Historic Mews Conversion & Charred Timber Extension | Bray, Co. Wicklow

Transforming Mid-1800s Coach Houses into an A2-Rated Family Home

Located on a quiet mews lane in <strong>Bray, Co. Wicklow</strong>, this exceptional residential project involved the sensitive conversion and unification of a pair of mid-19th-century coach houses into a spacious, modern family residence. Originally constructed around 1850 as stables for the grand properties on Duncairn Lane, the structures later served as industrial workshops in the 1940s before acquiring a new life as a contemporary home.

Charred Timber Architecture & Contemporary Extension

Acquired by our clients in late 2020, the site required a creative architectural strategy that preserved the rich character of the original historic stone structures while expanding the home's living footprint. To achieve this, our design team introduced a striking <strong>charred timber-clad rear extension</strong> (Shou Sugi Ban style), creating a bold contemporary contrast to the historic building fabric.

Deep Energy Retrofit & Sustainable A2 BER Performance

A primary objective of this historic conversion was achieving world-class energy efficiency without compromising architectural heritage. Through extensive fabric-first retrofitting, structural upgrades, and advanced insulation techniques, the project successfully brought the 1850s buildings up to modern Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards, achieving an outstanding A2 Building Energy Rating (BER)