MMAS appointed architecture industry partner in the ‘Future Island–Island: Green Transition Ecosystems’ research project on Rathlin Island
Led by Ulster University in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, this Arts and Humanities Research Council funded initiative is one of only four projects in the UK. The project aims to bolster awareness and improve engagement with the pubic towards an intuitive, eco–friendly waste management culture through design.
Housing Scheme in Co. Fermanagh
Elevation study of recently approved housing scheme in Co. Fermanagh.
Progress on site
Textures beginning to reveal itself nicely with the light on our project in Dungannon.
Walking Bus, North Belfast
Garreth in his role with MAG, has been working with Belfast Healthy Cities to introduce Walking Buses to North Belfast schools.
House extension, Hillsborough
Progress on site for one of our projects in Hillsborough.
Reflections from a small Belfast studio
Our article in the July/ August RIAI Journal, ‘Architecture Ireland’, which was a special edition focusing on Belfast. Our thoughts on the specific constraints and opportunities for an emerging band of small practices here. Talking about how collaboration with other small practices, such as our colleagues in OGU Architects and Dún–na–dTuar, has helped us progress and get involved in more public work.
Read more at:
https://www.riai.ie/discover–architecture/architecture–ireland–digital/issue-318
The RIBA Journal
In the latest issue of The RIBA Journal, MMAS have been included in the Future Winners section where Directors Fearghal Murray and Garreth McMahon discuss their journey into practice and their approach to work.
Read more at:
https://www.ribaj.com/culture/future–winners–mmas–architects–northern-ireland
Town & City Centre Covid Recovery Strategy
Our Covid Recovery Strategy for Derry City and Strabane District Council has been reported on the BBC and various local newspapers. Find out more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk–northern–ireland–foyle–west-55299441
Irish Language Daycare
Delayed due to lockdown: This Irish language daycare in West Belfast was due to be on–site this summer. Designed with the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach in mind, the daycare is inserted into the existing shell of a long–empty commercial unit. Made on a shoe–string budget, all new partitions and bespoke furniture is to be fabricated on–site with birch ply and reclaimed materials.
Ask an Architect 2020
If some downtime in lockdown has got you thinking about a building project (big or small) and you would like some inspiration, we can help you out. Once again, MMAS are participating in ‘Ask an Architect’, an annual event run by @royalsocietyulsterarchitects. You can book a free 1 hour online consultation with us in exchange for a £40 donation to the @friends_of_the_cancer_centre in partnership with the Jill Todd Trust. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mmas–ask–an–architect–2020–tickets-92341553071
Welcome to Sailortown
Our commended entry to this year’s RSUA ‘CityPlay’ Design Competition, in collaboration with Household arts and Sailortown Regeneration Group. Our proposal was for a demountable timber post and beam structure wrapped in net, with community designed & built insertions. A dynamic, organic play and exploration architecture – that can be appropriated as gallery, dancefloor or stage –to re–establish play and act as signifier and catalyst for the re–emerging Sailortown neighbourhood.
Moy, Tyrone
Planning approved for a new build house outside of Moy, Co Tyrone. A formal, square–plan villa with a central top–lit stair is juxtaposed by a long, single–storey element which refers to a stable block.
Reimagine…Tallaght: Melt the Walls Competition
Delighted to be awarded 2nd place in a competition organised for the reinvigoration and activation of a public square in Tallaght, Dublin, organised and run by the Irish Architetcure Foundation, SDCC Arts Office, and Tallaght Community Arts.
Informed by community input and participatory research compiled by IAF, we proposed to fill the square with movable chairs in 3 typologies. Each type has individual merit (chair, stool etc.) but can be combined and assembled into many different forms and uses.
Progress on site, Whitecross
Images showing progress on site for our project in Whitecross. The sun always seems to be shining in this part of the island (or at least for our site visits anyway).
House, Rostrevor
A planning application has been submitted for a new build dwelling in Rostrevor.
Material and form reference the immediate context of the site, a collection of coastal exposed–aggregate concrete walls and cluster of bungalows and two storey, historic terraces.
Architectural Review
Great to see a glimpse of Gaelscoil Éanna included in The Islands of Ireland edition of Architectural Review, which we designed back–in–the–day while working with Ard Ciaran Mackel. We’re still very proud of that little building & how it challenged the orthodoxy of poor quality temporary learning spaces while reflecting the values & ambition of the people it served.
Reggio Reflections
Some sketches from our recent study trip Reggio Emilia, Italy examining childcare buildings. We presented our observations as speakers at the Early Years conference in Derry last week discussing the values of ‘atelier’; ‘remida’ and ‘piazza’ spaces acting as key drivers to the teaching environment and the interpretation of these philosophies to our current child care projects.
Site visit, Whitecross
What a day for a site visit to our project in Whitecross. Click on the image to follow the link to this project.
House, Moy
A proposed view for an ongoing project in Moy.
House, Whitecross
A new dwelling in Whitecross has started on site. The living space is raised above the slope of the site and has views towards the Mournes and surrounding Ring of Gullion.
House, Glenavy
We are looking forward to breaking ground at site next week for a new–build residential project near Lisburn. The dwelling is arranged under 3 hip–roofs and will focus views to the landscape beyond.
House, Edendork
A planning application has been submitted for a residential project in County Tyrone. The design aims to integrate the new dwelling into an established cluster of vernacular Irish ruins and farmsteads.
Ask an Architect
We efficiently and cost–effectively enhance the quality of everyday life and strengthen the distinctiveness of place.
MMAS are once again participating in RSUA’s annual charity event ‘Ask an Architect’. Book a free 1–hour consultation with us in exchange for a £40 donation made to the Friends of the Cancer Centre in partnership with the Jill Todd Trust and make a difference.
Appointments can be made at:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mmas–ask–an–architect–2019–tickets-56909923112
Early Years, Clogher
Planning granted for an Early Years centre in Clogher. The programme of the new centre includes a variety of day–care and after–school facilities for young children. Training and office space for Early Years Staff will be included in one of two Grade B1 listed buildings on the former Clogher Workhouse site. The design has been developed in collaboration with Studio MLA, Boston.
Selected as an RIBA Practice Role Model
The nine practices featured have been selected to illustrate the different characteristics of a role model organisation and to provoke a profession–wide debate about what it means to be a successful RIBA Chartered Practice.
https://www.architecture.com/practicerolemodels
St James Farm
Working with St James Forum, West Belfast to develop their urban community farm, to include a new community workshop, multi–use space, external covered space and animal sheds. Submitted to planning. Above: central garden, pens and growing beds opening from workshop space, animal sheds and covered communal space. Below: the farm gates slide open to welcome passers by from the Bog Meadows.
Yoga Studio, Raphael
Design development sketch for a yoga studio and therapy space on a farm near the Loughshore in south County Antrim.
Housing, Shore Road
Planning granted for a new apartment building on the Shore Road, North Belfast. 1:200 site massing model showing how the new block terminates the existing missing cormer of the urban block, adding much needed density and activity to part of the city damaged by roads infrastructure.
Housing, South Belfast
Planning granted for 64 new dwellings as part of a new streetscape of terraced houses, apartments, public spaces and shared surface streets in Dunmurray, South Belfast. Site plan shown with part of an elevation of the new apartment buildings, with columnade and public space stepping down between the new buildings, overlooked by living spaces and external loggia of each apartment. Go to project >
House, Whitecross
In development: Perspective view of the approach into the living spaces and kitchen of a new dwelling in County Armagh. To gain views toward the Mournes and surrounding Ring Of Gullion, living is raised above the sloping ground and the space is splayed in plan and section.
Extension Cave Hill, North Belfast
Completion reached on an extension and garage conversion to a detached villa in North Belfast. Space was at a premium and the garden was unstable, backfilled land. The solution was to adapt the garage as aditional living space, while extending a corner window from the existing house to claim new views to the docks and Castlereagh Hills on the far side of the city.
New Dwelling, County Armagh
Design development stages for a new dwelling on an elevated hillside in County Armagh.
Housing, Shore Road
Planning submission for a new apartment building in North Belfast. Our intention was to repair of one of early twentieth century Belfast’s suburban frontages, that over the past fifty years has been eroded and isolated by roads infrastructure. Our approach was led by the belief that the immediate location is in urgent need of a certain density and strong frontage to ensure the remaining blocks survival.
Recruitment
We are recruiting.
We require a part 2 or recent part 3 architect with at least two years practical experience to help us develop some exciting new projects, and take others through detail design and construction stages. Applicants should have excellent design and presentation skills and the ability to work independently and manage own workload. Must also have very good physical and digital modelling abilities and a working knowledge of current planning and building control regulations.
Extension Cave Hill, North Belfast
On–site photograph from an extension / garage conversion project in North Belfast, docks and Castlereagh Hills beyond new cast in–situ concrete column and existing brick pier. Existing brick chinmey seen through new roof window.
House, East Down
Design development sketches for a new farmhouse on a hillside in east County Down
Housing, Wellesley
Elevation detail, on–going design for an apartment building in South Belfast
‘The Nature of Public Space Along the Lower Falls’
Presentation ‘The nature of Public Space along the Lower Falls’ at West Belfast Partnership and Healthy Cities Belfast seminar.
Houses, Carrickbroad
Planning granted for a pair of rural family dwellings near The Gap Of The North
Extension and restoration of farmhouse in Cork
Work begins at our farmhouse extension in Cork. Existing distinctive structures exposed & secured as part of a sensitive reconfiguration of the farmstead.
House, Magherafelt
Planning submitted for a new rural dwelling in Magherfelt, County Derry.
Farmhouse, County Armagh
Planning permission granted for a new farmhouse in County Armagh.
House, Dromintee
Planning permission granted for a new house at the foot of Slieve Gullion.
Extension Cave Hill, North Belfast
Preparing construction drawings and tender for a extension to a house on the lower slopes of Cavehill, North Belfast. An existing kitchen is opened up to the converted garage to transform the living spaces and orientate family life toward the garden and views over the city and docks.
St James Farm
Working with St James Forum, West Belfast to develop plans for their urban farm, to include a new community workshop, communal space and animal sheds.
Cottage Extension, Dublin
Planning granted for an extension to a nineteenth century terraced cottage in Rathfarnham, Dublin. The new brick forms are softened through the use of a thin coat of lime–based slurry render and rounded brick reveals and corners. A new dormer to the attic room is clad in diagonally laid small slates reclaimed from the demolished return roof.
House, Magherafelt
Early design stages for an new rural home near Magherafelt.
Cottage Extension, Dublin
Early design stages for an extension to a historic terraced cottage in South Dublin. Examples of distinctive architectural elements photographed during our initial visit.
Extension and restoration of farmhouse in Cork
Planning application submitted for a farmhouse extension and refurbishment in County Cork
Farmhouse, County Armagh
Planning application submitted for a new dwelling in County Armagh
Extension and restoration of farmhouse in Cork
Site visit north County Cork. Ad hoc roughly cast in–situ concrete augments existing elements of this farmstead in County Cork, helping to adapt it to changing capacity and farming practices over the decades. We have recently been appointed to adapt the main farmhouse and cluster of outbuildings to house a growing family.
Electrician’s Office, Coalisland
Planning permission granted for industrial offices in Coalisland, County Tyrone.
Townhouses, North Belfast– Site Visit
Reconfigured ‘rear return’ creates 1st floor garden (in streetscape with
only rear yards) overlooking living space.
Extension and restoration of farmhouse in Cork
Early sketchbook thoughts
House in Greece
Foundations completed
(in collaboration with Theo Dales)
Townhouses, North Belfast
Site visit, photograph showing dining space with void to terrace
window above
Housing South Belfast
Planning submitted for 87 dwellings with associated streetscapes and public spaces on the site of a former flax spinning mill.
Electrician’s Office, Coalisland
Structural and spatial study model
Farmhouse, County Armagh
Initial site work begins on surrounding land.