I am a registered architect with over 35 years’ experience, and a passion for excellence in architecture, design and for professionalism in contract administration and project management.
I design and project manage eco-friendly and low energy houses, extensions and complete refurbishments of houses in Wicklow, Dublin and Cork areas. I work with many other consultants synergistically as a team leader on larger projects.
My philosophy is that architecture is about people and buildings are for people, no matter what the brief.
I am a modernist architect with an emphasis on Scandanivian architecture. Light within buildings and a connection with nature as an outside room, this is my approach to good design. The quality of a good design enhances people’s lives, improves their health and a feeling of well-being within their internal and external spaces of their home, office or workspace.
An important part of my design approach is to take into consideration the impact that buildings have on global warming and ‘greenhouse’ gases CO2. According to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, buildings are responsible for an estimated 40% of the industrialised society’s greenhouse gases and transport makes for 25%.
I therefore use materials that are made naturally, sustainable or manufactured with the least amount of fuel, water, transport etc, such as clay blocks, hemp, wool, timber and so on.
I use up-to-date energy-saving technology, materials and alternative energy sources to achieve the best energy performance for each project, and I have been using full timber-framed construction since 1998. I have worked, improved and developed this form of construction further in my practice to achieve higher U-Values than those required in the amended Part L. TGD (Technical Guidance Documents).
Gerry listened to us carefully and came back to us with ideas and designs for improvements. He recommended a builder whom we found to be very satisfactory and, in effect, Gerry project-managed the overall job on our behalf. Works included external insulation, new alu-clad windows and external doors as well as solar tubes and a small front (sun) porch. Internally, the large open-plan living room has been replaced with a separate hall-way and living room. The overall results are very satisfactory and we now have a house which is very comfortable, warmer and cheaper to heat.
The latest Technical Guidance Document Part L 2022, Conservation of Fuel and Energy, is now looking for nZEB (near Zero Energy Building) for new buildings of all kinds. This standard will give a minimum BER (Building Energy Rating) of A2 and is asking for a very significant percentage of energy to be produced from renewable sources such as: wood, water, wind, wave, solar, biomass, biofuels, geothermal, hydropower, ethanol, methane gas and air to heat pumps. Part L 2022 points, for example, to boilers running on alternative sources such as wood only, HVO hydrated vegetable oil, ethanol, or methane gas.
I have prepared and inspected many condition reports, remedial reports and snag lists for prospective purchasers of houses, light industrial units and other buildings for conciliation, arbitration, or litigation. Where necessary, I followed up on the remedial works related to the buildings, and inspected the works during construction, to ensure the construction is in compliance with the relevant (amended) Building Regulations.
Registered RIAI Architect, Project Manager and Assigned Certifier
I help and advise on planning issues and design. I get competitive tenders, or negotiate a tender from contractors and inspect the entire work until practically complete. When all the work and final snagging is completed, I issue Opinions on Compliance with planning permission and Building Regulations pertaining to the extent of the work.
Personal Service & Over 35 Years’ Experience
Key areas of expertise:
• Low energy design
• Sustainable design
• Sustainable materials
• Eco-friendly materials
• Solar panels
• Wind turbines
• Solid fuel burners & Bio-fuels
• Good value on tenders and construction cost
