> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://archire.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # TEACH CNOIC UÍ GOGÁIN- FUINNEAMH WORKSHOP ARCHITECTS - URL: https://archire.ghost.io/teach-cnoic-ui-gogain-fuinneamh-workshop-architects/ - Published: 2026-07-15T18:22:22.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-15T18:22:22.000Z - Author: ArchIre Perched on the southern slopes of Ballinhassig, Cork, Teach Cnoic Uí Gogáin is a home that quietly balances the old and the new. Originally a modest 1920s cottage, this contemporary family home has been carefully refurbished and extended to designs by Fuinneamh Workshop Architects to create a series of bright, interconnected spaces that celebrate both its history and its remarkable setting. From the moment you arrive, the home reveals itself gradually through a simple entrance courtyard with low-lying walls. The layout of the house is deliberately "slipped" for the sloped site, creating a staggered outdoor space that transitions to a south-west facing patio off the dining room to be enjoyed as an outdoor room during the summer months. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/14/bc/14bcfc42-413a-4276-8623-80299bf983ab/content/images/2026/07/Fuinneamh.Workshop_Teach.Cnoic.Ui.Gogain_04-1.jpg) © Seán Antóin Ó Muirí ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/14/bc/14bcfc42-413a-4276-8623-80299bf983ab/content/images/2026/07/Fuinneamh.Workshop_Teach.Cnoic.Ui.Gogain_11.jpg) © Seán Antóin Ó Muirí Inside, the windows have been positioned with the same level of intention. As you move through the house, the windows frame changing views across the Carrigdhoun valley, allowing the landscape to be enjoyed from within***.*** In the dining room, the view changes depending on whether you are sitting or standing due to the elevated position of the house on the hill. Sit down at the table, and the sky fills the frame. Stand up, and the valley opens out before you. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/14/bc/14bcfc42-413a-4276-8623-80299bf983ab/content/images/2026/07/Fuinneamh.Workshop_Teach.Cnoic.Ui.Gogain_08-2.jpg) © Seán Antóin Ó Muirí The original cottage and new extension are linked by an elegant archway inspired by the nearby nineteenth-century railway tunnel that runs beneath Goggins Hill. More than simply connecting two spaces, the arch reflects a personal connection for the homeowner, who spent childhood days exploring the now-disused tunnel- a detail most visitors would never consciously notice, but one that gives the house a thread of personal meaning running right through it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/14/bc/14bcfc42-413a-4276-8623-80299bf983ab/content/images/2026/07/Fuinneamh.Workshop_Teach.Cnoic.Ui.Gogain_09.jpg) © Seán Antóin Ó Muirí The material palette remains intentionally restrained. Outside, white rendered walls become a canvas for ever-changing shadows cast by surrounding Douglas fir trees. Simple materials, including slate, timber along with locally sourced Cork limestone ground the building firmly within its setting, while the eye-catching red window frames and doors offer a subtle nod to the traditional farm buildings scattered throughout the Irish countryside. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/14/bc/14bcfc42-413a-4276-8623-80299bf983ab/content/images/2026/07/Fuinneamh.Workshop_Teach.Cnoic.Ui.Gogain_01.jpg) © Seán Antóin Ó Muirí What makes Teach Cnoic Uí Gogáin particularly memorable isn't a single dramatic gesture, but the way every decision has been carefully considered- from the changing play of sunlight across the walls throughout the day to the handcrafted bronze front door handle, which narrows towards the base to comfortably fit a child's hand before widening for an adult's grip- a reflection of the same level of care and craftsmanship found throughout the house. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/14/bc/14bcfc42-413a-4276-8623-80299bf983ab/content/images/2026/07/Fuinneamh.Workshop_Teach.Cnoic.Ui.Gogain_03-2.jpg) © Seán Antóin Ó Muirí ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/14/bc/14bcfc42-413a-4276-8623-80299bf983ab/content/images/2026/07/Fuinneamh.Workshop_Teach.Cnoic.Ui.Gogain_06-2.jpg) © Seán Antóin Ó Muirí Teach Cnoic Uí Gogáin is not a home that demands attention through size or extravagance, it is a home that rewards slowing down- one where architecture quietly shapes everyday moments through light, landscape and thoughtful craftsmanship. --- **Project Information** **Architect:** Fuinneamh Workshop Architects **Location:** Ballinhassig, Co. Cork **Photography:** Seán Antóin Ó Muirí **Contractor:** J&D O'Callaghan Ltd --- **ArchIre Notes** Rather than revealing itself all at once, the positioning of the gables creates layers, allowing the house to unfold gradually. As you move around the site, one building slips behind another, creating moments of curiosity and encouraging you to explore what lies beyond. It's a subtle design decision, but one that makes arriving at the home feel like a journey rather than a single destination. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/14/bc/14bcfc42-413a-4276-8623-80299bf983ab/content/images/2026/07/Fuinneamh.Workshop_Teach.Cnoic.Ui.Gogain_05.JPG) © Seán Antóin Ó Muirí It is important to note that nothing feels accidental. The carefully positioned shed creates a series of framed views across the site, where each opening reveals a different piece of the surrounding landscape. One captures the sweeping Carrigdhoun Valley, while another quietly draws your attention towards the rolling hills beyond. It gives the impression that the architecture isn't competing with its countryside setting, but instead acts as a series of carefully composed frames through which the landscape can be appreciated. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/14/bc/14bcfc42-413a-4276-8623-80299bf983ab/content/images/2026/07/Fuinneamh.Workshop_Teach.Cnoic.Ui.Gogain_02-1.jpg) © Seán Antóin Ó Muirí ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/14/bc/14bcfc42-413a-4276-8623-80299bf983ab/content/images/2026/07/Fuinneamh.Workshop_Teach.Cnoic.Ui.Gogain_13-1.JPG) © Seán Antóin Ó Muirí