Hayes House is a project to form a new master bedroom suite in an existing three bed semi-detached home in Ballinlough, Cork city. The Clients are a young family who recently had a second child and were interested in maximising the available space in their home. The Clients identified the attic space above their home's lower pitched roof as having potential for a conversion. Studio Midrise assisted the clients in developing and defining their brief - a master bedroom suite with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite shower room.

As is often the case with young families the Client wanted to find a cost-effective solution to deliver the brief without blowing the budget. Studio Midrise conducted a measured building survey of the existing attic space and returned to the Client with four potential approaches to achieve their goal, communicated via an illustrated design diary and a set of schematic drawings. We discussed these options in person around the kitchen table before arriving at the proposed twin dormer solution, which delivers the brief neatly without unnecessarily altering the majority of the roof or building fabric. We also discussed architectural styles and whether to go with something that contrasted with the existing house or to match in with the existing building. The Clients preferred the dormers to be low-key and match into the existing building style and materiality, and we were more than happy to fulfill the Client’s wishes in this regard.

Studio Midrise prepared the planning application drawings for the Clients and lodged the application in 2024.