63 Ballydorn Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Set on a rise overlooking Sketrick Island, this mainly single storey International Style house of 1935 was built and later extended to designs by Philip Bell for the present owner. An extension which was added to the south side in the early 1950’s and taken along with the garage block, the whole ensemble now has a somewhat rambling, appearance.

The main entrance is located on the NW side below a small balcony which is supported on an anodised metal stanchion.

The house is finished in rough cast render and still retains many or its original steel windows, although some of these has been replaced fairly recently. External corners to the dining room are the library were curved and were finished with window frames with radiused glass. Unfortunately theses are now replaced with inappropriate timber windows.

The eaves are finished with a slight overhang (approximately 150mm). In comparison to Bell’s other designs for the near-by yacht club these might be considered to be flush.

The 1952 extension to the south contains two bedrooms and a library. In addition a glazed porch/conservatory was added. Both bedrooms open directly on to a small terrace which is flanked by shaped screen walls.

To the west of the main entrance is a small outhouse. This was the original farmhouse and is now used to store garden implements.
An over sailing beam connects the garage physically and more importantly visually to the main house.

It would appear that the house was originally finished in rough cast render rather than smooth stucco which would be more common for International Style buildings. Could it be that Philip Bell sought to give his interpretation of the Modern Movement a somewhat Irish flavour?

Historical information

The house was built in 1934/5 to designs by Philip Bell, for the present owner. Much of the interior fittings were designed by the current owner himself. The house was extended southwards in 1952 when the library and extra bedrooms were added. Some of the window frames were replaced fairly recently.

This building stands on the site of an old farm house (shown on the 1859-60 OS map) latterly owned by the McCormick family. A portion of the walls of the house have been incorporated into one of the present outbuildings.

References- Primary sources
1 'Architectural Review 1934-35'.

Secondary sources
1 'RSUA Yearbook 1983', pp.20-23. [Obituary of Philip Bell.]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Rare part single, part two storey International Style house of 1935 to by designs by Philip Bell, with later additions by Bell of 1952. This house is unusually complete both internally and externally and only slightly marred by the recent replacement of some of the original steel windows.