION

THE SECRET TO

Success Words: Emer Kelly Image: Webpress

TBLM: What would you like to tell us about Jim Markey’s Mans Shop? DM: We’re established 40 years and are a family run business operated by my brother Alan and I. We have a full-time tailor working on the premises with an instant alteration service. Business is going very well for us and we wouldn’t be operating in Drumcondra for 41 years if it wasn’t! The shop was opened by my late father Jim Markey and my late mother, Dorothy. My father was in the trade from the 1950’s and he would have been very well known in the trade. Our speciality is mens wear and we also do a good bit of business especially at this time of year for the various Rugby, Tennis and Golf Clubs with our club blazers and we specialise in good quality large sizes up as far as 6XL. We probably have the biggest selection in Ireland in large sized clothing and we are the biggest supplier of Golf Club blazers in the country. We sell quality mens wear with our cheapest shirt selling at €59.95 and our cheapest suit would be €295, with prices going up from €399 upwards. TBLM: As to the plans for the future? DM: More of the same! I suppose we’re the same as every other business and hope that it is going to get busier. There is no point in me spoofing in saying that I’m going to venture in to the wedding industry because I’m not. Obviously I want to retain my clients and hope for more of the same and keep going and continue to do what we’re doing!”

“We sell quality mens wear.’’

Extend your

home

Special

Extend your home special

RENOVATING my ownHome

is a lot of

Pressure

ermot Bannon is one of the best known Architects in Ireland and is best known to the Irish nation for his show ‘Room to Improve,’ which is one of the most talked about programmes on the nations lips after it airs on Sunday nights over a six week period.

“I put two charging points into our front garden, whether or not we will have two electric cars I don’t know but the aim would be to have two electric cars in the next four to five years because they won’t be making fossil fuel cars after 2030. If you are future proofing your house and you are trying to make it as close to carbon neutral as possible then you should be thinking about your car especially if you are living in the city,’’ added Dermot.

Mr Bannon has also recently been to Sweden, Melbourne and Sydney for his show ‘Dermot Bannon’s Incredible Homes,’ which garnered a lot of attention when it aired in February.

“I know that I will have to do a country run in the car and for that I will have to use petrol but to make my life easier, I put the charging points in. It also makes total sense to put the charging points at your house as there is a grant available for it as well.

As well as running a very busy architectural practice, being a husband and Dad to three young children, he is currently busy working on his new home in Drumcondra but despite all this Dermot very kindly took time out of his busy schedule to talk to this publication.

“I loved driving around in this car, more so because it really changed my driving patterns and I really started to think about how you’re using your fuel. I drive slower now and I try not to use the brake as much. When you see how much energy you waste in speeding up too quickly and braking too quickly instead of trying to keep the car at a slow, regular pace it makes you a more responsible driver. The Volvo hybrid is a lovely car to drive,’’ he stated.

“Renovating my own home is a lot more pressure than I thought it was going to be, I was actually looking forward to the whole process and when we bought the house and we were applying for Planning Permission I got really excited about doing it and I was pinching myself at the thoughts of getting to do this to our own house,’’ said Dermot Bannon.

In terms of the reaction to ‘Dermot Bannon’s Incredible Homes,’? “We picked the houses because they were amazing properties in

“Now that I’m in the middle of it, it’s incredibly stressful because you know every little detail there is to the project. Sometimes you might let things go on a regular job because it doesn’t really matter and you can’t see it but when it comes to your own home, you can’t un-see these things and I don’t want to be looking at this little detail for the rest of my life so that’s why I’m trying to iron out a lot of these things. “Most of the stress is caused by making sure that you have thought of every little thing. It’s absolutely melting my head at the moment! You want to put in the best of what you can afford when it comes to the house. I don’t think I will be doing anything differently to my own house than I would when it comes to the houses on ‘Room to Improve,’ the finishes won’t be very expensive; I would like some nice finishes,’’ he enthused. “I’ve fairly simple taste and I want this house to be minimal but there are certain things that I would like to put in this house such as a brass splashback,’’ added Mr Bannon. “I’m at the stage where I wish the house was done now and we could just move into it,’’ revealed Dermot. During the build, Mr Bannon made sure to account for two charging points in his driveway as he is switching over to a Volvo hybrid this summer. “I’m eliminating fossil fuels from the house and we’re taking a G rated house right up to an A rating; there is going to be no gas or oil in the house, there will be a heat pump and it is going to be super highly insulated because I’m determined to have a house where you can walk around in your tee shirt in December as well as having a house that costs very little to run,’’ he explained. “I’ve been driving a Volvo for a few years now and they asked me recently would I like to test drive one of the plug in hybrids and even though I was a bit dubious (because I didn’t think I would get the range out of it) of taking it for a while, the car really surprised me in a lot of ways! “The car changed the way I drove; there is a button with ‘b,’ written on it so basically every time we brake or the car slows down we waste that energy normally when we’re driving but with this car, that energy goes back to the engine and then you can plug the car in. “Generally, for day to day use you get a 40KM range out of it and you have a petrol engine as well. In a day you probably wouldn’t do more than 40KM between school runs and so forth so essentially you can charge the car at night,’’ enthused Mr Bannon.

Extend your home special amazing locations. It was a wonderful trip and I still pinch myself every time I think about it. I think the houses in Melbourne were better; the Sydney trip was great and everyone has an affiliation with Sydney but the houses in Melbourne were cooler. It was my first time in Australia. “I know that I will have to do a country run in the car and for that I will have to use petrol but to make my life easier, I put the charging points in. It also makes total sense to put the charging points at your house as there is a grant available for it as well. “I loved driving around in this car, more so because it really changed my driving patterns and I really started to think about how you’re using your fuel. I drive slower now and I try not to use the brake as much. When you see how much energy you waste in speeding up too quickly and braking too quickly instead of trying to keep the car at a slow, regular pace it makes you a more responsible driver. The Volvo hybrid is a lovely car to drive,’’ he stated. In terms of the reaction to ‘Dermot Bannon’s Incredible Homes,’? “We picked the houses because they were amazing properties in amazing locations. It was a wonderful trip and I still pinch myself every time I think about it. I think the houses in Melbourne were better; the Sydney trip was great and everyone has an affiliation

with Sydney but the houses in Melbourne were cooler. It was my first time in Australia. We got to see amazing houses and because I was doing the television show it got me access to places that you generally wouldn’t get access to. “The trip to Sweden was an eye-opening one because it showed us how responsible they are. “They have these luxurious houses with two bathrooms, they haven’t got a clatter of them. The people all live in apartments in the city during the winter and during the summer they head off and live in their summer houses so Sweden was fascinating and it was the trip that I learnt the most from despite it being the closest to home,’’ said Mr Bannon. As to ‘Room to Improve,’ and problematic clients? “I’m hoping for more of the same with the show because I think if it isn’t broke, then don’t fix it! We have six new projects and six brand new couples. We have houses in fantastic locations all over Ireland and they are all very different builds to what we have done before. I was excited working on them so I hope you guys are excited watching the show,’’ explained Dermot. “I pick my battles and I do get frustrated with the clients but I wouldn’t give up with them. I would email them in the middle of the night and I would ring them, if they are married I would talk to the husband or wife and try to get them to not give up on an idea I’ve put forward and then there are other times when you have to say right I’m done here if you’ve really fought a battle,’’ concluded Dermot Bannon.

The

House

Levels

in Antrim

Michael Howe of 2020 Architects talks about his grandly designed home

100 year old blacksmith’s forge was rescued and transformed with a modern sustainable and super insulated straw bale and timber frame extension nestled into its existing terrain, opening up to spectacular uninterrupted panoramic views from Scotland through to Donegal. The house is now on seven

different levels ensuring that it integrates discreetly into the undulating fields beyond. The property is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and the building takes its queues in both form and materials from the agricultural heritage of its surroundings. The owner of the property is Michael Howe of 2020 Architects and he spoke to The Barrister Magazine about this project. “Basically I was giving some advice to a farmer in the area about planning permission and he asked me if you could get planning permission for the walled building up the road and I thought yes you could. He warned me that two architects had tried to get planning permission for it previously and at that point he had given up on getting planning,’’ said Michael Howe. “He asked me if I would be interested in buying it off him for a reasonable price and at that point the thoughts of buying anywhere wasn’t on my radar. After a couple of months, my partner Michelle and I drove by it a couple of times and we chatted and decided that it wasn’t a bad project to take on for a couple of years. We were thinking of it as an adventure and a bit of fun, we weren’t thinking any further than that. “The housing market in Northern Ireland at this stage had fallen apart and we had no intention to buy anything in that kind of market but the farmer was willing to sell at a reasonable rate and we thought it would be something enjoyable for us to do as we waited for the housing market to come back,’’ explained Mr Howe.

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“It is a really special site and the planners bought in to our idea which was to create something special as well as creating something that was really sympathetic to the old forge,’’ he said. The concept was conservation of the old forge and the rebuilding of the ruins of the original dwelling creating a visual barrier for a modern highly glazed curved roof living accommodation block to sit behind. These two blocks are only visible together gable on; the two gables create strong basic shapes that can be seen in the agricultural buildings throughout the Irish countryside. 2020 Architects and the planners wanted to retain as much of the original forge as possible, conserving the character which would help to ground the design in the Irish vernacular. “We bought it and Michelle and I designed the house. To be honest, I didn’t find designing my own house that much different to designing a clients house, I used Michelle very much as the client and I got a lot of the brief from her. The vast majority of what we tend to do in 2020 is design one off houses. My colleagues in the office (2020 Architects) were telling me that I should enter in to the television programme ‘Grand Designs,’ because they would love it and we did,’’ he explained.

The forge wasn’t going to increase in height so the only way to disguise the two storey section behind it was to use a curved roof because you get more space in a curved roof and less height,’’ Michael went on to explain. “There was only 60 metres of the old forge that was reasonably structurally sound so we kept that as well as putting a new roof on it and new floors in. Everything else to do with the property was newly built. “There was a portion of the old building that wasn’t salvageable so we rebuilt it, we broke it up differently internally but utilising the same skills and techniques as would have been originally used. We used all of the original stone. It was built by some of my friends and I,’’ he added.

The dwelling is approached from the lower western gable where the flat roof of the dividing section is at eye level and the two strong forms frame a long view over the wild flowers towards the grassed field and sea beyond, this view and stepped path guides your approach to a very human scale front door between two extruded forms.

On opening the door of the house, a 16m long wall of natural unpainted stone pulls your eye into the depth of the house, this 500mm thick stone wall was partially rebuilt using the original stone from the site and utilising traditional masonry skills. The wall is a ‘touch stone,’ for the house; it can be viewed from all but one room and continually ties the modern house back to the history of the site. The wall increases in scale as you walk down a corridor created by the wild flower roof above and between the two strong competing forms of the building. The tension of these two spaces sets up much of the drama of the house, the curving wall of the modern extension pushing against the heft of a massive stone element. The stone wall is punctured as little as possible to form openings to bedrooms and utility spaces beyond. As to any problems encountered throughout the build? “We had massive problems throughout the build mainly because my two business partners and I were running a rapidly expanding architectural practice and on the other side my family was a rapidly growing family so really I bit off more than I could chew so the house probably didn’t always get the attention it needed and because of that things went slowly. “As I wanted to use as many local craftsmen as possible (people within 20 miles of the site) that ended up backfiring because some of those small companies just weren’t able to upscale to the point of where they could supply some of my stuff,’’ said Michael.

“The design of the house came about because we knew that we wanted two storeys on the seaside of the site and we knew we wanted to refurbish the forge because we wanted to put all of that back into the new house,’’ imparted Michael. “A few restrictions meant that if we were refurbishing the old forge and bringing it back to life, it would have to be done with as much integrity as possible using traditional skills.

“In the way that we built the house with a pile of colleagues and friends helping us, I think it went as smoothly as it could have. Work began on the house in Christmas 2012 and it ended Christmas 2015,’’ he enthused. “There was definitely points when I didn’t think we would be in the house. Weirdly, not over the last seven months of the build, it was mid-way through the build when I was asking myself what

The curved roofed element of the extension was a solution to the need for two storeys while still being than the roof of the original forge. The two strong forms are divided by a flat roofed section planted as a wild flower meadow. Due to the sloping nature of the site, the building increases in height as you drive along the road from West to East, this is an original feature which the home owners wanted to use to enhance the drama of design internally. The completed house creates a guided journey from the moment a visitor arrives on site; it unfurls slowly leading the visitor through differing scenes.

Everything behind the stone wall is the protected bedroom section with a lot more warm light and a lot more of a robust feeling. “The kitchen is in the curved section of the house and it has got an internal balcony floating over the top of it and that stilted section is an upstairs living room,’’ added Michael. “The snug and the office is in the old forge. The master bedroom is upstairs in the curved section. There is also an internal balcony living room there and it really only serves that bedroom so it is a living room just for adults. “The house is quite warm and in terms of insulation the old forge is externally insulated to bring it up as close as possible to passive house standard without losing the thermal mass and then the new section is all straw bale. We’ve designed straw bale houses in the past and usually the most interesting thing about them is that it is made out of straw bale. “People don’t think of it as a straw bale house and it is just a technique we would use,’’ concluded Michael Howe. was I doing. The pace coming towards the end of the build sped up an awful lot and because people could see the progression as well as the deadline ‘Grand Designs,’ had set, help started coming from every direction which was pretty heart-warming at times,’’ revealed Mr Howe. In terms of the layout of the house? “The site is obviously on the edge of the road so you drive into a dug in car park that we created at the side of the house and you’ve got steps down to the front door and as you walk down the steps your eye reaches the level of the flat roof that is in between the old forge and the curve section. “The front door is underneath the wild flower meadow and then you continue down some steps and the whole house is built on seven levels. As you pass through the front door, there is a 150 year old stone wall than runs for 80 metres and at the end of that there is a big floor to ceiling window,’’ he said. “Everything on the left hand side of the building under the wild flower meadow is living accommodation and it’s got huge floor to ceiling windows facing the sea.

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A HOME WITH A MAXIMISING THE VIEWS IN DONEGAL

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Beautiful

view

n recent years, Shane Birney of Shane Birney Architects was asked to design a home on an outstanding site overlooking the beautiful Lisfannon beach and picturesque Fahan marina in the village of Fahan in County Donegal. It sits on a distinctive rocky outcrop with a small plateau from which there are panoramic views across to Benevenagh mountain and surrounding areas. The previous planning approvals on the site reflected the existing traditional structures in the Donegal area but the client wanted to move away from this narrative. The brief was to maximise the extraordinary views while allowing a link to private external spaces. This allows the building to integrate into its surroundings and slice into the hillside. Here Mr Birney talks to us about the project. “I got involved with this project as the client had seen some of the work we had done. Even though my practice is based in Derry we’re not quite on the clients doorstep but they (the client) felt that we could bring something to the project that maybe other people may not be able to,’’ said Shane Birney. “In terms of the design of the house, the clients wanted to come up with something that was quite fresh and contemporary as well as taking in the views. They wanted to move away from the Donegal aesthetic which would be very traditional and come up with a contemporary design so they trusted me to design a house that would match that description. “What I wanted to do was to look from the clients’ point of view as how the house would work for their family as well as making sure that the house took in the best views. There was a very traditional two storey building sitting on this site previously and that was built quite deep into the site so you didn’t see much from the front of the house in terms of the beach or the peninsula so when I was designing this house I ended up flipping it and making the house length ways,’’ added Mr Birney. “This house is how you should respond to such beautiful views,’’ he enthused. Shane Birney Architects is an architecture practice based in Derry~Londonderry working on arts, education, residential and urban design projects. We are a young and energetic practice producing innovative and thoughtful work; strong on dialogue and testing ideas. Our approach creates buildings and spaces that maintain a close relationship between the context of the project and the client’s requirements. Such an approach allows each design exercise to be a collaborative effort, one that demands an intimate understanding of both Client and Brief before the design process can begin. They aim to tackle issues of climate change from first principles, where big issues are addressed head on. In terms of technology, they prefer to use passive principles to aid building performance, and use these principles to define the premise of a building. This can be achieved whether creating spaces in which to live, work, visit or simply pass through and each project is viewed as a unique challenge requiring a unique solution.

Mr Birney studied architecture at University of Dundee, gaining First Class Honours, and was awarded the RIAS Silver Medal. Prior to setting up the practice, Shane worked in Scotland and Australia on projects ranging from small scale residential to substantial projects in the Education and Arts sectors. Shane has been a visiting critic at a number of universities in the UK and Ireland and is a director in the Forum for Alternative Derry. In terms of the layout of this house, you enter the house from the rear and you have the kitchen, living room, dining room, utility room and family room in front of you on the ground floor of the house. A car port is also built underneath the first floor of the house. The bedrooms are on the first floor as well as the bathroom.

“You have to try and design a house to match the climate so hopefully we have managed to do that with this house. The idea of the car port being integrated in this house is so that is works for a family with young children and you’re not worrying about getting the kids soaked as you enter or leave the house or if you are coming home with a load of shopping bags, they are not going to be destroyed. Most car ports are built on to the side of a house rather that being integrated so I feel that the car port in this house was well designed,’’ imparted Shane. Work began on this property at the end of 2016 and it was completed at the end of 2017. “The project went quite smoothly for something of that complexity. The client was told that they would never get planning permission for something so contemporary or modern and planning permission was granted within six weeks. We took a bit of time designing the house and then we put it out to tender.’’ In terms of the technical element of the build? “The house is triple glazed and there is 150mm cavity in it. A lot of the house was built to passive standards so it is a well-insulated and beautiful house,’’ explained Mr Birney. “We’ve had really good feedback about this house and a lot of people have approached us because of this house. We’ve got a lot of work on the back of this house. People are delighted to be able to build houses like this and it is great to see this become a part of contemporary Irish architecture,’’ concluded Shane Birney.

A CONTEMPORARY

family HOME IN

Clontarf

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Architect Niall Henry of Dublin Design Studio talks to us about his family home

rchitect Niall Henry of Dublin Design Studio talks to us about the family home he shares with his wife, Emma and their three young children in Clontarf, County Dublin. Mr Henry lives in a rather contemporary home and he, his wife’s brother and sister live in

the same style of house on the same laneway in the Dublin suburb. This familial home was also featured on RTÉ One’s ‘Home of the Year,’ programme. This scheme places three two storey contemporary dwellings onto a vacant plot located at the intersection between the back gardens of some 20 semi-detached and detached dwellings in the established residential community. This site is approached via a 5.5 metre wide laneway located between two semi-detached dwellings and is hidden from the street. The site is 70 metres long and just 10 metres wide sharing garden boundaries with seven dwellings to the north and a 4 metre wide laneway to the south. The buildings geometry, orientation and size is dictated by the site constraints, issues of privacy and overshadowing. The core project concept was to maximise the available site area of each house without impacting on the amenity of any of the adjoining dwellings. To achieve this, the footprint of each site including the garden and house was conceived as a single entity. “The design of our house was dictated by the site conditions and the requirements of three young families. We were expecting our third child and my wife Emma’s brother and sister also had young children. The site fronts onto approximately 20 houses in the surrounding area,’’ said Niall Henry. “The key was making sure that we really maximised the potential of the site without overlooking or damaging any of the houses around us. The starting point for the design is the ground floor level. We wanted as much glazing and as many openings with the garden as we could because we have a big boundary wall around the site and we were very private and we wanted to make sure that we maximised the use of the floor area also and we knew that a good use of the garden would really open up the house at ground level. “As we couldn’t overlook the surrounding gardens, we had to be very careful about where we were proposing to put the windows. Generally in a house there are windows at the back and the front of the house but we couldn’t do that with this house or the other houses as the windows would have been overlooking gardens because the laneway runs perpendicular to all of the gardens surrounding us,’’ added Mr Henry. The garden is an integral part of the overall ground floor plan, a mirror image of the house plan interlocking with the house plan. By ‘introverting,’ the external garden area into the design of the house, the site area is maximised without any impact on the adjoining dwellings. This concept allows for the ground floor to be as open plan as possible and avail of the south west orientation of the site. As such, the laneway facade is designed as a defensive or boundary wall, pierced only by small openings with timber louvre screens. “The design of the house really comes from a practical response to all the difficulties that are on the site. Internally, we’ve made the most of the space we have because the

house has a small enough footprint. We put the stairs into the darkest corner of the house and then we put a roof light above it to make sure that it became quite a bright area,’’ he explained. “All the remaining space went into our kitchen, dining and living area so that we could really maximise the space we use as a family. Nobody wants to live in one giant room so that’s why when we were putting doors in on the ground floor we decided to put full height sliding doors in and they slide right back into the walls and they are completely hidden,’’ enthused Niall. “As they are big sliding doors they are only opened once or twice a day. In the evening, when we have put the kids to bed and we can’t face cleaning a bomb-site of a playroom we can just slide that door across and the mess is hidden. It allows us to use the rooms multi-functionally; very few rooms at the ground floor provide just one function for instance, the playroom is also used as a study and that is how you try and get the bang for your buck out of the space that you have,’’ continued Mr Henry. On the garden side, in sharp contrast full height glazing three metres high allows maximum penetration of light deep into the plan from the south and west facades. The first floor level is treated in much the same way as the ground floor with all windows focused around a planted sedum roof. This south facing roof garden and full height glazing to the bedrooms allows light to penetrate deep into the bedrooms without the possibility of any direct or indirect overlooking of any adjoining properties. The lroko louvres at the ground floor are extended up to the first floor levels to form a privacy screen to ensure that no oblique overlooking is possible. “We have a long corridor on the first floor and that overlooks the master bedroom and the other bedrooms. The house has a flat roof on it so we don’t have an attic so the full length of the north facade is cupboards and they are built in so as they look like they are part of the design. When you open up one of those cupboards you will see that it is jammed with stuff! “The open plan layout only works if you have a back kitchen or storage areas to support the space because otherwise your kitchen is just full of stuff. Modern open plans works if you have the storage to support it,’’ advised Niall. The ‘openness and transparency,’ of the south and west facades at ground level juxtaposes sharply with the ‘closed,’ treatment of the east and north facades. These facades are left as solid brick planes to ensure no overlooking of adjoining gardens. The first floor brick clad box accentuates the solidity of these inward looking sculptural volumes with architectural glazing carefully placed to avoid any overlooking. The uncompromising outward facade projects a determination to ensure the privacy of those inside and of those in surrounding houses. “Designing our house as well as the houses for my brother and sister in law was a challenge but the only thing that was very helpful was the fact that we were all at the same stage in that we all had children and we all had similar requirements in terms of space. “The planning department were anxious that the three houses would read as one similar design so as they weren’t looking at three different designs. The planning department worked with us but they were suggesting that the externals of the houses should be similar but the internal of the houses is all very different,’’ revealed Mr Henry. “On our house my wife, Emma was the client so I designed the house with herself and the family in mind.

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There were plenty of discussions such as I wanted polished concrete floors and Emma wanted a timber floor because she thought the concrete would be cold and I’m happy because the timber floor looks very well. The colour palette and the finishes were all chosen by Emma and that really helped because it is difficult to design a house for yourself. “There is no doubt that I would do things differently if I was to build the house again only because as an Architect I don’t tend to want to do the same thing again, I’ve a low boredom threshold and I like to try new things and I’m always trying to improve on designs,’’ he said. “Due to the site being so constrained there is very little additional stuff I could have done in terms of the plan layout but there are things such as construction techniques and how stuff works within the house that I would change. “Work began on the house in 2014 and it took 12 months from start to finish. The only problem we faced when we were building was site access. In terms of insulation within the house we took the opportunity to make sure that we were going to far exceed the building regulations so we have 125mm of insulation within the cavity and we have another 50mm internal dry-lining insulation throughout the house and there is 200mm of insulation on the flat roof. In terms of insulation we exceed the house quite a bit and it’s a really warm house,’’ concluded Niall Henry.

WHEN

Barn becomes a Family A

home

A ‘Grand Design,’ in Northern Ireland

heds unlike houses are designed and built around the function without thought for re-sale value or traditional conformities. This County Down Barn was designed as a big shed to form a backdrop for ever changing family life. A house which could respond to family life in a playful and pragmatic manner, but which also fits the

beautiful landscape it inhabits. The original Barn was reconstructed to form the ground floor where the four bedrooms and two bathrooms are situated. The Architect over this project is Micah Jones of Micah T Jones Architects who are based in Belfast. Mr Jones graduated from the University of Ulster with a first class honours degree in Architecture at the University of Ulster, Belfast. The property is also home to Mr Jones, his wife and their young family. Micah completed his Master of Architecture there before he studied for RIBA part 3 in 2011 at Queens University Belfast. Before establishing the practice Micah worked in several practices in Northern Ireland and abroad, including award winning practice twenty two over seven and Dok Architect in the Netherlands. Micah T Jones architect is registered with the Architects Registration Board. “This house is quite different in terms of the style. The house has an upside down layout to it so as it can connect in well with the views and the garden,’’ said Micah Jones. “Basically the starting point for this dwelling was there was an old stone barn which had both a two storey section and a one storey section to it and originally the idea was to take the top off of that (old barn) and build a new first floor but we then had to rebuild the whole thing again along with a cross laminated timber first floor.”

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“In terms of the house, upstairs and downstairs are quite different. It’s much more conventional downstairs with plaster finishes and so on and then on the first floor everything is timber,’’ added Mr Jones. The first floor is constructed of Cross Laminated timber panels which not only is highly sustainable, but robust and practical for family living. The spruce timber creates a beautiful and warm space. The view of County Down’s Mourne Mountains is visible throughout the first floor, which is essentially one space separated into several zones, with kitchen/living space opening out on the garden at first floor level and a large living room with views out across the rolling landscape of County Down. An open landing forms a light filled study space above which a cargo net stretches out over the void and connects a small mezzanine play space. The materials used in the build have been designed to get better with age, the larch will silver, the stone weather in, the corten steel rust into a deep orange. “It is the first time that Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) has been used in Northern Ireland and I believe that there are few projects in the Republic of Ireland that have used CLT. Getting the contractor to come across from England to take on the project as well as getting the materials sourced from Austria was a little bit tricky,’’ he explained. Having first come across the site for the Jones’ family home in 2014, Mr Jones had to wait a while to get his hands on the site before work could commence. “Buying the site was actually quite a long process and then once we bought the site and work commenced the house was on site for just over 12 months. We were living in the house long before we were meant to be. “Building and designing the house was really enjoyable and one of the interesting things you can do when you’re working on your own house is that you can follow through on ideas that you have had right from the very start. This is quite interesting because a lot of ideas often get watered down or changed for cost reasons and so on when it is a project that you are working on for a client,’’ revealed Micah. “You can also take a few risks with your own house whereas you might not with someone else’s property. “When you are working on your house, I think there are always going to be things when you see them in a reality, they might be slightly different from what you envisaged or they will get slightly pushed around by different constraints but ultimately we are very happy with the house and how it has turned out. “We had spent quite a long space of time in the planning stages of the house and that was partly due to the fact that the site took so long to buy so we revisited the drawings and we kept tweaking them but the main idea stayed exactly the same from the very first concept,’’ explained Mr Jones. “From a very early stage we had a very clear idea of what we were going to be building. There was quite a long planning process and that probably helped us in the long run.’’ Despite the lengthy planning process as well as the waiting process of buying the site, the house ended up on Channel 4’s ‘Grand Designs,’ where the dwelling received high praise. “We sent them (the producers of the show) an email with some drawings of what we were doing and they said they were interested and it went from there. There were a number of factors that they found interesting when it came to this house such as the experimental elements to it and I think my architectural practice being very young and not very experienced was another added effect to the story because ultimately they are looking for a story to tell. “This house was only the practice’s second new house to design and build. The response that was given to our house was

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massively positive and we were getting emails for months after seeing the show and a number of people also contacted us about taking on their projects so it has been a very positive experience,’’ he revealed. In terms of how Micah came up with the design for his family home? “The design of the house responds to the location, the site and to what was there in terms of the old stone barns. The house follows the same footprint as the old barn that was there. The house is five metres wide on the outside and it is 25 metres long so there is quite an interesting footprint to work with,’’ said Micah. The layout of the house is rather interesting in that on the ground floor there is a porch area that juts out in to yard and it provides a lot of shelter from the prevailing winds. There are four bedrooms and one bathroom on the ground floor of the house as well as a lobby space. Upstairs features the kitchen, living and dining space and there is also a stairs that brings you up to the mezzanine level which features a desk and book cases. The walls upstairs have been splayed back to allow the views flow through the entire upstairs of the house. The house is insulated on the outside and on the ground floor of the house there is a 150mm cavity so the U-Values of the house are all very low with eight inches of insulation on the first floor. There is heating on the first floor but it has only been switched on for a blast of heat. The heat from the ground floor migrates upstairs and heats the house making it a very energy efficient home. The house also features a very basic oil boiler that isn’t used very much either. “The upstairs of our house is very open plan but it is designed to have the feel of several zones within one space,’’ enthused Mr Jones. “Down the road our house can change as our needs have to be met such as adding in sliding doors whilst making spaces more defined. The house is sure to change and develop as our family changes and develops. “We’re living in the house almost 12 months and the connection to the garden at this time of year is really great. We open the doors and wander in and out. The house is very adaptable as it is all timber. It really is great when it comes to how adaptable it is,’’ finished Micah Jones.