This architect-designed house is set in an equally impressive plain of farmland, but this time much closer to home. We're in mid-Ireland, Westmeath to be precise, and in a defiantly modern property that challenges our perception of the traditional farmhouse, yet one that really engages with its open country location.

The design is also a far cry from the typical, formulaic bungalow of more recent decades, and the success of the impressive style is very much down to the collaboration of both the owners, Andrew Fay and his partner Jenny, and Denis Byrne Architects.

"The client wanted modernity and light, and a large family home that they could grow into with whatever the future may bring. We looked at breaking down the house into smaller bite-sized chunks to avoid that overwhelming feeling you often get in a very large home, " explains Byrne.

"These separate areas are each on different levels, with different views and light . . . the idea being that we would get the very best out of the site.

It's very normal that houses are built on the edge of fields in Ireland, but a lot of the time, the design doesn't take the best advantage of that location."

Architect Jenny Fay, who works with the Denis Byrne practice, explains that the tag 'family' home is very relevant too: Jenny is sister to owner Andrew, while her father Oliver built the property. Speaking in the current issue of House magazine (published in association with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland), she says that there was great trust and faith from the start in terms of the project and that the professional approach really helped get it off the ground.

"When I visited my family at weekends, we avoided talking too much about the project but formally met in the Dublin office to develop a clear brief."

And the brief?

To create a spacious modern fourbed home with large open-plan indoor and outdoor living areas, and also one with large windows and glass walls taking in the views from the cornfields stretching towards Mullingar town.

The exact siting of the house was therefore crucial, and long walks through the family farmland were a regular feature during the initial stages to find just the perfect spot. A secluded area, sheltered and screened by mature hedgerows from the distant road, but with undulating seas of cornfields a dominant feature, was finally decided on.

The particular topography of the site demanded considerable attention in terms of making the house seem to grow organically from the land while also exploiting the views from every possible angle of the stepped levels of the interior, and how those scenes would change, season to season, and with the trajectory of the sun.

Both architects and owners were seemingly as harmonious in their ideas as the resulting house is to the landscape.

So too, to everyone's delight, were Westmeath County Council.

"We received great encouragement from their architectural and planning people, " says Denis. "They were pleased that in its design it was miles from the generic bungalow concept, but rather, built to a style that fits in well with the surroundings. You don' t have to always do the standard thing.

And that's the key . . . the council are simply looking for good design.

Whether it's an ultra modern or traditional house style doesn't matter so much. The important thing is how well any building sits within the landscape."

The traditional rural Irish home of the 21st century looks like it could reap a rich harvest with a daringly bold new approach. . .

Denis Byrne Architects info@architects-dba. com 'House' is available at Easons, the RIAI Bookshop, and selected newsagents www. housearchitecture. ie