The project team described the initiative of the Dromgariff Rainforest, an undertaking led by Bryan and Tara Meehan, focused on the recovery of its gardens and forest. This area constitutes one of the last ancient oak tropical forests in Ireland and is classified as a protected Special Area of Conservation, extending across the southern region of the country.
Historically, the site once housed the Roche's Royal Hotel and its gardens. Although the hotel no longer exists, vestiges of its former landscape are still visible in the forest, including stone walls, terraces, stone steps, and a garden called Rockery.
Currently, the forest is composed of a variety of tree species, such as oak, cypress, birch, and red cedar. Bryan and Tara work meticulously within this rich forest, seeking to recover traces of the old gardens that are buried, while also promoting the restoration and care of the forest itself.
As the first architectural intervention in this regeneration project, the renovation of Linden House, one of the five residences available on the site, was carried out. Linden consists of two buildings connected by an entrance corridor.
To meet the need for a meeting and yoga practice space for Dromgariff guests, the corridor was expanded into a large room. Furthermore, the interiors of the two adjacent buildings were renovated. From these two wings, a serene cove is revealed, a landscape that has remained practically untouched over time, without visible signs of construction.
Oak is widely used throughout the interior. By cladding the space with this wood, one of the species present in the surrounding forest, the goal was to create an indoor environment that provided visitors with a sense of connection to the exterior forest.
The roof of the new central room adopts a saw-tooth roof design. Solar panels were installed on the south face of the roof, while openings on the north side ensure the entry of natural light. During the day, the space is bathed in natural light from the north, while energy is generated by the sun on the south side. At night, this energy is used for internal lighting. This architectural system aligns with the broader regeneration strategy in Dromgariff.
The maintenance and regeneration of this extensive garden and forest require constant attention and human action. Therefore, Bryan and Tara plan to use the other guest houses as a refuge, reinvesting the profits obtained into the care and restoration of the gardens and forest. There is also a future ambition to rebuild the previously existing hotel, reinserting it among the recovered gardens and forest.
The main objective is for the site itself to generate a self-sustaining economy to maintain its gardens and forest, reducing dependence on external funding. Linden follows this same principle applied to energy: instead of importing all the necessary electricity, the maximum utilization of local luminosity was prioritized. Daylight defines the space, and this same solar light produces energy, which is then used to illuminate the nighttime environment.
Linden implements, as its first architectural intervention, the regenerative system conceived for the Dromgariff Rainforest, uniting the generation of local economy for conservation with the energy production necessary for the architecture.