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The owner of this central Dublin mews home had lived there for almost 15 years when she decided to upgrade it. Turning to Studio And architects, one of her main aims was to future proof the house so she could continue to live there, even if her needs changed.
Improving the home’s sustainability was also a priority, as was creating space to entertain family and friends, including her eight grandchildren, and her book club.
As accessibility was a key aspect of the design, the stepped entrance was replaced with a gently sloping ramp, and the front door and hallway were widened. These were arranged to one side with a straight corridor replacing the previous, staggered layout.
“We also added a large wet room which can be outfitted to meet any future accessibility needs,” Ciara points out, “and wider internal doors to this level allow for better access, including to the front study which can be converted into a bedroom if required.”
A new dining nook is the perfect place for the homeowner to gather friends and family, which sits below the hatch. It faces the back garden, which has been connected to the house with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that also add light. Leaving one side open allows chairs or wheelchairs to be pulled up to it, increasing its flexibility.
The stairs to the first floor were replaced with universally designed steps, with an easy rise and gentle incline, making them safer and more comfortable to use for anyone with limited mobility.
“We excavated the floor slab at entrance-level to lower the floor level here, reducing the number of steps between the split-levels of the ground floor,” Ciara explains.
