Sarah Kelly

Working as part of the Rural Dwelling/Living City super studio, I made proposals for residential buildings in a variety of contexts. First semester focused on ‘Rural Dwellings’, the brief was for a new ‘clachan’ in Aghadrumsee, Fermanagh. My main precedent for this project was traditional Irish dwellings in dispersed rural communities. I designed a cluster of houses which cater for families, young couples, elderly and disabled alike. The project makes the most of the views across the Killyfoyle Lough and provides high quality external spaces for community interaction.

In second semester, our focus shifted to a more urban setting. The site was on the grounds of Hilden Mill, a disused linen mill in Lisburn. As a group we developed a masterplan for the site, before starting our individual projects. My own project aims to create residential buildings which overlook and animate the street, encourage a sense of community whilst catering for a wide range of people and their individual needs. My design includes the restoration of the existing ‘bridge building’, the extension of the market square into the site, and a new walkway along the River Lagan. Inspired by the writings of Jen Gehl, building form is used to create good outdoor spaces and improve the walkability of the site.