Design guide · Galway County Council
Design Guidelines for Single Rural Housing
The council's guidance on siting and designing a house in the countryside.
Galway County Council · 58 pages
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- Galway County Council The focus here is on working with the site features and not against them. It has become a standard and misappropriated feature of the rural landscape to ‘land’ a sub-urban design onto a rural landscape which is very evident of its poor contextual relationship. • Maintain existing field boundaries - or where sightlines are required to re-instate to agreed position. • In order to minimize the visual impact - a minimum of 2 boundaries to be retained. • Avoid car parking to front—locate to side or rear - this may require entrance door to side. • Integrate into existing contours to soften the house into the site. • Avoid surrounding the house with a concrete path - create a planting zone between the wall and ground. This will further soften the impact. • Grade any excessive spoil in a gradual manner over the contours to create extra shelter. • Introduce wild gardens to the front—avoiding large areas of mowed lawn which add to the ‘platform effect’. • Use materials for surfacing which are geologically linked with the area. Source local quarries for stone and pea gravel. • Avoid large areas of black tarmacadum or precast paviours as driveways and brick features out of context with the rural character. • Manufactured post and rail fencing, precast kerbing along with decorative lamps illuminating the driveway Place making - Integrating into the landscape Page no. 9 Rural integration - natural enclosure, house anchored to contours Suburban isolation - natural features removed , isolated from landscape 42 43 44 45 X Preplanning— site analysis sketch The sketches above illustrate an initial site analysis which incorporates site specific features into a design strategy and used as a basis for a pre-planning discussion. 46
- Galway County Council Apart from the main considerations regarding the design and siting of a rural house, there are other considerations which are equally important for a successful integration within a rural context. When looking at a potential area, it is important to consider the distance to local facilities such as the school, shop, post office and recreation activities. Given the rising concern over environmental issues such as C02 emissions it is important that travel distances are minimized. Also in order to limit the visual impact of any rural house, the various everyday utilities require careful consideration in terms of their location within the specific site and that they are adequately screened from the main road. These are very practical issues and to some extent are not design related, however they do affect the overall impact and should therefore be given equal consideration. A poor solution which does not address the issues highlighted will result in an undesirable integration and loss of rural quality. There is also a necessity to address the orientation of any house so as to maximize potential solar gain while achieving a balance with privacy and wind shelter. This will also reduce fuel consumption and provide brighter and therefore healthier homes. The following utilities are considered in the following illustrations in the site analysis sketches which should inform the overall composition and layout. Utilities - Everyday considerations Page no. 10 Tv / telecommunicationsPower source Local facilities - schools Local facilities - churches Foul drainage - Water source Local facilities - post / telephone Safe access - car parking Fuel / refuse storage Privacy Composting - Vegetable area Garden amenity / safe play area Clothes lineSun - Orientation Solar energy Tools / garden storageVisual screening - privacy General considerations Domestic considerations - integration Carbon emissions 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 56 5755 58 59 60 61 62 63 6564
- Galway County Council The Sun - a free renewable energy source. Within the coming years we will be faced with an unprecedented challenge in terms of energy performance to our buildings, in the form of a European directive relating to the ‘energy performance of buildings’. Along with this there is the ever decreasing fossil fuel resource, thus requiring a need to develop more sustainable energy strategies by encouraging the use of renewable energy sources. The most immediate response which costs nothing but can achieve a 30% saving on heating costs - is to orientate the house within 15 degrees of due south. Mapping the Sunpath - A careful analysis is necessary in relation to a landholding so as to achieve the best site option which considers all the previous everyday utility issues. When considering a particular landholding it is best to seek a location which locates the rear of the house to face south. This will allow for larger glazing areas to achieve passive solar energy and greater daylighting while maintaining privacy and achieving a better solid to void ratio to the front (north) elevation. The sun’s position varies throughout the seasons and care is needed in choosing a vantage point, consider the above criteria and adjust the design to suit the orientation. It may not always be possible to face due south, so consider the use of well-proportioned gable windows. Capture the Sun - Orientating due south Page no. 11 Wind exposure - seek out natural shelter Policy 67 : Promote energy conservation measures and facilitate innovative building design that promotes energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources. extract from Galway County Council Development Plan 2003 - 2009 Clachans - organic clustering Solar gain - free energy This sketch indicates the % increase in heating demands away from due south. Source : S.E.I Shelter strategies It is equally important to seek out shelter where a site is exposed to the natural elements. A house which is exposed to winds will incur significant heat losses in winter time, which could be avoided by studying the alignment of older settlements in the area. The gable of the house should face the wind - south westerly to reduce exposure. One of the most striking features of 18th-19th century village settlements is the predominant arrangement of dwellings facing due south in order to maximize solar gain from the sun. Along with this was the arrangement of outbuildings to form a sheltered courtyard and form an cohesive yet organic settlement pattern unlike the current linear or ‘ribbon’ patterns which line our country roads. The sketch below illustrates a common response to orientation in a rural setting, in that the house in the lower corner is simply placed parallel to the road. The house in the upper corner has carefully considered its orientation so as to maximize daylight and solar gain and integrate with the natural screening which provides shelter and privacy. Positioning the house - passive solar gain 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73
- Galway County Council Site selection guide - Analysis of best site options Page no. 12 Natural setting - Each landscape has unique characteristics and for a successful rural house integration these features should form the backdrop. It is important to do a site analysis of its unique qualities which should then form an element of the design strategy. Assessing potential sites - The illustration opposite indicates an existing family farmstead , with adjoining landholdings outlined in red. The sites are assessed on an individual basis so as to consider the possibilities and constraints associated with its particular characteristics. Each site considers safe access, o r i e n t a t i o n , p r i v a c y , v i s u a l prominence, utilities, drainage and percolation. Note : the massing is broken into an L-plan so as to maximize daylight, solar gain and reflect the scale and character of existing dwellings. Refer to design for alternative form massing strategies. 1 East - West aspect • The site is adjacent to the main access road and is visually vulnerable. • Effective screening with indigenous planting is required to maintain privacy to road. • The house is sited to the top end of the site and requires careful assimilation with natural contours. • The percolation area is located to the bottom of the site with the natural slope. • Hedgerows and stonewall boundaries should be retained or reinstated. • Parking is located to the rear of the s i t e p r o v i d i n g screening and a natural shelter from t h e p r e v a i l i n g winds. Conclusion - the site with its east - west aspect is not ideal. There is a need for careful siting, design and landscaping to achieve a successful integration into the rural context. North North 74 75 76 77 78 79
- Galway County Council Page no. 13 2 North - South aspect • The site is accessed via a local access laneway away from the main road, providing a visual buffer. • The house is sited to the west to provide a private sun patio area and natural garden to the east. This natural garden will anchor the proposed dwelling into the rural setting. • The house form and massing is orientated to maximize daylight and solar gain. • There is an issue with privacy from the local access lane, which can be overcome with careful landscaping of hedgerows and or trees which provide solar shade. • The car-parking is located to the north-west providing both wind shelter and screening of cars with a courtyard. Conclusion - the north - south aspect is best in terms of solar gain and daylight, issues of privacy with large glazing to the front elevations from the access lane require careful consideration. 3 East - West aspect • The site is accessed via a local access laneway away from the main road, providing a visual buffer. • The house is sited to the northwest to provide a private patio area and natural garden to the east. This natural garden will anchor the proposed dwelling into the rural setting. • The house form and massing is orientated to maximize daylight and solar gain with large glazing to the south and west overlooking a private garden amenity. Further privacy can be achieved with careful landscaping. • The car-parking is located to the north-west providing both wind shelter and screening of cars with a courtyard. Conclusion - the north - south aspect is best in terms of solar gain and daylight. 4 East - West aspect • The site is accessed via a local access laneway away from the main road, providing a visual buffer. • The house is sited to the west to provide a private sun patio area and natural garden to the east. This natural garden will anchor the proposed dwelling into the rural setting. • The house form and massing is orientated to maximize daylight and solar gain. • The car-parking is located to the north-west behind an outbuilding / storage area, which provide shelter from prevailing winds Conclusion - the north - south aspect is best in terms of solar gain and daylight, with large glazing to the rear overlooking the sun patio and maintaining maximum privacy and garden amenity. NorthNorthNorth
- Galway County Council Page no. 14 5 North - South aspect • The site is accessed via a local access laneway away from the main road, providing a visual buffer. • The house is sited to the northwest to provide a private sun patio area and natural garden to the east. This natural garden will anchor the proposed dwelling into the rural setting. • The house form and massing is orientated to maximize daylight and solar gain. • There is an issue with privacy from the local access lane due to the large windows facing the sunpatio, which can be overcome with careful landscaping of hedgerows and or trees which provide solar shade. • The car-parking is located to the north-west providing both wind shelter and screening of cars with a courtyard around outbuildings. Conclusion - the house is sited to maximize the solar gain and achieve some degree of privacy. Located near the existing cluster of dwellings, this site has potential to integrate well into the rural setting and enhance the character 6 North - South aspect • The site is accessed via a local access laneway away from the main road, providing a visual buffer. • The house is sited to the north to provide a private sun patio area and natural garden to the south. This natural garden will anchor the proposed dwelling into the rural setting. • The house form and massing is orientated to maximize daylight and solar gain. • There is an issue with privacy from the local access lane, which can be overcome with careful landscaping of hedgerows and or trees which provide solar shade. • The car-parking is located to the north-east providing both wind shelter and screening of cars with a courtyard. • The house is located adjacent to an existing cluster of dwellings to reinforce the rural context. Conclusion - the north - south aspect is best in terms of solar gain and daylight, issues of privacy with large glazing to the front elevations from the access lane require careful consideration. 7 East - West aspect • The site is adjacent to the main access road and is visually vulnerable. • Effective screening with indigenous planting is required to maintain privacy to road. • The house is sited to the lower end of the site and requires careful assimilation with natural contours. • The percolation area is located to the top of the site against the natural slope, this requires an engineered solution. • Hedgerows and stonewall boundaries should be retained or reinstated. • Parking is located to the front of the site , which is visible and the entrance is exposed to the winds Conclusion - the site with its east - west aspect is not ideal. There is a need for careful siting, design and landscaping to achieve a successful integration into the rural context. North North North
- Galway County Council Historical Precedent In the past, local knowledge was accumulated on an areas particular micro-climate and the houses responded to this. The concept of a view from the top of a hill was far less important than that of shelter, so as to conserve fuel and energy as opposed to the top of the hill which was cold, exposed and generally isolated. Buildings have evolved in response to their function and natural setting, whereas todays sub-urban response has been to dominate the landscape and designers should show a similar understanding to contours as our traditional past has shown. Topography - The earth is not flat Page no. 15 Old - this example illustrates a sensitive integration with existing contours. This approach avoids a ‘platform’ effect and equally an excessive amount of excavation. The soft landscaping further enhances the character and makes this house anchor into the setting. The house appears as part of the landscape and vice versa. Working with the slope Where a site has existing contours it is important to do a detailed contour survey and site analysis which will inform a site specific response. Any proposal should run with the slope as a general guideline and provide a unique design which integrates with its site. Deep plan house designs should be avoided as they require excessive excavations and generally result in prominent plinths with either a deep gouge into a hill or a very conspicuous land mound which compound insensitive siting and thereby make a design even more obvious. New - this example illustrates how modern interventions can be equally successful and by such a sensitive understanding of site and context, provide precedent for successful assimilation into a rural village context and form part of the overall character of the area by embracing the site specific characteristics, which in this case had an existing hill which was integrated with the house design. This approach makes both the house design unique and defines the site. This sketch illustrates the principle of achieving a large floor plan, yet with a sensitive analysis of site can achieve an appropriate solution in terms of siting, formal massing and a distinctive rural indentity, thus avoiding the typical suburban solution which is ’landed’ onto the site with no consideration of the rural context. 80 84 85 86 87 88 89 83 81 82
- Galway County Council Anchoring to a Site The success of any design which utilises site specific features such as contours will be determined by how well a design responds in terms of its massing, so as to minimize the bulk effect and assimilate into the contours. These sketches illustrate such a design which is enhanced by the re-use of the excavated stone to anchor into the site. Contours - Work with the slope Page no. 16 Stepped ground levels This response involves the minimum amount of excavation as individual accommodation spaces respond in a sensitive manner to site contours. The result is a very unique contextual house design which is site specific in terms of design and requires the skills of an Architect. Excessive mound fill Such a response creates a very unsightly platform effect and requires extensive and un-necessary landscaping had there been more consideration given to the house design and siting 1 1/2 Split-level response Where the contours are more dramatic a design can take advantage by utilizing a split level design allowing a greater use of accommodation space. Excessive cutting of a hillside Care should be taken to avoid such an extreme intervention on a site. This response creates a safety hazard in that the ground has been weakened and may result in land slippage and excessive flooding to the rear of the house. Apart from this, it also creates a poor living environment in terms of useable play area and visual amenity. Avoid the ‘platform effect’ Cut & fill - even distribution Avoid deep plans Utilise narrow plans Stone plinth - anchors house into site 94 95 96 97 98 9392 X X 90 91
- Galway County Council A Naturalistic approach The character of the rural garden can be defined as something which requires minimal intervention to the existing landscape and where there has been intervention this has generally been with indigenous planting reinforcing the link with the land to enhance its natural character. This link with the land has been instilled over generations and along with house design the garden evolved in a harmonious way to achieve an almost seamless transition from house to landscape. By creating a planting zone between house and path, enclosures, privacy, wildlife habitats, boundary treatments and limiting the use of expansive areas of tar macadam and lawns, the house becomes visually anchored to its site, and thereby softens the geometric impact that the built environment has on the natural landscape. • Avoid geometric and formal garden layouts, use organic layouts with asymmetrical features which work in harmony with the landscape character of the area. • Choose plant species which are indigenous to the area along with species that will enhance the biodiversity and ecology of the area. Avoid plants which require the use of harmful pesticides which harm the natural eco-system. • Avoid large areas of mowed lawn - especially to front gardens, they look out of context with the natural meadows and require extensive maintenance, break the garden into zones such as natural meadow, safe play areas, patios, composting and vegetable plots. • Use materials for surfacing which are geologically linked with the area and are permeable to surface water. Source local quarries for stone and pea gravel. D - Landscaping Rural characteristics Page no. 17 Natural Gardens - west Galway Natural Gardens - east Galway 99 100 101 102 109106 107 108 105 104 103
- Galway County Council Field boundaries “Ireland currently possesses a heavily enclosed rural landscape. Eighty per cent of the surface is devoted to agriculture and the farmed land is everywhere divided into fields separated by continuous and permanent enclosures. These enclosures are the most pervasive features of the cultural landscape, allying it with the Atlantic fringe of Europe but distinguishing it from many continental areas where farmland has traditionally been laid out in open-fields which lacked obtrusive divisions. The vegetation growing on them influences micro-climates and contributes substantially to the biodiversity of the rural environment. Visually, enclosures dominate the cultural landscape, framing or obscuring the view for those who travel through the countryside.” Atlas Of The Irish Rural Landscape Field boundaries are standing records of the area’s history of land ownership and display evidence of local geology, local craftsmanship, and local farming practice. Field boundaries - Rural characteristics Page no. 18 Hedgerows These wildlife corridors are important heritage features. Varying greatly in form and species, they help to form the local and regional character of the landscape. Hedges on fertile and well drained land are dominated by hawthorn and may have trees of ash, elm, sycamore or beech. Shallow or acid soils will give rise to gorse, while hedges on poorly drained land are likely to be dominated by willow. Hedgerows provide food and shelter for insects, birds and other animals, forming corridors that permit wildlife to move between habitats. Hedges are durable and if properly maintained will last for centuries, and is ultimately more cost effective than any alternative boundary. Hedges provide shelter from wind for stock, crops and road users. They alleviate the blinding effects of low sun, filter dust and fumes, and absorb road noise. Natural Boundaries Hedgerows Random rubble stone walls Dry coursed local quarry stone 111 110 112 114 113 115 120119118117116
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