As is the case with most heritage homes it is the rear addition that comes to the rescue here extending the living area even while leaving the two bedrooms at the front of the house largely untouched.
It is the direction of the wind from the west that defines the main access of the house and its overall silhouette. It is this spatial arrangement that also shapes the floor plan on the inside with two different wings containing the private and public areas of the home.
The changeover from the old to the new is stark and yet seamless with the stone walls slowly giving way to large glass walls and a timber structure. The preserved and enhanced original stone walls seem to transport you back in time even as the refurbished interior in white ushers in modern comfort and aesthetics.
A series of large sliding doors and windows bring in plenty of sunlight while sparkling copper accents and curated timber surfaces provide contrast to a space painted in white. The seemingly monochromatic look of the interior cuts down on visual fragmentation gives the modest kitchen and dining area a more spacious appeal and also brings light into the bedrooms and living area at the front. Tiles in the bathroom bring a hint of green to the polished space with a chic mirror and floating vanity stealing the spotlight.
It is precisely these traits that one discovers at the designed by Atelier Design N Domain in Alibag Maharashtra. A lovely coastal town that is sheltered from the hustle and bustle of adjacent urban cities like Mumbai this is the perfect setting for a tranquil holiday home.
The house has been crafted with a unique concrete exterior that is broken up by large glass walls even as the stunning infinity pool on the ceiling and the dark bathroom unit stand in contrast.
On the outside it is charred wood that defines the extension and its dark cladding makes for a striking visual. Practicality is combined cleverly with unassuming design and modern aesthetics to create a dashing extension that completely alters the ambiance inside a previously dark and dreary Dublin home.