Home of the Year – Thursday March 31st RTÉ One
Over eight weeks, 21 homes will compete for the Home of the Year title, with three very different and unique properties featured each week.
From unusual conversions to architectural gems and countryside retreats, Home of the Year features people who have built their dream home, just the way they want it. The series will showcase homes from all across Ireland including a converted workshop, a modernist inspired new build, a barn turned dream home, and a radically transformed Dublin terrace to name just a few.
Making the tough decisions on which homes go through to the final are our three expert judges; design legend Hugh Wallace, acclaimed architect Declan O’Donnell and award winning interior designer Deirdre Whelan.
Looking for individuality, functionality and clever design, the judges will individually score each of the homes out of 10, the home with the highest combined score in each programme will go through to the final, where the ultimate winner will be crowned.
Programme 5 of 8
This week the judges travel the country once again visiting three more unique homes. From a 100 year old extended cottage in County Clare to a cleverly designed Dublin apartment and a remodelled semi D in South Dublin.
Emma Hogan and Andrew Hersey live in a 100 year old cottage in County Clare. Emma is a children’s writer and illustrator with a background in graphic design and Andrew runs a boutique garden centre, (www.budgardencentre.ie) and is also a part time planning consultant.
Originally built in 1914, the cottage was in very poor condition when Emma and Andrew bought it. After 7 months of renovations including the addition of an extension of two separate buildings attached to the original cottage, Emma and Andrew finally moved in in 2010. Their home is brimming with creativity and showcases everything from their love of animals and the outdoors to their travels and design interests. They both love to unwind together by the stove after a long working day.
Clodagh Nolan MRIAI is a Dublin based architect who has completely remodelled her apartment on Dublin’s Southside to create a bright, light and airy home.
The apartment building was originally the 19th century carriage house of a local castle but was converted into apartments in the 1980’s. As an architect Clodagh says she enjoys making the most of small spaces, she completely remodelled the apartment when she bought it in 2007 and has created a bright, contemporary and very personal space. She says her home is a distillation of all of the homes she has lived in throughout her life.
Artists and lecturers John Short (www.johnshort.ie) and Helen Pomphrey live in their remodelled semi-detached home in South Dublin.
When Helen and John first bought the house it was a tired 1960s Semi D. They completely re-imagined the house to meet their needs by adding an L-shaped extension which wraps around the front and side of the house, lowering the floors to maximise light and adding large picture windows to bring the gardens at the front and back of the house inside. The house also acts as a gallery to display their art and has two studio spaces where they can both work.
JUDGES BIOGS
Hugh Wallace MRIAI, MIDI
Company: http://douglaswallace.com
Interior Designer and Architect Hugh Wallace has over 30 years’ experience in the interior design industry, and is world renowned for his insight and knowledge as a leader in design. In 2014 he received a life time achievement for this contribution to the Design Industry in Ireland.
Graduating in architecture from Dublin’s Trinity College in 1980, he immediately set up in practice with his then business partner Alan Douglas, a conservation architect. In his own words, “at that time there was no architectural work, only interior design,” so he focused on interiors and soon became the go to man for luxurious design in Ireland.
Working at the highest end of residential design in Ireland and aboard, Hugh also works with word renowned brands to create prestigious and glamorous design for exacting clients. His clients include Brown Thomas, The G Hotel, Ritz-Carlton, Dunnes Stores, Peter Mark, Harrods and Espa International. Hugh is now working on a number of residential projects in Dubai and Oman while continuing with hotel and residential projects in Ireland.
To Hugh, design is about creating a unique environment where people’s imagination can take flight. The design he creates is about inspiration, desire and creating a place that people are happy in and enjoy as a result.
Deirdre Whelan
Company – http://deirdrewhelandesign.com
Deirdre Whelan is an award winning Interior Designer based in Dublin.
Deirdre has over 25 years’ experience in the interior design industry in both residential and commercial projects.
Having established her own private practise in 1996 she has since collaborated as lead interior designer with a selection of highly respected architectural firms on high end projects including the Clarion Hotel Dublin and Cork, Dublin’s Gibson Hotel, several of Dublin’s best known restaurants and most recently the Marker Hotel in Dublin.
Declan O’Donnell
Company – http://www.odkmarchitects.com
Declan O’Donnell is a highly respected award winning architect based in Dublin.
Declan studied architecture at Queen’s University Belfast and the Mackintosh School of architecture in Glasgow. On completion of his Postgraduate Degree he was invited to join the international architecture firm, Foster + Partners in London. During his time there he took a lead role in the design of some of the most significant and challenging projects across the globe at the very cutting edge of contemporary architecture.
In 2008 he returned to Dublin to setup ODKM Architects, who have developed a reputation for delivering bespoke eye-catching architecture, and with an impressive selection of residential projects already completed, he has quickly established himself as an Architect with a difference.