Design guide · Laois County Council
Rural Design Guide (County Development Plan 2021–2027, appendix 7)
The council's guidance on siting and designing a house in the countryside.
Laois County Council · 2021 · 26 pages
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- 11 Source: Draft Limerick Rural Design Guide Renewable Energy Resources Renewable energy resources are abundantly available throughout Ireland. They offer sustainable alternatives to the dependency on imported fossil fuels as well as reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Many decisions affecting the energy performance of a house need to be taken early in the site planning and design process - refer to current Sustainable Energy Ireland publications (e.g. ‘Your Guide to Building an Energy-efficient Home’). Solar Energy Solar is a clean, renewable energy generated from the sun. The main domestic applications are: Solar Hot Water Heating Systems - for domestic applications comprise of a solar collector (solar panel, flat plate or evacuated tube), hot water storage cylinder and a pump. Panels should ideally face south and be mounted on the main property roof, or in some cases on a shed roof or floor/wall mounted. Flat plate collectors can be installed as an integral part of the roof construction, or retrofitted to existing buildings. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) - involves generating electricity from the sun's energy that exists in daylight. Groups of PV cells are electrically configured into modules and arrays, which can be used to charge batteries, operate motors and to power electrical tools. With a converter, PV systems can produce alternating current (AC) compatible with conventional appliances. PV is silent and has low visual impact. Panels can be installed on or as an integral part of the roof. They should not be in shadow and work best if south facing. The total aperture of solar panels should not exceed 50% of the total roof area. If considering the installation of solar panels, you will need to provide (as a minimum) the following information to Laois County Council: • Dimensions of the panels, their number, type, and the projection above the roof slope. • Their colour. • Plan showing their position on the building. • Brief technical specifications such as power output (as usually supplied by the manufacturer). There are specific planning requirements for the installation or erection of a solar panel on, or within the curtilage of a house, or any buildings within the curtilage-refer to Step 6 Checklist for further details.
- 12 http://www.europeanpassivehouses.org/ Wind Energy Wind turbines harness the wind to produce electrical power. The efficiency of a domestic system will depend on a number of factors including location, wind regime and surrounding environment. The optimum size for the average household is usually between 1.5 and 3 KWs. Because wind speed increases with height, a typical wind turbine needs to be mounted on a mast or tower. An ideal location is on a smooth-top hill with a flat, clear exposure and free from obstructions such as buildings, woodlands or other large trees that may cause excessive turbulence. Such siting may result in adverse visual and residential amenity impacts and needs to be carefully considered in relation to the context of the site. The Greener Homes Scheme, administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland, is now available and provides assistance to homeowners who intend to purchase a new renewable energy heating system for either new or existing homes. Scheme eligibility criteria and terms and conditions are available from www.sei.ie/greenerhomes If considering the installation of a wind turbine, you will need to provide (as a minimum) the following information to Laois County Council: • Dimensions of the turbine (including rotar blades). • Height above ground or building. • Material type and finish. • Plan showing position on the ground. • Brief technical specifications such as power and noise output (as usually supplied by the manufacturer). Geothermal Energy Geothermal heat pumps transfer heat from the ground into a building to provide space heating and, in some cases, to pre-heat domestic hot water. The technology relies on the fact that the earth (beneath the surface) remains at a relatively constant temperature throughout the year and is warmer than the air above it during the winter. A typical system can provide 95%-100% of a household’s heating requirements. The ground source heat pump comprises a ground loop (series of pipes buried in the ground either horizontally or vertically), a heat pump, and a distribution system. There are specific planning requirements for the installation on or within the curtilage of a house of a ground heat pump system - refer to Step 6 Checklist for further details. If considering the installation of a ground heat pump system, you will need to provide (as a minimum) the following information to Laois County Council: • Existing and proposed ground levels in the vicinity of the system. • The total area of the heat pump.
- 13 • Plans showing position on the ground. • Brief technical specifications such as power and noise output (as usually supplied by the manufacturer). Biomass Energy Biomass energy is obtained from organic materials such as wood (chips or pellets) or natural oils (e.g. from crops such as rapeseed). This can be burned like a conventional fuel but unlike fossil fuels the equivalent amount of CO2 released during burning is reabsorbed by the new crops and forests replanted after harvesting, resulting in a zero-emission rating. Biofuels are currently 50% cheaper than fossil fuels to run. Wood pellets (highly compressed dried sawdust and bark) from sustainably managed wood sources (e.g. local woodland or specifically grown tree crops) can be burned in modern, computercontrolled boiler plant to provide space and hot water heating. A wood pellet boiler is relatively easy to install, and there is very little adjustment needed to existing plumbing if converting from a conventional system. Water Recycling Recent concerns over dwindling reserves of groundwater, increasing costs of domestic water supply, and costly sewage treatment plants have generated renewed interest in the recycling of domestic water. Techniques that need to be considered at the site planning stage for reducing domestic water consumption include: METHOD DESCRIPTION Water butt A simple, low cost method for collecting rainwater from the roof and storing it for use in the garden instead of public water. Rainwater harvesting This provides an efficient and economic means for utilising the rainwater coming from roofs to supply toilets, washing machines and irrigation systems. Greywater recycling This enables slightly polluted water from the bath, shower and washbasin to be reused in the house (e.g. for toilet flushing, in the washing machine, watering the garden or for cleaning purposes). Proprietary systems comprise modular tanks, above or underground, gravity fed by the greywater. The clarified clean water is direct pressure fed back through the house or to an outside tap for re-use. The benefits of water recycling include: • Rainwater harvesting (including some versions of grey-water recycling) displaces a large proportion of the water that would otherwise need to be provided by the mains supply. • Typically a household can expect to save up to 50% of their mains water needs, significantly reducing overall water supply costs. • In more remote areas, rainwater can provide for an off-mains supply, which can be up-graded to fully drinkable standard (potable) by using non-chemical ultra-violet sterilisation.
- 14 • Rainwater recycling can form part of an attenuation and rainwater management scheme, by reducing storm-water runoff and controlling the flow-rate off site. If considering a rainwater recycling system, you should take into account: • For rainwater collection, the external drainage of the roof needs to be designed to bring the water to a central point. • Access for an underground storage tank and excavation is required. • Internal plumbing should usually separate out the drinking (including bathing) water from the nondrinking water (WC, washing machine, outside tap). Surface Water Drainage All domestic buildings should be provided with a drainage system to remove surface water from the roof, or other surfaces where rainwater might accumulate (such as paved areas). Surface water discharge should be carried out to a point of disposal that will not endanger the building, environment or the heath and safety of people in the vicinity. The preferred method of discharge is the Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS), which comprises - • Filter strips and swales; • Filter drains and permeable surfaces; • Infiltration devices; or • Basins and ponds. SUDS can be designed to fit into most rural settings and a variety of design solutions are available to suit the specific site conditions. If the site cannot drain to an infiltration system, it may be necessary to discharge to a water course. Where this is not feasible, surface water should discharge to the nearest storm-water sewer. The discharge of storm-water from roofed and paved areas to a foul water sewer or onto the public road is not permitted. Proportion and Set-back At an early stage it is essential to consider the proportion of the proposed house in relation to both the size of the available site as well as the size of existing buildings in the surrounding area. The proposed house will also need to be set-back a suitable distance from the public carriageway. The set back distance will vary according to plot size, adjacent building lines and the natural features of the site. The size of a new dwelling should be suitably proportioned to its plot and of a similar scale as any existing houses in the area. The new building should be arranged to respect the privacy of neighbours and to avoid any over-looking. The height of a new building further affects the suitable set-back distance - a singlestorey or small dormer house may require less separation from the road than a large dormer or 2-storey house. In areas of existing housing, the set-back distance should be varied from that of its neighbours so as to avoid the repetition that may otherwise occur from a linear series of buildings. The set-back on sites that are elevated, exposed or in sensitive locations will need to be determined according to individual visual assessment. Vehicle Access and Parking The space around the new building should be considered as an integral part of the site layout, not as an afterthought. In particular: • All parking requirements should be met on site and off road. • Aim to achieve simple entranceway treatments.
- 15 • Vehicle access and provision for parking should not dominate the site. • The driveway should preferably be indirect, gently crossing the natural contours of the site or curving subtly around existing site features, as opposed to taking a harsh straight line from the road. • Surface materials should be sympathetic to the rural character of the site (such as gravel with soft edges as opposed to tarmac with pre-cast concrete kerbs). • Frontage parking should be avoided and instead provided to the side or rear of the house. • Where the garage is attached, it should be subservient to the scale of the building. Boundaries Destruction of existing roadside boundaries should be avoided, except to the limited extent necessary to create an entrance to the new house. Such features are highly important to the landscape - their removal may also lead to potential traffic hazard by inviting parking directly on the roadside. New road boundaries and entrances need to be designed sympathetically, especially where several different frontages are adjacent to one another: • Entranceways should be kept to a minimum width - with sight lines designed according to standards set out in the County Development Plan. • New front boundaries should be restricted to a simple range of materials that are already common to the area, such as hedgerows, sod and stone banks and stone walls. • Gateways should also be simple, constructed from timber or metal and defined by restrained piers of stone or painted render. • For large houses constructed on substantial plots, higher standards for piers, splay walls and gates may be appropriate. • For side boundaries, existing hedgerows are preferable, or simple timber fencing with new hedge planting. • Suburban ranch-type fences, concrete block walls, and the regimented use of fast-growing conifers should be avoided. • Vehicle access and parking should be treated as an integral part of the site layout. Garden Design The importance of respecting the landscape context and the need to link the new house with its surroundings in a positive manner is crucial in terms of best accommodating a new building in the countryside. This can
- 16 best be achieved by retaining existing vegetation on the site, appropriate boundary treatments and new garden design. Use existing site features to help absorb the building and/or undertake new planting of mostly native species to provide a strong landscape structure. Principles to be considered include: • Retain all trees, hedgerows and other existing features (e.g. streams, rock outcrops) to provide a framework for the garden. • Avoid large expanses of manicured lawns and suburban style gardens with exotic species; these often detract from their more natural surroundings and do not provide suitable habitats for wildlife. • Plant the space between the house and the front boundary with trees in informal clumps. • Create new hedgerows of mixed native species. • Trees and shrubs which are indigenous to the locality will be easier to establish than more exotic species, and will be in keeping with the character of the area. • On exposed sites, consider more substantial shelter planting of native trees to help reduce the effects of cold winds and driving rain, whilst also increasing privacy. • Use hard elements (paths and walls) to sensitively sub-divide the garden and to link it with the landscape setting. • Incorporate practical needs sensitively into the overall design of the site, such as fuel and refuse storage areas, a compost/recycling area, clothes drying area, and a safe place for children to play. All applications for a new house in the countryside should be accompanied by a comprehensive landscape plan as part of any application, showing existing features to be retained and landscaping proposals (both hard and soft elements). BUILDING, SCALE & FORMS Traditional house design The traditional buildings of the county tended to be very simple, with little or no decorative detailing and built of a limited range of locally available natural materials. Many were only one room deep, giving a narrow rectangular plan form, which could be extended sequentially, and with consistent roof pitches. The addition of byres and ancillary buildings, with lean-to and split level roofs, onto the gable ends of houses was common, adding variety and visual interest to the simple rectangular form. STEP 4 Design The House Building scale and form Elevational treatment Materials & Colour Roofs and Chimneys Fenestration Windows and Doors
- 17 It is important to consider how the scale and form of a proposed new dwelling will affect the setting, its visibility in the landscape, and its relationship to nearby buildings. It is essential that the new building is designed to properly fit the site. The traditional linear plan form provides a versatile shape that is equally applicable to contemporary buildings. Rectangular narrow forms can adapt to most plot sizes and different landforms - running along a slope, stepping down a slope, or enclosing spaces such as courtyards - and are readily distinguished from their suburban counterparts. A dwelling with a large deep plan usually results in an over-scaled building with an expansive roof of shallow pitch. This is one of the reasons why bungalows often appear to be an inappropriate building design - they almost invariably are out of scale and incongruous to the countryside context. Modern house design New house design needs to be respectful of the past while also reflecting modern lifestyles and advanced building technologies in innovative ways. Many new dwellings have been designed in a far too fussy’ and over complicated manner. These are often selected from pattern books, using imitation detailing and materials that are unsympathetic to a rural area - particularly when adjacent properties vie for attention, rather than sitting comfortably in the landscape. Laois County Council promotes the contemporary design of new houses in the countryside where it satisfies the principles set out in this Guide. Good design is not just subjective - if issues such as proportion, scale, form and massing are skilfully handled, together with respect for context, the resultant building will inevitably appear appropriate or ‘good’. The general approach should be one of simplicity, avoiding overelaboration of elevational treatments and using a restricted palette of details and materials. Bungalows The single-storey bungalow, now allpervasive in rural areas, was for the most part influenced by foreign suburban house catalogues of the 1960s and early- 1970s.
- 18 Poorly designed and sited bungalows can represent an inappropriate building type in rural areas. Contemporary Alternatives The traditional single-storey house can be reinterpreted in many different ways in response to the brief, the landscape context and the size and configuration of the plot. By following the general principles set out in the Guide, it is possible to achieve an innovative design solution for a variety of single-storey house sizes which meets your living needs and respects the local character of the countryside. Dormer Houses The dormer house evolved from the bungalow during the 1960s onwards in response to gaining more accommodation in the roof. Many were derived from patternbook designs, resulting in an uninhibited range of mostly suburban forms and styles frequently comprising of irregularly shaped roofs, asymmetrical elevations, use of artificial materials and elaborate detailing. When combined with poor siting within expanses of lawn, the dormer house usually appears alien to its rural surroundings. Contemporary Alternatives The dormer house can provide a suitable building type in the countryside but the design needs to be carefully considered so as to avoid over-complicated roof planes and eaves lines. In many cases, depending on the design requirements and the context of the site, a 2- storey building may be preferable. Where dormers are proposed, they can often be best located on the rear (private) roof slopes as opposed to the public front of the dwelling. Traditional eaves dormers are the preferred form, simply detailed to suit the style of the house. Rooflights should be considered to avoid a proliferation of dormers and in preference to mid-roof dormers. Two-storey Houses Numerous two-storey houses in a wide variety of styles have been recently constructed throughout the County to meet the growing demand for living in the countryside. Many of these may make reference to traditional forms, but frequently they appear over-scaled or unnecessarily elaborate in their detailing.
- 19 Contemporary Alternatives The main design emphasis for 2-storey houses should be to reduce the mass of the floor plan (especially for large houses) so as to avoid irregular boxy building shapes that may not sit comfortably on their sites. The narrow rectangular plan house does not result in overly high or shallow pitched roofs, and allows subservient additions and extensions to the main structure. On hilly and undulating sites, the narrow plan form reduces the need for an excavated platform and enables the building to more fully respond to the natural contours of the site. ELEVATIONAL TREATMENT Great care and attention to detail is needed to ensure that new buildings enhance rather than detract from the landscape. Generally: • Avoid ‘off-the-shelf’ designs and use of inappropriate standard materials. • Avoid using ‘images’ of past architectural styles, such as medieval leaded lights, mock Georgian porticos and doors, ornamental barge boards and half timbering. • Take care not to overuse ornamental detailing such as coloured brick banding, applied quoins and unusual window shapes. Materials Wherever possible, building materials that are more sustainable should be used, including: Try to avoid: • Complexity in design • Boxy, irregular plan forms • Shallow pitched roofs • Complex elevations • Horizontally proportioned or arched windows • Over-use of artificial materials • Overhanging roof verges and barge boards AIM TO ACHIEVE - Simplicity in design Rectangular, narrow plan forms Consistent roof slopes Limited variation to front elevation Well proportioned windows and doors Quality, predominantly natural materials Minimal ornate decoration
- 20 MATERIALS TYPES Natural raw materials ✓ unfired earth/clay blocks; ✓ clay tiles; ✓ slates; and ✓ wooden fibreboard as a more sustainable alternative to concrete based products. Insulation sheep's wool, flax and hemp which can be used as a natural fibre insulation material. Timber sourced from well managed forests. Lime-Based Mortar and Render which gives flexibility and allows the masonry to breathe. Render can be self coloured. Natural Paints based on plant oils and extracts and simple minerals. Glazing double glazed 'E glass' has an invisible metallic coating that reflects the heat back into the room. Contemporary materials such as copper and zinc can be successfully combined with timber, glass, slate, rendered and painted blockwork to create attractive houses. Although many traditional houses were constructed from stone, they almost always had a painted plaster finish (except for grand classical houses or the more important civic buildings). In new houses, stone should be used in a restrained manner to provide contrast and, in suitable locations, to help integrate the building with the landscape. In contemporary houses, the skilful use of stone can provide an attractive interplay of ‘solid’ and ‘light’ materials. Natural stone garden and boundary walls can be especially effective in linking the new house with the landscape. In all cases where stone is used it should be sourced from the locality. A random mix of materials such as brick, stone and concrete should be avoided. Artificial materials, including pvc doors, windows, eaves and weatherboarding, fibre cement slates and concrete roof tiles should generally be avoided. Colours The colour of a new building should aim to blend with the local landscape. Bold, vivid colours should be avoided, especially on walls and roofs. Generally the use of ‘earthy’ colours that complement the natural hues of the countryside will be most appropriate for large surfaces (walls). Roof should appear darker than the walls. Whites, off-whites, light greys and ochres were often the dominant colours for walls of traditional buildings, and can effectively offset more brightly painted elements such as doors. Windows and their surrounds should preferably also be muted in colour. Roofs and Chimneys • Roofs can be the most dominant element of a building when seen in the landscape, especially from elevated view points. • Roofs on new houses should aim to be simple and consistently pitched. • Roofs that oversail the external walls should be avoided, unless an integral part of a contemporary design. Natural roofing materials
Source Laois County Council: Rural Design Guide (County Development Plan 2021–2027, appendix 7) (2021) · 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.