Extraordinary ‘Forest House’ scoops national award

written by Rachel McLaughlin February 12, 2021

An impressive home in Co. Donegal has been awarded Residential Project of the Year in the Irish Construction Industry Awards 2020.

Forest House by McCabe Architects is the home of award-winning photographer Paul Doherty, his girlfriend Brodie Nugent O’Leary and their Springer Spaniel, Hype.

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Brodie Nugent O’Leary and Paul Doherty at Forest House. Photo: Paul Doherty Photography

Set in a native silver birch woodland near Kilmacrennan, the building was designed to blend seamlessly into its stunning secluded setting. Doherty’s vision was a home inspired by his travels around the world which did not disturb local wildlife and left the site as untouched as possible.

His vision aligned with Declan McCabe, and the result is a stunning sustainable and functional home that has featured in countless building magazines.

Forest House. Photo: Paul Doherty Photography

Forest House. Photo: Paul Doherty Photography

Forest House. Photo: Paul Doherty Photography

Forest House won its first ever award this week in the rescheduled Irish Construction Industry Awards.

Awarding the prize of Residential Project of the Year (Small), judges praised the sustainable credentials of the property.

The home was hailed as a beautiful design created by McCabe Architects that “respected the site while also adding an immense amount of aesthetic and functional value.”

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Judges commended the ambitious and deserving entry and the “excellent” use of materials.

Forest House used reclaimed stone, burnt timber cladding and most furnishings have been made by Paul and Brodie themselves. The couple are continuously working on completing the home and their current project is a wood-carved bathtub by sculptor Gintas Carving.

Hype in Forest House. Photo: Paul Doherty Photography

Forest House. Photo: Paul Doherty Photography

Speaking to Donegal Daily, Doherty said: “We are delighted to win Residential Project of the Year in the Irish Construction Awards, it’s a huge achievement made possible by Declan McCabe and his fantastic team. We would like to thank everyone who has helped out along the way especially our friends and family, we tried to stay as local as possible when sourcing materials and sub contractors to work on the house which was project managed by my father Paul and almost single handedly built by James Sheridan.

“We are still a bit surprised given the quality of houses that were finalists in our category. The award a real credit to everyone involved.”


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