An Speir - Mid-Summer and Mid-Winter - West Elevation 2018

Blackthorn - Sloe Blossom

Details : Windows and Window Openings

First Mock up for the windows

Setting up for the Slate reveals - Sills

Setting up for Slate reveals - head

First Floor Posi-Joists

Posi-joists combine the lightness of timber with the strength of web steel. Services can be run through the web zone.

Posi Joist Hanger fixed to timber packer in steel  I-beam for stair void

Air tightness membrane placed behind the hanger and wrapped around the hanger where it sits on the inner wall

View from the Kitchen back to the Glazed Link

View from the Utility Room back to the Old Farmstead

Update of the Project

Original Planning Sketch

Jennie Castle

Passive House 

Building Energy Rating 'A'

Water borehole installed

150m Geo-thermal borehole installed as heating source for the underfloor heating

Sub-structure services installed- electrical conduits, sewerage

Structure : foundations, rising walls, sub-floor, external and internal walls, structural steel beams

and Posi-floor joists to main house installed.

Main house ready for the next level up!

Precast slabs for the garage scheduled for 10days time together with 

external precast stairs for the pedestrian entrance and the walled garden

The Great Wall

The Great Wall

Profile of 'The Great Wall' - the retaining wall which forms the Walled Garden - 

before back-filling

Foundations for the stair, which will link the Old Farmstead to

 the new Walled Garden, and for the pond

Plan of Walled Garden and Link Stair

Internal walls laid out and sub-slab reinforcement ready for the great pour...

Slab will be stopped at either side of the main service channel through the garage

Concrete pad for the steel base plate for the staircase

Radon installed

Radon installed by specialists

D & D Radon Services, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny

Radon laid on 50mm sand blinding

One radon sump installed for house area

Rising Blockwork Started

The rising blockwork from the foundation to the top of screed level started

365mm insulated block wall construction

200mm of compacted hardcore

Ground Floor Plan

Geo Thermal Borehole

The site has been sculpt to create the base platform for the house and to create access for the Geo-thermal borehole drilling. 

The drilling of the Geo-thermal borehole happened today 

by Tom Fogarty Drilling

Breaking new ground!

Platform has been defined and the top soil removed in preparation for the

 ground works of the new passive house!

Original axonometric sketch

Jennie Castle

The Stone Outbuildings - Building C - Proposed Garden Shed and Storage

While the old farmstead has been patiently waiting for its stone outfit, the solid stone outbuildings are reappearing, course by course in beautiful Irish sandstone and granite....

Up to flagstone level

View from inside the courtyard

View from the neighbour's property

Up to the flagstone level

Work started from the outside boundary wall

Preparation for the foundations

Hidden in the vegetation - Building C - Proposed Garden Shed

Site Plan

A  - Old Farmstead

B - Proposed Pump House and Storage

C - Proposed Garden Shed

LANDSCAPE : First trees planted - White Stemmed Birch Trees

Thanks to Elmer Dool of Sunhill Nurseries for planting and staking the 5  trees

Landscape Plan for submission to Kilkenny Council