Design guide · Clare County Council
Clare Rural House Design Guide
The council's guidance on siting and designing a house in the countryside.
Clare County Council · 88 pages
Ask this document
Answers come only from the text of Clare Rural House Design Guide, each claim linked to its page. They are not advice; check the page itself.
Free, with a daily limit.
- 41Location and Siting Entrance and Boundary Treatment New roadside boundaries can have the greatest visual impacts on rural development particularly where there are several different frontages adjacent to one another. The existing hedgerow or stonewall can often be set back to the line of safe visibility without losing rural characteristics. By using a select range of materials such as stone, painted render, hedging or ditch features, compatible to the area, the character of a rural road can be retained as in the earthen banks in West Clare and deciduous tree and hedgerow species in East Clare. In order to fit the house into its context it follows that the siting should be done in a way which incurs minimum damage to the prevailing forms. This requires analysis of existing patterns. Boundary design can vary, can be wall, can be hedging, can be high as a natural boundary, can have stone wall and plaster entrance but generally must not visually overpower the natural boundary and should retain a degree of enclosure that a road would receive from natural boundaries. In analysing the proposed boundary the designer should consider the following aspects: a) the proximity of the house to the road and its visibility from the road. b) The orientation of the house in relation to natural elements. c) The ratio of the typical house size to the site size. d) Maintaining the visual integrity of the roadspace and reflecting this in the boundary treatment. e) Landscape should reflect informal rural landscape characteristics and avoid suburban styles. Careful design of entrance gates makes an attractive frame for the house Unsuitable boundaries for Rural Houses. There are many forms of natural boundaries in Clare including natural hedgerows and dry stone wall construction. Refer to the Heritage Officer and Stonewall guidelines provided by the Conservation Officer. A mix of planting rendered and local stone wall makes a more attractive composition
- 42 Siting and Integration Sites should be selected to consolidate existing groups of buildings by developing along the area noted. As poor site location only encourages linear or ribbon development and blocks off back land, eventually creating a sprawl of dwellings along country roads. Good designers can maximise view whilst minimising the visual impact of your house
- Location and Siting43 Siting and Boundaries The existing site with hedgerow and boundaries to the road. The new house is sited centrally with no regard for existing conditions.Hedgerows are removed. A satisfactory location giving both privacy and shelter to the new house whilst maintaining the landscape characteristics.
- 44 Have you studied the characteristics of the site? See checklist on Page 81 Is site suitable for building? Is the site in sheltered location? Consult your design or planning consultant, it is important to study the environmental designations and the planning history of the area Is site in a vulnerable area, on a scenic route or other sensitive area as designated in development plan? Are there trees and natural features you can use? See pages 39, 41 & 43 Rural Gardens and trees Is the ground sloping? Your architect or landscape designer can show you how to plant a site to complement house design and fit in with the landscape See Pages 39, 42 & 43 Working with slopes Review: Choosing a Site
- Location and Siting45 Are there neighbouring buildings? Is it possible other houses will be built close to your site? Check planning history on adjoining lands with Council See Page 37 on using sun’s energyHave you considered Orientation? The position of septic tank will limit position for house. You will need Environmental Protection Agency Assessment. See appendix Page 83 Have you considered position of Septic Tank / Waste Water Treatment System? Study traditional older buildings to see form, orientation, shelter, response to landscape. You may be required to build in line with neighbours You may have to consider issues of privacy and overlooking Consult Architect / Engineer about proposed entrance and sight distances. Where possible entrance should be off a side road. Refer to guidance notes on site distances required in Planning Application Form Guidance Notes. Is site on bend in road? Rock outcrops, trees and hedgerows can be used to good effect see Pages 39, 41 & 43 on using trees Are there distinctive features on site? Remember if you see, you can be seen. Consult your designer to maximise view whilst minimising the visual impact of your house. See Page 36, 39 & 42 Is there a good view? You will need a contour survey.Is it a sloping site? Landscape your site to properly integrate house into landscape. Design house to minimise effect on other houses. Consult your architect. Review: Placing your House on Site
- Location and Siting Some examples of vernacular and modern houses in the Clare countryside, showing appropriate location and siting and well-considered design within the particular context of their respective sites (siting, landscaping, proportions and massing). Each house illustrated has answered the criteria for their specific locations.
No text on this page — it is probably a drawing, a map, a photograph or a scanned page. See it in the PDF.
No text on this page — it is probably a drawing, a map, a photograph or a scanned page. See it in the PDF.
- Design Brief Scale Form and Shape Proportion Environmentally Sustainable Design House Design for Rural Settings Designing Your House 49
- 50 Design Brief When an appropriate site has been identified, the designer will use their client’s design brief or instructions to create the dwelling in scale, form, proportion and external finishes. Good design requires the skills and innovation of architectural and design professionals. The scope and solutions are limitless. The key consideration is to remember what spaces you actually need within your building and how they can be best used. Modern buildings have a different composition from older buildings, reflecting the affluence and living practices of a contemporary society. New materials and new technologies offer different opportunities. The materials and technologies, the living practices and space requirements must work together to reflect the landscape and area characteristics in which they are located. Elements of House Design for consideration Both houses are of a different era, yet the setting, and plot size are relative to the dwellings and frame the buildings appropriately within the landscape context. Is the scale and size of the selected site suitable for the proposed design brief? i.e. is the site big enough to accommodate the house proposed? Roof : Profile, materials, edge details: (slate, tiles, metal sheeting, thatch, glass, zinc, etc.) Elevations: How does the house look from the front, back and sides in terms of walls, windows, doors, roof height and chimneys. Chimneys: Position on roofline, location within building fabric. Openings: Maximise natural light and create attractive composition. Consider from inside-out as well as outside-in. Window and door openings: Have regard to Building & Fire Regulations, and mobility impaired persons (part M). Porch: Is the style suitable? Can the porch be internal to avoid impact on the overall house composition? Sunspace: Discreet location and size in proportion to the house. Materials: Generally in keeping with the local character of the area. Colour: In keeping with the character of the local area. Privacy and safety: Think privacy and safety!
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.