Architects in Johnstown, Co. Meath

“I really can't recommend Josh Maguire and the House Architects strongly enough. He is a terrific architect, firstly, who saw things in the space available that we never could have, and enabled us to build something that is so much better that we could ever have imagined ourselves. We learned to trust his judgement very strongly. The finished building, a two-storey extension to the rear of a 1930s bungalow in suburban Dublin, is simply wonderful, and we couldn't be happier with it. Josh was also the project manager for the building project, and made some excellent recommendations as to building contractors we might approach for tenders. He helped us through an occasionally tricky planning process with calmness and wisdom. He made sure that, in a relatively long (9-month) build, in which we still lived onsite, that there were no insurmountable problems and kept in touch very regularly. One of the things that particularly impressed us was the sense of clarity about the project. This began with clarity about costs. We got a detailed breakdown at the beginning of what the architect's costs would be, and when they would be incurred. This was adhered to precisely. What this means is that, in a project where there will always be unexpected developments and extra costs, these did not come from the architect. We would go to the House Architects without hesitation for any future project we had, and would recommend them without hesitation to anyone looking for an architect.”

“We recently booked a pre-purchase consultation with Eva for a property we are considering, and the experience exceeded our expectations. Eva was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and approachable throughout the process. She met us at the property, carefully assessed the existing layout, and helped us understand both the strengths and limitations of the house. What impressed us most was her ability to see opportunities that we had completely overlooked. Eva focused on practical design solutions and demonstrated how the existing space could be reconfigured to better suit our needs. She provided several thoughtful layout options and helped us understand the long-term potential of the property. We would highly recommend Eva to anyone considering a renovation project or looking for independent professional advice before purchasing a property.”

“We bought a small 3 bed detached house in need of complete renovation and extension to accommodate a family of six. The house was in very poor condition, about 100 years old, cold and draughty with a single toilet/bathroom and a tiny galley kitchen. We wanted to build a spacious contemporary extension to compliment the charm of the existing old house, doubling the floor space and moving from a baseline BER G rating to an A rating upon completion. A particular challenge included the north facing aspect to the rear where our main kitchen, living and dining area were to be located – we really wanted to optimise natural light in this busy part of the home. Having spent 2 years working on plans with another firm of architects we quit in frustration and decided to start over. Second time around, we put a great deal of time and effort into careful selection of a new architect. In hindsight, this was by far the most important part of the entire project. We reviewed the work of numerous architects online, and met several in person. Ultimately we were guided in our choice of John Flood by stellar references from previous clients of his, and a very positive initial meeting with John to discuss his first impressions on how best to approach the work on our home. The photos of John’s work on the DMVF website speak for themselves in terms of design quality and aesthetic. We loved his initial concept, and were provided with numerous detailed revisions (with rapid turnout time) to fully develop the plans. We really appreciated the amount of time John took to listen and properly understand our needs for our new home. Even now, several months after completion, we still delight in noticing new things about the design that we had never fully appreciated despite poring over the plans for endless hours before construction. What the photos do not convey are some of the more intangible aspects of John’s talents and personality. Throughout the project John was always available and utterly reliable. The design was flawless and executed on site without a hitch. Despite the scale of the project, it turned out to be a most enjoyable experience for us with minimum stress and hassle. It was always so easy to deal with John, who goes about his work in a quiet and unassuming way, always approachable and friendly. We learnt to trust him completely whenever we were uncertain and needed guidance on decisions big or small, functional or aesthetic. It was a wonderful process and a wonderful outcome for our family, and in the end exceeded all our hopes and expectations. We are so glad we chose John and are extremely grateful to him, and couldn’t recommend him highly enough to anyone considering a major project of this kind. He is a star.”