Rural House Design Guide (County Development Plan 2023–2029, appendix 4)

1. Page 11

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   3. SITE ANALYSIS AND LAYOUT 9 This section aims to help the applicant analyse the preferred site and its characteristics to inform the most appropriate layout for the dwelling. Site analysis should also be used when assessing the merits of alternative sites and may help to identify at an early-stage sites that are not suitable for accommodating development. A good site analysis will lead to a better understanding of the site, a more appropriate site layout and ultimately a more sustainable house design. Site analysis should help inform the design approach to be taken rather that trying to impose a pre-determined design onto the site. The design of the house should therefore be site specific and evolve from a study of the site’s location, orientation, and topography. Topics considered in this Section are: 3.1 – Orientation & Aspect The path of the sun should be mapped on a site layout plan, showing the sun rise in the east and set in the west. This will illustrate how a new home could exploit passive solar gain which has many benefits including improving the energy efficiency of the home. Environmental and sustainability considerations such as heating requirements and heat loss should be considered when deciding on the overall size of the dwelling. x Orientation & Aspect x Topography, heritage & existing landscape features x Designing for sloping sites x Setback distances x Infill / backland sites Figure 3.1 – Site Analysis Sketch

2. Page 12

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   3. SITE ANALYSIS AND LAYOUT 10 Siting of dwelling, orientation and placing of active spaces in the house such as living rooms and kitchens should consider principles of passive surveillance and security considerations. Figure 3.2 – Indicative Room Orientation and Solar Gain Prevailing wind directions should also be shown. This will indicate how a new home should be sheltered. Examples of a Site Analysis Sketch are shown in figures 3.1 and 3.2 above. 3.2 – Topography, heritage & existing landscape features Traditional rural buildings often hug the contours of the site for shelter and use native planting to minimise the impact of the weather. Designers should show a similar understanding of topography and the traditional approach when siting new rural housing, in addition to considering the local rural vernacular context. Any proposed design should respect and work with the existing site contours, established features and existing trees and vegetation, where possible seeking shelter and integration. This will also avoid unnecessary cutting or filling of the site. The protection of the sites natural and built heritage assets and biodiversity should be integral to the site analysis. Aim to: Position buildings along the contours of the site. Work with contours not against them. Blend sympathetically with the topography of the site. Use or retain existing trees, buildings, slopes, and other natural features to provide a setting. Site the building to exploit passive solar gain and shelter from the prevailing winds. Excessive cut or fill may indicate that the site is unsuitable for a dwelling.

3. Page 13

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   3. SITE ANALYSIS AND LAYOUT 11 Carefully consider the position of the dwelling. Position structures in line with or behind the established building line. Utilise existing natural heritage and biodiversity as a site asset. Figure 3.3 - Existing trees retained to screen and shelter the house. Figure 3.4 - The benefit of shelter; mature trees on the side of prevailing winds. 3.3 - Design for Sloping Sites Managing Contours is a key consideration in the design of any new dwelling on a sloping site. On such sites, dwellings will normally be required to be built into the slope of the site, or within the lee of the hill. Deep excavations should be avoided as such works can scar the landscape. Where a steeply sloping site cannot be avoided a suitable design solution must be developed to minimise the impact. Such measures may involve stepped or split-level house designs. Figure 3.5 - Example of excessive cutting to facilitate driveway. The design of narrow plan houses results in the minimisation of cut and fill and this is encouraged. In such cases the excavated material can be re-used as part of the landscaping proposals for the subject site.

4. Page 14

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   3. SITE ANALYSIS AND LAYOUT 12 3.4 – Set back distances It is advisable that applicants seek input on the position and design of access and sight lines at an early stage of the design process. The minimum setback distances from roads are outlined in the development management standards of the County Development Plan. They are as follows: Figure 3.6 - A narrow plan house design on a sloping site maximising existing screening. Figure 3.7 - Design working with the site. Table 3.1 – Building lines from Public Roads. Designers and applicants should also follow a general rule of thumb whereby the larger a dwelling the further it should be set back from the road. Appropriate screening should also be incorporated. Motorways 91m National Primary 91m National Secondary 91m Regional Road 31m Urban / County Road 18.5m Distributor 18.5m

5. Page 15

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   3. SITE ANALYSIS AND LAYOUT 13 Avoid: - Excessively large dwellings on restricted sites. - Using road frontage sites, carved out of larger fields where buildings dominate the view and inappropriate suburban gardens, roadside boundary walls, and gates are introduced into the landscape. - Ribbon Development - Sites which may impact on scenic views or detract from the visual appearance of the countryside. - Buildings on prominent hillside locations or on ridges. - Artificially altering the natural levels of the site. - Building in front of the established building line. - Excessive cutting and filling or locating a house on a ‘platform’. Figure 3.8 – Large house on a small site Figure 3.9 - Avoid Building on elevated or unsheltered/exposed sites Figure 3.10 - Example of a dwelling located on a platform.

6. Page 16

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   3. SITE ANALYSIS AND LAYOUT 15 3.5 - Design for Infill/backland Sites Where a proposed development site currently forms part of an existing dwelling (i.e. subdividing a plot) the following should be considered: - The size and capability of the site to cater for an additional dwelling and associated services. - Dual access arrangements making use of the existing access is encouraged. - The new dwelling should sit comfortably within the curtilage of the existing dwelling. In general, backland development will be discouraged. However, where a proposal uses the depth of a site, this would be preferable to ribbon type development. In instances where backland development is proposed for a family member, the provisions of policy HO P16 in the proposed Kildare County Development Plan 2023-29 must be taken into consideration. Particularly sensitive design approaches should be considered in these instances.

7. Page 17

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   3. SITE ANALYSIS AND LAYOUT 16 Key considerations: - Utilise the sun. Use the site’s southerly aspect to warm your home. - If the proposal requires significant cutting and filling, the site may not be suitable for a dwelling. - Work with site contours, not against them. - Work with existing site features, such as hedgerows and trees. - Is the site the right size to accommodate the size of house that is required? - Can the site accommodate the required set back from the road? - Consider whether a dwelling on the preferred site could have a negative impact on any significant mid or long-distance views. - Capacity of a site to accommodate foul and surface water drainage should be checked at an early stage in the design process.

8. Page 18

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   4.HOUSE DESIGN 17 This section examines the importance of house design and offers guidance on the elements contributing to this. The success of new houses in the rural landscape is measured by how the architecture of the proposed building responds to its environment and character of the rural area. It is the aim of this section to promote innovation through design that is both contemporary and timeless, whilst respecting and acknowledging the special character of rural County Kildare. House design is discussed under the following key principles: x Scale x Height x Form, Shape and Massing x Proportions Section 5 of this Guide looks at architectural elements in more detail. Key Principles of house design: Design buildings which are simple in form. Ensure that they are well proportioned. Design buildings which are restrained and absent of fussy add-ons or frills. Use quality local materials that are well detailed. Use simple construction techniques. Avoid buildings which are complex in shape and poorly proportioned. Avoid deep ‘boxy’ buildings. Deep plans require large roof structures and generally do not benefit from solar gain and light penetration. Avoid including large feature rooms that are rarely used which will increase area, cost, and bulk. Recognise the rural nature of the site.

9. Page 19

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   4.HOUSE DESIGN 18 4.1 – Scale The scale of a new house is a critical consideration when designing a new home. Figure 4.1 – A nicely scaled dwelling in a rural context. When considering the scale of a new dwelling, a balance must be achieved between the current and future needs of the occupants and the site location. Applicants are advised to spend time thinking about their brief and ensuring each space will be useful and used. Applicants should also consider how the dwelling could be capable of being extended over time if more space is required. There is a proportionate relationship between the area of the site and the size of the house. To accommodate a larger dwelling the proposed dwelling should be set within a larger site and absorbed within the wider landscape. An area characterised by small field patterns and low-level vegetation is unlikely to be suitable for a large dwelling which will dominate the area. However, where existing vegetation is mature and abundant and the views are long, there may be scope for a larger dwelling. Figure 4.2 – An over-scaled dwelling in relation to plot and distance from site boundaries. In developing the scale of the proposed dwelling, the designer must take cognisance of the topography of the subject site and to other dwellings located near the proposed site. A dwelling which does not respect the scale of existing dwellings in the area or results in impacts on surrounding dwellings or the landscape will not be appropriate.

10. Page 20

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    4.HOUSE DESIGN 19 4.2 – Height The houses of rural County Kildare typically range from single storey dwellings to large two storey houses and some significant demesne country houses. A site’s location and characteristics are key to identifying the type of building height appropriate for a particular site. On low lying lands there may be scope for a well-designed, high quality two storey dwelling whereas on more elevated areas a site may not have the ability to absorb a two-storey dwelling. Figure 4.3 – A well-designed single storey dwelling blending sympathetically into the surrounding countryside. 4.3 – Form, Shape and Massing A sign of a successful house design is to gauge how well it integrates with its surroundings. New dwellings should therefore blend into and not dominate the local landscape. To achieve this, a simple form and shape is encouraged. It is advisable to avoid deep floor plans and excessive number of shapes, roof pitches, protruding blocks, or elements (e.g., projecting front gables, fussy bay-type windows, disproportionate porch designs and conservatories.) Figure 4.4 – Side elevation illustrating deep plan with all elements out of proportion to each other. To accommodate larger dwellings in line with modern living needs within the countryside, consideration should be given to breaking down the massing of structures. Massing is about how elements of the house are assembled.

Source Kildare County Council: Rural House Design Guide (County Development Plan 2023–2029, appendix 4) (2023) · 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.