WHEN we think of restoration projects, we often think of buildings on a grand scale. Still, according to Hugh Wallace, one of Ireland’s most respected architects and host of RTÉ’s The Great House Revival, restoration can be of any size, for any budget.

The Covid-19 pandemic has given us all a lot more time to look at our houses, farms and gardens and in turn, has allowed us to imagine adding a little extension here or restoring an outhouse there.

“It’s essential that our Irish architecture doesn’t continue to disappear, which it sadly is. Ireland has some incredibly important and precious smaller architectural gems which can be restored and rebuilt. There are beautiful stone walls, stone gate posts, and even our stunning old railway gates to be brought back to life, we can support restoration on any scale,” Hugh says.

Hugh met business partner Alan Douglas at college, and they set up Douglas Wallace Consultants which has been at the forefront of Irish architecture for over 30 years.

Concentrating on restoration, conservation and also integrating modern extensions onto existing buildings, they are masters of celebrating the old through the new. A recent example of such sympathetic work can be seen in the beautiful, Eirene – a project to restore and add to a stunning Arts and Crafts house in Killiney, complete with rare 19th Century Deane and Woodward architectural features. Also bolstering the historical with the modern is the addition of a stunning contemporary black extension to a former 18th Century Quaker House in Roscommon, Kellybrook House.

The Douglas Wallace strapline is ‘Creating Value Through Design’, and although it’s true that taking on more significant projects can be tough on the bank balance, it seems that there are many ways to invest wisely as you go along. There are architects out there to help you not only save some money but also to provide a greener solution through modern technical innovations.

Heat efficiency

Hugh explains that it is now possible to have many of the older, treasured, features of a building repaired, renewed and updated through modern advances in construction technology. More often than not, elements such as insulation, plaster and concrete are now produced with far more ecologically and economically friendly results.

He reveals that there are currently a number companies operating in Ireland that can remove an entire suite of original sash windows from a derelict building and fully repair them with the single pane glass replaced with much more energy-efficient double-glazing.

Such work means that all of the charm and aesthetic joy of original windows can be restored to the house but updated with new heat efficiency which will in the long run save the owner money, while maintaining the integrity of the building.

The magnificent restoration by Douglas Wallace of a derelict rural farmhouse and granite farm buildings set on 46 acres in Co. Kildare is an example of just what can be achieved when both the client and the architects can see the potential in front of them.

“The property was marketed with a land only value with no value associated with the buildings themselves as they are seen as a financial liability by the vendor. We were brought to the site by the client who was smitten by the buildings. With our vision, we could see the potential for the restoration and conservation of these important and historical rural structures,” Hugh explained.

Derelict farm buildings

Evaluating the various historical elements such as window sills, gate posts, granite chimneys, brick and stone arches was critical to the restoration process. The meticulous restoration took 10 years; each building was expertly restored requiring the significant expertise of some of Ireland’s most highly skilled stonemasons, carpenters and roofers.

The background to the house and farm buildings is fascinating in itself, as Hugh explains.

“To understand we need to go back to the mid-19th Century and look at the new farming methods introduced, along with advances in farm machinery such as those made by companies like Pierce Foundries of Wexford. The aim was to improve productivity, the Government of the day created grant aid schemes to progressive farmers for the construction of modern farm buildings to prescribed designs, using prescribed building methods and materials.

“The cluster of farm buildings in Co. Kildare is a perfect example of this architectural vernacular seen throughout Ireland. Unfortunately, so many of these derelict farm buildings lie in ruins today.”

There is a thread of hope running through the restoration story, however, as just as the Government supported the building of these original farms, so too does today’s Government. There are a good number of grants available, many of them repeat grants, to support the restoration of our derelict farm buildings and architectural gems.

The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is available for the repair and conservation of structures protected under the Planning and Development Acts and The Heritage Council, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, manages the GLAS traditional farm buildings grant scheme which is open to farmers approved in the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme.

Hugh agrees that these grants can be daunting in terms of the administration. Still, they are a vital helping hand and encouragement for any farm and house owner who wants to protect, restore and cherish some of our forgotten architectural heritage for future generations.