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Boxing clever with garage conversion

The Irish Times Date Published, July 13, 2000

By Jim Cusack

One of this year's unusual RIAI awards is recognition of the application of the architect's skill to what is probably Ireland's most commonplace building job - the garage conversion. The award was given to the relatively new practice, Box Architects, for its serenely beautiful work on Carol and Oliver Whelan's garage at their home in Dún Laoghaire.

Thousands of garages are "converted" to play rooms or extra bedrooms annually. And, in their citation for the conversion, the RIAI judges said: "Garage conversions are probably the most common of all domestic extensions. In most instances the design solution ranges from a simple match of the existing house to plain appalling. This solution is entirely different."

The judges applauded the conversion's enhancement of the living space, allowing it to "flow freely" from the interior to the garden through clever use of a glazed door and screen. It was a conversion, that "breaks the boundaries".

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