Ti Stella

De Paor Architects

Many people don't know what cerebal palsy is. The best way to describe it is to compare it to a stroke which, as everybody knows produces a wide range of levels of disability. (in terms of both physical and intellectual disability).

Our oldest triplet was diagnosed with cerebal palsy at birth. The area of his brain affected controls physical movement. He is a quadroplegic which means that his four limbs are affected. He has poor upper trunk control and very limited use of his hands and legs. This condition may well improve with the appropriate intervention but is incureable. It means that the most likely prognosis is that he will be wheelchair-bound and will need other assistive technology to help him live independently. Even though we're subjective in these matters (as every parent would be when talking of their own), we think he's as cute as hell in every way and has a pair of eyes that sparkle and belie what the looker's eyes see first. His identical twin brother has gross motor-skill delay which has delayed his motor skill development but his condition will improve and should not require any special consideration in terms of house design.

Our objective, as parents of both was to have a house design that offered quality existence and life-long living, not only to Jack but to his 2 siblings (and their parents). The design brief was for a house that was modern and flexible in its layout, which allowed for ease of movement and access, both within and without itself. In practical terms what we asked for was a house where Jack could sleep on the top floor with us as a young child but could move down to the ground floor to sleep in later life if he so wished. No room was to be unreachable to him with a minimal usage of stairs or through floor lift to get there.

This design proposal is that no matter what way its cut it is "felt geometry" and I think about that a lot. Its that sense of being in an environment which is so silent in the function it performs as to be unnoticed but shows itself on second glance. Good handwriting and good writing rolled into one.

The design, the design process and the journey from inception to this point have been a pleasure thus far. The architect/client relationship is possibly uneasy at times but it certainly helps to have a holistic sensibility in your corner. There's more to it than geometry a mhac.

The house design is functional, refined and pleasing. If we do nothing else in life we will have created and left a smashing living environment for our triplets and a structure to the passer by. Great credit is due .

Mar go bhfuil sp�is faoi leith agam f�in i gc�rsa� ailtireachta ba mh�r an sp�rt a bh� ann dom f�in a bheith ag obair i gcomhar le m'ailtire agus a leathbh�d�ir� ag dearadh an t� seo. Se�n