Johnny Gogan - Studio
LMN28
INSPIRATION
Johnny is a film-maker and writer for 20 years now. Moved to Leitrim in the late 1990’sand bought their house in 2001. Needed a studio/workspace and wanted to build it himself if possible. He was curious about building and heard of Peter Cowman ; they bartered an exchange of : help with building the econo-space studio in return for a film of Peter Cowman’s work.
TYPE OF HOUSE
Econo-space studio
POINT OF INTEREST
Very labour intensive and hard work. Shuttering and rammed hemp and lime. 6 months work and 6 months drying time
ECO ELEMENTS
As a green party candidate Johnny has for a long time had environmental concerns/ interests.
CREATIVE ELEMENTS
Designed to fit into Johnny’s garden and to house his work station and film equipment.
ARCHITECT/DESIGN BY
Peter Cowman
BUILDER
Himself with help from a carpenter for the roof structure and Nick Hughes for some of the lime plastering. Peter checked it for extra bracing.
MATERIALS
Foundations | None, railway sleepers direct onto the ground |
Walls | Hemp (horse bedding form France) and lime (Cork). |
Roof | Left over cement tiles from house |
Insulation | Rock wool, couldn’t afford anything else. |
Finishings | Second hand window and doors. Round windows from a barrel. Mark of the building, gives it character |
HEAT SOURCE
Small wood burner.
Hemp/lime is a good insulator and keeps the building cool/warm.
WATER SOURCE
None
WASTE
None
GARDEN
None
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Cost: €10,000 . (2,000 labour, 1,500 timber, 2,000 hemp and lime, rest sand, nails, insulation…)- Time scale: one year.
- Anything you would have done differently? Put a window sill on the outside of the windows. Bigger over-hang to prevent weathering.
- Satisfaction rating: Very happy, just what he needs. Cosy space, insulated from noise and distractions. Big enough for his needs.