Clare Rural House Design Guide

1. Page 11

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   11 For the purpose of discussion on issues pertaining to architecture and landscaping character, the wide ranging landscapes of Clare have been simplified into four regions. - Coastal and Moorland Region - North Clare and the Burren - The Lough Derg Region - The Shannon Estuary, Fergus Floodplain and Lowland FarmlandLandscape Character Introduction The Cliffs of Moher

2. Page 12

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   12 Loop Head Lighthouse The West Coast has extreme landscape with dramatic cliff lines and the raging Atlantic, but also has its softer sheltered side such as the White Strand and the seaside resort of Kilkee.

3. Page 13

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   13 Coastal and Moorland region North of the Shannon Estuary the lands of Clare stretch westwards across the exposed peninsula, and are subject to the extremes of the Atlantic gales. On the ocean side, wild and dramatic cliffs alternate with sweeping sandy beaches and fishing villages which have become popular holiday resorts over the years. The vernacular architecture of these regions reflects this rugged exposed environment and also the cultural changes resulting from increased recreational use of beaches and seaside resorts such as Kilkee and Lahinch. On the open moorland areas the typical built form consists of single storey, stone built, cottage farmhouses and farm buildings. There are some larger two storey houses in more sheltered areas away from the coast. Buildings tend to be rendered with plaster and painted with a colour wash. Similar buildings can be found on the higher ground in the centre of the county. In areas where the ground rises to the north, e.g. in the Hag’s Head Peninsula west of Liscannor, the orientation of dwellings follows the contours with the front facing south, to maximise natural light and heat.Landscape Character Coastal & Moorland Regions Much of the coastal region in Clare is designated as a vulnerable landscape and reference should be made to The County Development Plan and Local Area Plans to determine the status of your proposed site. A local house in Liscannor area

4. Page 14

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   14 Each region in Clare will have different variations in building style and massing relative to the local environment and landscape characteristics. The Burren

5. Page 15

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   15 North Clare & The Burren The Burren and North Clare has an ancient vernacular architecture built upon settlement patterns. The Burren is an area of outstanding beauty making the conservation of the landscape a critical consideration in deciding upon the location and design of new buildings. The farms are widely dispersed and generally take the form of a single storey, stone-built farm dwelling with associated stone out-buildings. Late mediaeval Tower Houses are a regular dramatic and historic feature in the landscape. Unlike the coastal and upland regions elsewhere in the county more buildings have exposed stonework. These groups of buildings are generally well set into the landscape and terrain to obtain shelter from the extreme weather. Towns such as Ennistymon, Corofin and Kilfenora reflect the urbanisation of these settlements.Landscape Character North Clare & The Burren Old farmhouse and out-building

6. Page 16

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7. Page 17

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   17 The Lough Derg Region Lough Derg contains numerous bays and inlets sheltered by wooded hills and set against the higher ground of Sliabh Bearnagh on one side and the Arra Mountains in north Tipperary on the other. Killaloe has developed as a strategic crossing point of the Shannon at the neck of Lough Derg. In the surrounding area the dwelling houses are of simple form, single and two storey farmhouses. The better climatic and soil conditions around Lough Derg support a high level of tree cover. This presents good opportunities to use planting for enhancing the siting of houses in the countryside. The use of more diverse building materials in vernacular houses is more visible in this region reflecting better access to materials such as timber, brick, stone and slate.Landscape Character Lough Derg Region

8. Page 18

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   18 In lowland areas houses are often visible for many miles. Ensure that this is considered in your chosen location, design and colour of dwelling.

9. Page 19

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   19 The Shannon Estuary, Fergus Floodplain and Lowland Farmland The rural buildings found in the Shannon Estuary region from Carrigaholt to Limerick reflect the more sheltered and tree-covered environment of this part of the county. The region is also home to a number of large estate houses and planned urban areas. These, in their own right, have influenced the design of single rural housing. Single storey farm houses with attic rooms are frequently found in this area. They are usually stone built with painted, rendered walls. Groups of farm buildings around large single storey or two storey farmhouses are also common within the Fergus Floodplain. The rapid urbanisation of the county is very evident in this area due to development pressures within the Ennis-Shannon-Limerick corridor and the use of urban built forms and housing estate designs in the countryside is often a discordant feature. Soil conditions are favourable for tree cover and this provides an opportunity for the use of planting to enhance the settings of isolated houses. Tree cover however decreases to the west along the estuary towards Loop Head.Landscape Character Shannon Estuary, Fergus Floodplain and Lowland Farmland

10. Page 20

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Source Clare County Council: Clare Rural House Design Guide · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.