Design Guide for the Siting and Design of Single Houses within the Leitrim Countryside

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   CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Site Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Siting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Design Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Materials and Finishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Site Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Extensions and Conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Dormer Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Gables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Chimneys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Porches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Infill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Appendix 1 - Window Proportions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Appendix 2 - References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Appendix 3 - Supplementary Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Appendix 4 - List of native trees and shrubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Illustrations by local Artist Sandra Vernon

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   INTRODUCTION This guide aims to assist in the siting and design of single houses located within the Leitrim Countryside. It is considered that the traditional Design and Siting of houses within the countryside provides a good reference for contemporary design solutions. This guide points towards traditional design solutions that have tended to be overlooked, given the trends in rural house designs and siting over the past few decades.This is not to suggest that new houses in the Countryside should replicate the traditional designs. The Council encourages innovative house designs and site layouts that harmonise with the landscape and respect well established planning principles. The County Development Plan provides the framework for the planning and control of development within the County. Within certain area of the County, the Plan provides for the operation of stricter planning control measures in order to protect our natural heritage and to ensure the proper use of resources in the interest of the common good. Rural dwellings form part of the landscape and they can under certain circumstances add to the economic and social well being of rural areas. The challenge is to find design solutions that accommodate the needs and reasonable expectations of the present generation without depriving future generations of the best of today’s environment. The principles and guidance set out in this document are presented to assist developers and their agents in devising designs that will be generally acceptable in the rural landscape of County Leitrim.The principles are not prescriptive or absolute. Departure from the principals set out herein will however require full justification. It is recognised that other forms, materials and architectural presentations will suit certain situations. However adherence to the document will generally ensure designs acceptable to the Planning Authority. 1

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   SITE SELECTION Traditional siting of buildings can provide a good reference for future developement. SITES A, B AND C are a poor reference for a future development.These houses are located along the roadside bearing little relationship to their rural setting and giving rise to an undesirable pattern of road frontage development. SITE D is a good reference for a future development.The house is located in a secluded, sheltered location and thereby in harmony with the rural character of the area. SITE E is a visually obtrusive location and one that would extend an undesirable pattern of development. SITE F is a location that would reflect the traditional site selection criteria of the area and would thereby be in harmony with the rural character of the area. 2 3 5

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   SITING In the countryside the house and ancillary buildings should be subservient to the landscape. • Seek a location where the house blends in well into the landscape. • The house should normally nestle in a sheltered location using the landscape and planting as protection. The traditional siting of houses provides a good reference – they normally sought a sheltered location rather than a visually prominent one. • Consider the direction of the prevailing winds, the path of the sun and prospect in the design and siting of the house and ancillary buildings. • Traditionally ancillary buildings were used to cluster and shelter the house and this arrangement could be adopted in the design and layout of modern buildings. • The front building line of the house need not necessarily be parallel to the public road. The building line may be influenced by existing development in the area. 3 5 3

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   • Avoid visually obtrusive locations. The house should not be the prominent feature in the landscape. • Avoid "forcing" the house into the landscape through major earthwork operations and creating landforms that are incongruous with the natural landscape. Seek the gentler part of a slope, or a naturally occurring shelf or fold in order to secure the integration of the house into the landscape. • Avoid locations where the buildings break the sky-line or water line when viewed from the public vantage points. • If exposed to the winds the house will suffer excessive heat loss and discomfort. 4 5

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   5 FORM The practice of using standard designs suburban in character should be avoided and fails to realise the potential of the site. • Simple forms are most successful. • The traditional linear plan form and pitched roof is the most common shape. • Generally roof pitches of 350 to 450 are best. • Single storey designs are generally more appropriate in visually prominent areas. • Large plan areas are best divided into units. • Forms should respect the site contours. • Bulky forms should be avoided. • Forms that are alien to our architectural heritage should be avoided. 5 3

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   DESIGN MODIFICATIONS Details such as roof pitches, window size and shape have been modified to create a house design appropriate for a rural setting. A design of a typical suburban dwelling house can be simply modified to accommodate a rural setting. 6 5 3

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    MATERIALS AND FINISHES The traditional design of houses provides a good reference for modern design solutions. • Enclosed front porches are a feature of traditional houses.They announce the importance of the front entrance and provide shelter. • A painted timber front door of a simple style is worth considering and can provide the house with a sense of individualism character. • Simplicity of elevations is a familiar characteristic of traditional houses in the countryside and should be retained. • Uniform external finishes and traditional elements and features are more successful. • Blue/black slate or flat profile concrete tiles and plain plaster/dash external roof and wall finishes respectfully are, as a general rule, favoured by the Planning Authority. 7 3

Source Leitrim County Council: Design Guide for the Siting and Design of Single Houses within the Leitrim Countryside · 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.