YOGA RETREAT IN WEST CORK
The spectacular coastal site in West Cork is to become a retreat for students of yoga. A landscape strategy was used to raise the outside ground level to the south to create a terrace with views to the open sea. This raised terrace embeds the existing and new extension into the topography and joins the building to the hillside. This terrace is broken at one point to respond to an ancient path, which leads to the sea.
The extension opens onto this level grass terrace, which can be used for yoga on dry days. The main space cantilevers out beyond the terrace line and has floor to ceiling glazing so that it has a feeling of being immersed in the landscape. This space has a fireplace and can be used as a living room when not being used for yoga, with furniture designed to that it can be pushed away into the alcove. In the original house, the space can be divided into bedrooms or can be completely opened up, again as a yoga studio.
