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# renovation station
A garage to park your boat in... sort of
See how a studio and a boatshed were added to this traditional country cottage.
IF YOU HAVE a garage that’s not being utilised properly and you’re wondering what you can do with it, let this cottage renovation and extension inspire you.
MacGabhann Architects, based in Letterkenny, took on the task of renovating and extending the garage attached to this cottage on the Fanad peninsula – turning it into a studio with a mezzanine, and adding a boatshed on the other side of the property.
With stunning views all around the architects were sensitive to the landscape and the materials they would use. The new roof of the extended studio runs parallel to the existing cottage roof and follows the natural slope of the terrain.
The entire extension was clad in Red Western Cedar which serves both to be sympathetic to the surrounding landscape as well as signifying the studio as a new part of the property.
The chimney in the piece is shaped as a ship’s funnel in a nod to the owners’ boating proclivities.
The new studio is filled with light – from the mezzanine with roof light to the new bay window framing the amazing views.
Due to the slanted facade, the studio gets light from the east, west and south – getting the maximum available light throughout the day.
The new boatshed is at the back of the property. It’s connected to the property by a glass link block which is also a new entrance and sunroom to the existing cottage, with the added bonus of created a sheltered suntrap courtyard.
