Isle of Man SofA (Society of Architects) Open Houses
The Isle of Man Society of Architects was founded in 2013 with the goal of promoting architecture and design in the Isle of Man. Our members, registered architects and students, share a passionate commitment to enhancing our built environment. We strive to inspire the public, government and private sectors through a variety of organised events and initiatives showcasing the profound value and benefits of exceptional design.
SofA love a collaboration and we are really happy to be adding an architectural element to the Creative Network’s IOM Art Festival for 2025.
We are very grateful to the property owners for allowing access to these buildings and to the IOM Arts Council for artworks from their loan collection which will be displayed in some of the houses.
For practical reasons of space, accessibility etc. it is essential that those wishing to visit any of the following architect designed properties book a time slot for their visit. Booking is free via the SofA eventbrite page:
https://iomsofa.eventbrite.com Booking is now live for the SofA houses (16.8.25)
No open drop-in access is available so please do not just turn up. Spaces are limited so book early!
The Isle of Man Society of Architects was founded in 2013 with the goal of promoting architecture and design in the Isle of Man. Our members, registered architects and students, share a passionate commitment to enhancing our built environment. We strive to inspire the public, government and private sectors through a variety of organised events and initiatives showcasing the profound value and benefits of exceptional design.
SofA love a collaboration and we are really happy to be adding an architectural element to the Creative Network’s IOM Art Festival for 2025.
We are very grateful to the property owners for allowing access to these buildings and to the IOM Arts Council for artworks from their loan collection which will be displayed in some of the houses.
For practical reasons of space, accessibility etc. it is essential that those wishing to visit any of the following architect designed properties book a time slot for their visit. Booking is free via the SofA eventbrite page:
https://iomsofa.eventbrite.com Booking is now live for the SofA houses (16.8.25)
No open drop-in access is available so please do not just turn up. Spaces are limited so book early!
Weekend of Sat 23 - Sun 25 Aug
Water Edge
16 Lime Street, Port St Mary, IM9 5EF
w3w: volley.documents.shimmers
Lime Street backs on to the outer harbour at Port St Mary. Follow the High Street past the former Bay View Hotel, then the one-way system down to the RNLI lifeboat station which is as the end of Lime Street. There is limited roadside parking, you may be able to park next to the RNLI station.
Water Edge is a former Victorian guest house which lay neglected and empty for many years. Recent renovation and remodelling, respecting the historic character and detail of the property, has created a future proofed modern family
home. The entire ground and first floors will be accessible, showing works from the Loan Collection.
Architect:
Voirrey Samson
16 Lime Street, Port St Mary, IM9 5EF
w3w: volley.documents.shimmers
Lime Street backs on to the outer harbour at Port St Mary. Follow the High Street past the former Bay View Hotel, then the one-way system down to the RNLI lifeboat station which is as the end of Lime Street. There is limited roadside parking, you may be able to park next to the RNLI station.
Water Edge is a former Victorian guest house which lay neglected and empty for many years. Recent renovation and remodelling, respecting the historic character and detail of the property, has created a future proofed modern family
home. The entire ground and first floors will be accessible, showing works from the Loan Collection.
Architect:
Voirrey Samson
21 Lime Street
Port St Mary, IM9 5EF
w3w: college.fool.delerious
Also on Lime Street, if you found number 16, this one is five doors back towards the RNLI. This traditional Manx cottage is not what it seems from the street! Only the front and gable walls remain from the original house, the incredible series of spaces that make up this re-modelled and extended cottage have all been built from scratch.
The brief was to provide a contemporary building that would sit comfortably within a traditional terrace in the Port St Mary conservation area. The result is a high quality energy efficient modern house.
Architect:
Elke Zinnecker
Port St Mary, IM9 5EF
w3w: college.fool.delerious
Also on Lime Street, if you found number 16, this one is five doors back towards the RNLI. This traditional Manx cottage is not what it seems from the street! Only the front and gable walls remain from the original house, the incredible series of spaces that make up this re-modelled and extended cottage have all been built from scratch.
The brief was to provide a contemporary building that would sit comfortably within a traditional terrace in the Port St Mary conservation area. The result is a high quality energy efficient modern house.
Architect:
Elke Zinnecker
Weekend of Sat 30 - Sun 31 Aug
Kerrow-ny-Glough
Mill Road, Greeba, IM4 3LA
w3w: stands.broadcasting.exhibitions
Travelling west on the TT course through Crosby, turn right at Greeba Bridge onto Mill Road.
Kerrow-ny-Glough is the first house on your right. Although it is hidden in the trees, look out for the Festival signage. Cross the little bridge and you can park on the gravel driveway.
The house is a modernist marvel, the main garden room is an Art Deco-inspired treat. Access will be available to the main room, the entrance hall and the beautiful curved staircase. Note that there is no wheelchair access.
Hosts Nicky and Nigel will be displaying artworks from their collection of Manx artists alongside a display showing how the house was constructed using hempcrete.
Architect:
Ashley Pettit
Mill Road, Greeba, IM4 3LA
w3w: stands.broadcasting.exhibitions
Travelling west on the TT course through Crosby, turn right at Greeba Bridge onto Mill Road.
Kerrow-ny-Glough is the first house on your right. Although it is hidden in the trees, look out for the Festival signage. Cross the little bridge and you can park on the gravel driveway.
The house is a modernist marvel, the main garden room is an Art Deco-inspired treat. Access will be available to the main room, the entrance hall and the beautiful curved staircase. Note that there is no wheelchair access.
Hosts Nicky and Nigel will be displaying artworks from their collection of Manx artists alongside a display showing how the house was constructed using hempcrete.
Architect:
Ashley Pettit
Raby House
Main Road, Glen Maye, IM5 3AU
w3w: pinpoint.metronome.altitude
Travelling south from Peel, you will find Raby House on the right, just before you get to Glen Maye. There is parking in the farmyard to the rear. The challenge of this project was to renovate a neglected historic house, using traditional
materials guided by SPAB principles, while adding an extension and modern facilities. The result captures the distinctive characters of the three stages in the house’s development: Manx cottage, Victorian wing and 21st century
extension.
The house can be accessed via the bifold doors (limited wheelchair access) allowing a visit to the garden room, library and cottage ground floor, Victorian basement and the new kitchen and gallery.
N.B. The Road from Peel to Glenfaba is currently closed to all traffic, so please bear this in mind if travelling to the Ballacain or Raby House properties. Access is now via the Patrick Road from St John's.
Architects:
Karen Horncastle and Martyn Thomas
Main Road, Glen Maye, IM5 3AU
w3w: pinpoint.metronome.altitude
Travelling south from Peel, you will find Raby House on the right, just before you get to Glen Maye. There is parking in the farmyard to the rear. The challenge of this project was to renovate a neglected historic house, using traditional
materials guided by SPAB principles, while adding an extension and modern facilities. The result captures the distinctive characters of the three stages in the house’s development: Manx cottage, Victorian wing and 21st century
extension.
The house can be accessed via the bifold doors (limited wheelchair access) allowing a visit to the garden room, library and cottage ground floor, Victorian basement and the new kitchen and gallery.
N.B. The Road from Peel to Glenfaba is currently closed to all traffic, so please bear this in mind if travelling to the Ballacain or Raby House properties. Access is now via the Patrick Road from St John's.
Architects:
Karen Horncastle and Martyn Thomas
Ballacain
Lhagg Road, Dalby, IM5 3BU
w3w: succeed.luckiest.resiting
Less than 2 miles further south from Glen Maye you will find Dalby. Keep going south through the village and start up the hill towards Round Table. Take the first lane on your right and Ballacain is the first house on the lane.
Designed and built to the energy efficient Passivhaus Standard, Ballacain has been designed to be as visually unobtrusive as possible and to accommodate multi-generational living. The upper ground floor will be open to view. The Loan Collection pieces will be competing with one of the best views in the Island!
N.B. The Road from Peel to Glenfaba is currently closed to all traffic, so please bear this in mind if travelling to the Ballacain or Raby House properties. Access is now via the Patrick Road from St John's.
Architect:
John Wilson
Lhagg Road, Dalby, IM5 3BU
w3w: succeed.luckiest.resiting
Less than 2 miles further south from Glen Maye you will find Dalby. Keep going south through the village and start up the hill towards Round Table. Take the first lane on your right and Ballacain is the first house on the lane.
Designed and built to the energy efficient Passivhaus Standard, Ballacain has been designed to be as visually unobtrusive as possible and to accommodate multi-generational living. The upper ground floor will be open to view. The Loan Collection pieces will be competing with one of the best views in the Island!
N.B. The Road from Peel to Glenfaba is currently closed to all traffic, so please bear this in mind if travelling to the Ballacain or Raby House properties. Access is now via the Patrick Road from St John's.
Architect:
John Wilson
Rose Cottage
Lhergy Cripperty, Union Mills, IM4 4NF
w3w: sabbatical.astronomical.promoters
Travelling west on the TT course to Union Mills, turn left up Lhergy Cripperty at the Railway pub; the house is the last on the right before the road turns left up the hill, the white house with the triangular flower bed outside.
Originally designed for a landscape gardener on the site of naturalist and historian, Larch Garrad’s house, Rose Cottage appears modest from the roadside but opens up to the garden and countryside as soon as you are through the front door. The house is constructed of ‘insulated concrete formwork’ and has a mechanical ventilation heat recovery unit! The main living/ kitchen/ dining space and kitchen terrace on the entrance level will be accessible.
Limited access (Saturday 30th only).
Architects:
Martyn Thomas Karen Horncastle
Lhergy Cripperty, Union Mills, IM4 4NF
w3w: sabbatical.astronomical.promoters
Travelling west on the TT course to Union Mills, turn left up Lhergy Cripperty at the Railway pub; the house is the last on the right before the road turns left up the hill, the white house with the triangular flower bed outside.
Originally designed for a landscape gardener on the site of naturalist and historian, Larch Garrad’s house, Rose Cottage appears modest from the roadside but opens up to the garden and countryside as soon as you are through the front door. The house is constructed of ‘insulated concrete formwork’ and has a mechanical ventilation heat recovery unit! The main living/ kitchen/ dining space and kitchen terrace on the entrance level will be accessible.
Limited access (Saturday 30th only).
Architects:
Martyn Thomas Karen Horncastle
Hazelwood
Cronkbourne Avenue, Douglas, IM2 3LA
w3w: areas.held.agree
Access Cronkbourne Road (one way) via Albany Rd/ Somerset Rd. On street parking only on Cronkbourne Road and Cronkbourne Avenue.
This is a lovely Arts and Crafts inspired house with a modern garage and landscaping designed by SofA architect Martyn Thomas.
Interestingly, the house was owned by world renowned Manx photographer Chris Killip’s family!
We are excited to be able to display a selection of specially commissioned, Chris Killip photographic prints from the Arts Council Isle of Man Loan Collection in the downstairs living room.
Limited access (Saturday 30th only)
Architect:
Martyn Thomas
Cronkbourne Avenue, Douglas, IM2 3LA
w3w: areas.held.agree
Access Cronkbourne Road (one way) via Albany Rd/ Somerset Rd. On street parking only on Cronkbourne Road and Cronkbourne Avenue.
This is a lovely Arts and Crafts inspired house with a modern garage and landscaping designed by SofA architect Martyn Thomas.
Interestingly, the house was owned by world renowned Manx photographer Chris Killip’s family!
We are excited to be able to display a selection of specially commissioned, Chris Killip photographic prints from the Arts Council Isle of Man Loan Collection in the downstairs living room.
Limited access (Saturday 30th only)
Architect:
Martyn Thomas