Abode

Abode is the flagship of co-living in Killarney, County Kerry.

In August 2018, developer Derek Twiss acquired an aging property locally known as “German Flats” just outside Killarney to initiate the region’s first co-living space.  To create a truly unique interior persona, Edit Design Studio was engaged to design and manage interior design reconstruction.

The interiors of the building have been designed with young professionals in mind requiring an average stay of 6-12 months. Accommodation is offered for single, shared or double occupancy. The property offers twelve five-bedroom apartments with an eat-in kitchen and shared bathrooms. Bedrooms include built-in beds and headboards and bespoke mid-century inspired storage solutions incorporating a work desk, wardrobe and shelves. The basement offers recreational space where individuals can come together and enjoy getting to know each other – a principal element of communal living.

Edit Design Studio were keen to incorporate colour and bold patterns in the communal space creating a vibrant but relaxed environment with lots of nooks for reading, working and socialising. The basement features two residents’ lounges, a large kitchen with dining table, a gym, laundry and a room for watching films.

On our initial site survey we were excited to find original 1950’s features still in-tact. We were instantly keen to preserve feature elements; terrazzo window sills, cast iron radiators, arch doorways, the mid-century staircase, and to draw inspiration from the period details to inform our design decisions. The building did present some challenges however – its structure of steel and concrete meant chasing walls to upgrade systems was going to blow the design budget; therefore the decision was made to expose these elements incorporating them as design features. The mix of original 50’s elements; industrial trunking, pipes and conduits and the mid-century styled interior has resulted in what we feel is an exciting and eclectic co-living development within the heart of one of Ireland’s most beautiful tourist regions.