It's the same size as an apartment but has its own front door. An architect couple tell Fiona Tyrrellhow they transformed their city cottage
An enclave of pint-sized cottages in Dublin 6 has become a favourite spot for architects to cut their teeth in and show off their space-saving prowess.
Located halfway between Rathyalhmines and Ranelagh, Gulistan Cottages, off Upper Mountpleasant Avenue, dates from the 1880s when they were built for firemen in Rathmines station and their families.
Now it's a stamping ground for trendy architects. The area even has its own enterprise quarter - Mountpleasant Business Centre - which is home to no less than six architectural firms.
Several of the 60 cottages, which have between 29-40sq m (312-431sq ft) of living space, have been given major overhauls by architects and engineers.
Tim Dermody started the Gullistan Cottage makeover trend with number 48 in 2000. His blueprint is now used by Dublin City Council for revamps of similar cottages throughout the region.
Then husband and wife team, Graham and Gemma Dwyer, remodelled number 9 in 2003, placing great emphasis on storage.
The two-bedroom home is now for sale through Gunne with an asking price of €590,000. Graham, a partner with A & D Wejchert Architects and Gemma, project director with DMOD Architects, paid around €200,000 for number 9 in 2000. A further €60,000 was spent transforming it into a smart city pad.
The duo extended into the roof making room for a double bedroom, a spacious bathroom and heaps of storage space, increasing the 35sq m (377sq ft) cottage by 23sq m (248sq ft).
The downstairs was transformed into an open-plan space. The old chimney breast provides a division between the living area and the galley kitchen and lots of nooks for bits and pieces.
The former kitchen is now a bedroom/study and the backyard is laid out as a smart city garden.
Although cottage life offers similar living space to an apartment, it comes without the hassle of management companies and the bonus of your own front door and back yard, explains Graham.
