David Wylde Architect

I got to know David Wylde in the early 90s when we both worked in Wales. Having fallen in love with his own house there I asked him to design a house for me when I returned to Ireland. I gave him a very open brief i.e. a bright, spacious, light-filled four-bedroom bungalow that would be sympathetic to the rural site I had just bought. The house was built in 1997 and having lived there with my wife and family for almost 20 years I can honestly say that it has greatly enhanced our lives. Why does it work so well? Firstly, even though it is only 200 sq. m. it feels much bigger. This is due to the fact that it comprises two blocks (sleeping and living) each of which has windows on both side giving a very spacious feel to the house. In addition, the corridor in the living area is an open gallery so that space is absorbed into the kitchen. Secondly, the fact that the living block is only one room wide with windows on both sides means that is full of light all day long again adding to the feeling of spaciousness in the house. Thirdly, the two blocks and the garage enclose a large patio/garden at the back which is almost as big as the house (150 sq. m). This space is a very private enclosed space, which really does feel and function as an extra room in the house. The corridors in the living and sleeping blocks and the external gallery in the garage together mimic a monastic cloister, again adding to the ambiance of the patio / garden. David delivered a simple but striking design which has stood the test of time and has a timeless quality to it. The house is a lovely space to spend time in as the light and proportions make it a very relaxing place. I would recommend him highly to any client seeking a modern house with a simple aesthetic which functions really well.

We engaged David to design and supervise the building of our home in Cootehill. Co. Cavan. He was a true professional from the outset. We started with a wishlist and somehow he managed to incorporate it into our project, all the time reminding us to keep within our budget. He was always at the end of the phone for advice and made a number of site visits. Where we disagreed on certain things, when we took his advice, he was always proven to be right in the long run. David has a unique style and maximised the amount of natural light coming into the house for which we are eternally grateful.