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 Getting the Massing right Massing is about how you assemble the formal elements of the house and how these proportions relate to each other and to the overall composition. The issues relating to the Big House type are generally ones of Bulk, Scale and Height as they are all factors which determine the overall Massing. The Big House has deep plans, wide gables and excessive heights, resulting in a large scaled and bulky house which cannot be assimilated into the rural countryside and appears ‘landed’ onto the site. The solution lies in utilizing more slimmer and narrow plan forms, which can be assembled into better compositions with proportions and scale that reflect their rural context. Massing - Breaking down the bulk Page no. 29 Deeper, wider, higher How to break it down - L - plan U - plan Modified T - plan A Model solution A series of indicative sketches are shown below so as to provide guidance on how best to approach this issue. The particular example illustrated is for a 2000sq.ft house and how by using the principles outlined in these guidelines it is possible to achieve the same floor area yet having a less bulky house with lower ridge/eaves heights. The problem with the Big House The double room deep plan is a format used most regularly for house designs, due to the efficiency inherent with increasing spans under the one roof. However, this approach to house design is at odds with our Rural Built Heritage which was generally one room deep, and allowed for better scale, proportions and heights which related more to the human scale. Parallel + slipped X Massing studies Indicative solutions to breaking down the bulk effect and still maintaining the required floor area. These pictures illustrate successful modern solutions which utilize massing strategies, avoiding the large bulk effect and reflect a sense of rural scale. Natural daylight Utilizing such massing strategies increases the amount of natural day lighting to all habitable rooms, avoiding dark corridor spaces. The ’Big + Bulky’ House 192 193 194 195 196 191
- Galway County Council Massing Assembly of elements Page no. 30 Current trends for houses can be characterized by their deep floor plans, resulting in excessively wide gables and an over-weight appearance. The success to any contemporary solution is to use the ‘one room deep’ typology which can be assembled into a multitude of slimmer elements, presenting greater flexibility both in terms of layout and future expansion. Many rural design issues can be resolved by simply reducing the bulk to a more slimmer floor plan with ancillary accommodation wings. The success of a contemporary rural design can be attributed to the skill of breaking down the bulk to a more appropriate massing and proportion which has its design roots in traditional cellular room forms. Obtaining better massing with traditional forms Avoiding un-resolved bulky layouts These pictures indicate the principle of good massing with ancillary wings of traditional forms with good proportions, reducing the bulk effect while maintaining a sense of rural scale. X This sketch illustrates the issues relating to the bulk effect. The roofscape is overc o m p l i c a t e d , t h e internal plans unresolved with no sense of scale or proportion. Ancillary wings only compound the problem. Good massing - well proportioned ancillary wings This sketch illustrates g o o d m a s s i n g principles. Ancillary wings have simple forms that are well proportioned and allow for future e x p a n s i o n w i t h minimum intervention to the existing layout197 201 202 203 204 205 199198 200
- Galway County Council Scale - Reading a landscape Page no. 31 Scale refers to how we perceive the size of a building element or space relative to other forms. In visually measuring the size of an element, we tend to use other elements of known size in their context as measuring devices. These are known as scale-giving elements, and fall into two general categories: building elements whose size and characteristics are familiar to us through experience, and the human figure. Scale is an important element of proportions in that objects are scaled in relation to their surroundings. When designing a house in the countryside, designers need to be aware of the surroundings - such as the landscape profile, size of field boundary areas and adjoining houses which will indicate an appropriate scale of house. • A large dwelling will appear awkward in a site where the character of field boundaries and dwellings are small, regardless of its height - single or two storey. • Large houses require a large site which needs to be set within a large expansive landscape with very mature landscaping of greater prominence. • Where dwellings are considered ‘out of scale’, it is generally the deep floor plan and resulting excessive heights - reduce the overall form into smaller elements to reflect more the rural scale. • Large dwellings with an imposing scale relative to surrounding dwellings is not very neighbourly, in that there will be overlooking and privacy conflicts, they will have an adverse visual impact and set undesirable precedent. • In order to achieve a more human scale, designers need to give more consideration to measures which reduce the heights, yet meet regulation standards. When deciding on an appropriate form and scale for a dwelling design it is important to first ’read’ the landscape which may inform the design strategy. In this case the landscape is dominated by a horizontal horizon. These illustrations indicate a suitable design which is horizontally massed to the undulating soft contours. The result is a design which is sensitive and unique to its context. Horizontal landscape features - horizontal scale This sketch below illustrates the use of landscaping features such as mature trees which inform a vertical scale reference - the scale and massing registers these features which are integrated into the design strategy. Vertical landscape features- vertical scale X Vertical scale breaks horizon Existing mature trees provide a vertical scale reference with rolling hills a horizontal scale, which is registered in the design and massing. Horizontal scale and massing works with landscape Context & surroundings Plot size and Scale X House A is relative in scale to house B as is C to D. However, house D if located beside house A would be considered out of scale with the surrounding context, r e g a r d l e s s o f compliance with DC 15 standards. C D A D BA Existing mature trees provide a vertical scale reference and visual screening 208 209 210 211 207 206
- Galway County Council Height & scale Page no. 32 Eaves heights Height - deeper = wider = higher Apart from the floor plan having deeper dimensions, the other factor which effects the overall scale of the dwelling is the height which has a direct relationship with the plan. The deeper the plan the wider the gable and for a given pitch increases the overall ridge height. Designers will need to pay particular attention to the section profile and in particular the following - • Low eaves. • Vertical emphasis to windows. • Distance between head of ground floor window and first floor window sill to be minimized so as to achieve better proportions. • First floor roofs partially accommodated within the ceiling zone. • Ridge heights can be reduced by narrower plans, rather than lowering the roof pitch. • Use of traditional roofing materials • Avoid roof sheeting materials - especially mock profiles. • Where a design is in a visually sensitive location - alternative roof designs and materials will be considered to reduce the overall height and visual impact. This example above is a clear indication of the problems associated with deep plan forms. The width of the gable +12metres is excessive which increases the ridge height considerably. Eaves heights along with increased distances between window heads and cills compounds the issue resulting in a large bulky building that bears no sense of scale with the existing streetscape. Note : this relates to both urban and rural design issues. X Solution X These sketches illustrate one strategy on achieving more desired ridge and eaves heights, without reducing floor areas. Utilizing a narrow plan form with appropriate massing will reduce the bulk and height. Rural Sub-urban Sub-urban ‘deep plan’ - 2500 sq.ft Rural ‘one room deep’ plan - 2500 sq.ft Ridge, eaves and window heights 215 216 217 218 214 213212
- Galway County Council Proportions = design success This is a fundamental element of design - in that each element is linked to form the overall composition. Eg. the size and shape of a window relates to the solid / void which forms the overall elevation composition. Often you can judge by your eye when something is not balanced - often it’s the proportions of that element and its relationship within the overall composition. Proportioning systems go beyond the functional and technical determinants of architectural form and space to provide an aesthetic rationale for their dimensions. • They can usually unify the multiplicity of elements in an architectural design by having all of its parts belong to the same family of proportions. • They can provide a sense of order in, and heighten the continuity of, a sequence of spaces. • They can establish relationships between the exterior and interior elements of a building. Proportions + Scale Page no. 33 Key factors Traditionally, rural houses were characterized by the following design factors : • Horizontal proportioned walls • Horizontal roofscape • Vertical emphasized windows to counterbalance the strong horizontal solid to void relationship The current standards in terms of building regulations are eroding these basic yet fundamental characteristics which gave so many of our rural dwellings their human scale. The mis-use of large horizontal windows reverse the vertical solid to void emphasis, thereby weakening the balance of simple yet visually strong traditional elevations. X When proportion is not considered either as an element or within the overall composition - the result is one of disharmony and erosion of form. An example below, where all elements are well proportioned and are in harmony within the overall composition. Note the high solid to void ratio and general solidity. Asymmetrical elements can provide a sense of movement. A n c i l l a r y e l e m e n t s are proportioned to the main design element. 219 220 223 224 225 222 221
- Galway County Council The narrow plan—or ‘one room deep’ concept is not a new one, in fact it has been in existence for generations and the fact that such a design has been around so long—must have some benefits. To highlight its main advantages a series of basic scenarios have been illustrated and how by using such a plan avoids the problems associated with deep plan forms. The ‘narrow’ plan Advantages of a ‘one room’ deep strategy Page no. 34 Narrow plan - slope can adapt and absorb the slope into the design - reducing sitework costs Narrow plan - double aspect dual aspect allowing daylight from two sources creating dynamic living areas Narrow plan-solar gain 100% solar gain / daylighting, reduced energy bills Slopes • Avoids excessive cuts and platform effects thereby reducing the cost of siteworks • Allows greater flexibility - level changes can be integrated more successfully within the footprint Solar Gain • The deep plan house by its design will only receive 50% solar gain & natural light with dark corridors. • The narrow plan can benefit from 100% solar gain and natural light - which will provide a saving in terms of heating / energy bills by as much as 30%. • Locate the utility zone to the north elevation and reduce the area of glazing to a minimum, which will provide privacy and reduce heat loss. Aspect • The deep floor plan - means glazing area needs to increase so as to provide sufficient daylight - this weakens the balance between glazing and masonary. • The narrow plan allows for a dual aspect - in that light comes from two different directions - creating a more dynamic living environment. • There is a greater freedom with the composition of glazing in narrow plans which give better ratios of glazing to masonary. Ridge height glazing utilized in this example to allow daylight into deep floor plans - also good solar panel integration. Best orientation - south east aspect 226 227 228 230 229
- Galway County Council The following examples illustrate the spatial diversity which can be achieved with a one room deep plan without corridors. While the interiors reflect our contempory lifestyles, the external form has traditional characteristics The ‘narrow’ plan Contemporary examples Page no. 35 Contemporary open plan layouts with traditional form characteristics The ‘one room deep’ cellular plan allows spatial diversity with opportunities for future expansion with minimum intervention to the existing floor layouts. Dual aspect rooms provide great natural daylight.232 233 236 238 234 240 241 239 237 231 235
- Galway County Council It would be naïve to suggest that all future designs would utilize the narrow plan form. So in order to address the design issues relating to the deep plan form some illustrations have been included so as to avoid the associated design pitfalls. Pattern Book Designs One aspect of such deep plan designs is the roof scape which often dominates the elevation with proportions that are oversized and out of scale with the dwelling. This is often compounded by poor attention to detail with large bulky eaves. Reworking the deep plan. In order to reflect the scale and character of the traditional farmhouse a maximum depth of 9m for the plan was specified. This will allow a better proportioned house with traditional gables with ancillary utilities accommodated within lean-to roof. These sketches are included to illustrate how it is possible to achieve floor area requirements, meet the building regulations and vernacular characteristics. The deep plan Alternative solutions in a rural context Page no. 36 How to break down the bulk - a solution Front Elevation Note : for indicative purposes only Ground Floor PlanSide Elevation 242 243 244 245 246 247
- Galway County Council Once the main design issues of Form, Scale, Massing and Proportion have been addressed, it is time then to turn our attention to good Detailing and Construction. While a particular detail may seem insignificant, their cumulative effect can make the difference between a dwelling which appears solid and robust with attention to detail, and an ugly poorly constructed dwelling. It is imperative at this stage to pay attention to details which concern the external appearance and these should be discussed with the Builder and Architect / Designer. Workmanship - Good detailing Page no. 37 A refined palette of materials, colour and robust details. Details articulate the formal composition Natural weathering of cedar cladding in context of tree screening Robust materials for climatic exposure Timber clad recessed enclosure (loggia) - a warm inviting space 248 253 251 254 252 257 258 256 255249 250
- Galway County Council ‘The RoofScape’ It is often an overlooked element within design, yet the roof forms its own iconic and distinctive ‘surface’. The roofs of the rural countryside are often a simple profile with materials and colours adding to the distinctive profile of the landscape. Roofscape - Form, materials & detail Page no. 38 ‘Colour & Texture The various colours and textures associated with local vernacular roofs such as thatch, corrugated metal and slate add to the architectural quality and regional identity. Thatch - golden hue colour Corrugated Tin - oxide red (barrel vaulted haybarns) Slate - blue/grey hue Roof pitches varied according to the material used - Thatch - 45-50 degrees Slate - 35-45 degrees Corrugated Tin - 25-35 degrees Where roof pitches are below these - they require a high degree of design skill and appropriate modern materials in order to avoid the problems of the past associated with flat or shallow roofs. Insulation A crucial factor when designing today, are the statutory requirements relating to heat loss and requirements for higher levels of insulation and ventilation which require great attention to detail by Architects/Designers and Builders. Grass roof - natural insulator Rooflights - natural daylighting Sedum roof - landscape sensitive A ‘Standing seam profile’ - low pitch roof, to maintain views Low - pitch maintaining landscape views Corrugated metal - barrel vaultConservation and sensitive restoration with natural slate Thatch Quadrant - barrel vault Roofscapes - keep it simple ! X Avoid Complicated roofs = They indicatepoor resolution of floor plan layout. Inclined eaves Inclined ridge Barrel vault Quadrant barrel vault Pitch roof Mono-pitch Double monopitch 262 263 268 269 266 267 270 265 264 271 259 260 261
Source Galway County Council: Design Guidelines for Single Rural Housing · 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.