Diarmaid Brophy ArchitectsRefurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4

Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4

The brief was to modernise the home without expanding its size. Given that the house had undergone several extensions over the decades, our approach focused on making a few carefully considered, impactful changes to create a cohesive and unified design.

Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4
Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4

Refurbishment & Deep Retrofit in Dublin 4

The project aimed to modernise a 1950s semi-detached home in Dublin 4 without expanding its footprint further. Over the years, this house had been extended multiple times: a two-storey extension in the 1970s, a single-storey addition in the 1980s, and a converted garage in the 2010s. These modifications brought the total floor area to 233 sqm.

Our approach retained the original layout, but we made several key interventions to improve the flow and connections. A new canopy was added to the two-story extension, forming part of an off-black rendered band that visually unifies both extensions, built years apart. In the single-storey extension, we created a larger opening to improve the connection between the kitchen/dining space and the garden. Inside, a generous floor-to-ceiling opening now connects the new rear living room with the kitchen/dining area, while a repositioned door from the entrance hall into the kitchen now draws the eye through the house and improves the kitchen layout.

Subtler changes were also made to improve the home’s functionality. The front home office was reduced in size to accommodate a new cloakroom off the entrance hall. The entrance to the front living room was relocated to enhance the usability of both spaces. The previously converted garage was redesigned to include a pantry, utility room and boot room. Upstairs, the wardrobes and ensuite in the main bedroom, as well as the main bathroom, were enlarged, reconfigured, and updated.

For the interior, we adopted a contemporary design with a palette of muted tones for walls, ceilings and joinery. A wide plank ash floor, with a hardwax white oil finish, was installed throughout the main house. Bold, darker colours were reserved for special elements, such as the hand-painted kitchen furniture in a bold green and the refurbished staircase inoff-black’. This off-black color was repeated across several elements, including the new rendered band that ties the rear extensions together. At ground level, new brickwork replicates the original finish, adding a tactile quality.

Custom furniture was crafted throughout the house, including a bespoke bar cabinet in the living room. Several upstairs rooms retained existing wardrobes, which were carefully removed, refurbished, and hand-painted to refresh their appearance. Original internal doors were also restored and the simple profiles of the original skirting boards and door architraves were replicated.

A deep retrofit significantly improved the home’s energy efficiency, raising its Building Energy Rating (BER) from E2 to A2. Redundant fireplaces and chimney stacks were removed, and a new insulated ground floor slab with underfloor heating was installed. New windows and insulation were added throughout, and flat roofs and attic spaces were upgraded. An airtightness membrane and a decentralized ventilation system were installed, along with an air-to-water heat pump for heating and hot water. Solar panels now generate electricity, which can be stored in newly installed batteries.

Photography by Richard Hatch ©.