Project developed in collaboration with Jamie Whelan Studio.

Ophir Gardens is the sensitive transformation of a red-brick Victorian terrace in Belfast, where a contemporary extension brings new life and spatial clarity to a historic home. The project reconfigures the ground floor to introduce a generous kitchen and dining space, a new bathroom, and a discreet utility area—all opening onto a lush, densely planted garden that now forms the green heart of the house.

The extension is designed as a subtle counterpoint to the existing Victorian fabric: calm, light-filled, and crafted with a restrained material palette that enhances rather than competes with the original architecture. Large openings frame views of the garden, drawing natural light deep into the interior and blurring the boundary between inside and outside.

Above, the former loft has been transformed into an artist’s studio, capturing soft northern light and offering expansive views toward the distant mountains. This elevated workspace functions as a quiet retreat—intimate, contemplative, and perfectly suited to creative practice.

Ophir Gardens becomes a home where historic character and contemporary living coexist effortlessly, united by thoughtful detailing, natural light, and a renewed relationship with the surrounding landscape.