Rural Design Advice for Individual Houses

1. Page 31

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   C o u n t y L i m e r i c k : R u r a l D e s i g n A d v i c e f o r I n d i v i d u a l H o u s e s i n t h e C o u n t r y s i d e 27. P L A N N I N G T H E S I T E 4. 4. Context General Design Principles Scale, Building Line and Set-back Building Form and Proportion Topography Building Orientation Sustainable Site Planning Vehicle Access and Parking Boundaries Garden Design Site Planning Checklist Planning the Site

2. Page 32

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   C o u n t y L i m e r i c k : R u r a l D e s i g n A d v i c e f o r I n d i v i d u a l H o u s e s i n t h e C o u n t r y s i d e 28. P L A N N I N G T H E S I T E4. Context The new country house reflects a renewed sense of optimism and confidence about rural life. It reflects the desires and preferred lifestyles of an increasing number of people looking for a combination of the pastoral and the provincial. The country house has always been related to ideas of status, class, wealth and aspirations of the owner—it is not just a home, but often a symbol of success, privilege and social position. To build houses that complement the different landscape characters of County Limerick requires a sympathetic and understanding eye, together with construction skill and craftsmanship. The numerous pattern-book examples of new houses too often demonstrate the consequences of inappropriate styling and design. Houses are often designed in a far too fussy and overcomplicated manner, using ‘imitation’ materials, under the misconception that this will create an acceptable ‘rural’ effect. The outcome is invariable ‘suburban’, with new housing that appears awkward within its surroundings, especially when adjacent properties vie for attention, rather than unobtrusively settling into the landscape. Whereas the grand country house sought to dominate the landscape, the new country house can take the opposite approach by seeking to integrate with the landscape - the setting becomes the inspiration and organising force around the design of the building. The new country house seeks a comfortable place within the landscape - context is everything. 37. 38.

3. Page 33

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   C o u n t y L i m e r i c k : R u r a l D e s i g n A d v i c e f o r I n d i v i d u a l H o u s e s i n t h e C o u n t r y s i d e 29. P L A N N I N G T H E S I T E 4. General Design Principles New house design needs to respond not only to the context of individual sites (as described in the previous Section), but should also reflect modern lifestyles and advanced building technologies. The objective of this Design Advice is to promote high quality design in the countryside that is innovative and firmly of its time, while respecting and contribute ng to the character of the area within which it is located. The design of new buildings in the countryside presents an opportunity for re-examining some of the trends that have dominated traditional and more recent influences, so as to arrive at a fresh approach to design that is contemporary while being respectful of the past. This Design Advice cannot provide a ‘blueprint’ for good design, as this in itself would result in standardisation and lack of innovation. Instead it sets out a number of basic principles aimed at achieving more appropriate and good-mannered rural buildings. Foremost of these is context, followed by issues such as proportion, form scale and massing, which all need to be carefully considered in relation to the site and its neighbours. In most cases it is recommended that the services of a qualified architect are sought to deal not only with the design of the house, but also to understand the constraints and steer the development through the planning requirements, thereby speeding-up the house building process. Examples of award-winning rural Irish houses (this page and previous) illustrating well-considered design solutions, providing modern living requirements that respect the context of the site in terms of siting, proportion and landscaping, while combining an appropriate mix of traditional and contemporary building styles and materials. The main approach should be to reinvent the country house and develop a new rural architecture for the 21st century, rather than simply remodelling or recreating the methods and manners of the past 39. 40. 41.

4. Page 34

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   C o u n t y L i m e r i c k : R u r a l D e s i g n A d v i c e f o r I n d i v i d u a l H o u s e s i n t h e C o u n t r y s i d e 30. P L A N N I N G T H E S I T E4. Scale, Building Line and Set-back At an early stage it is essential to consider the scale of the proposed house in relation to both the size of the selected plot and the size of existing buildings in the vicinity. Achieving an appropriate scale of a new building in the countryside is one of the most important considerations of the site planning process. A large house located in a landscape of small field patterns or within an area of existing small houses will appear incongruous and over-bearing, whereas a small house isolated within a large plot surrounded by open landscape will appear equally out of place. Generally, a large house needs an adequately-sized plot that is capable of comfortably accommodating it, and is in proportion with the surroundings. New houses will need to be set back an acceptable distance from the road to provide adequate frontage for planting and to reduce the visual impact of development. In areas of existing housing, the set back distance should generally be varied from that of its neighbours so as to avoid the repetition that may otherwise arise from a linear series of buildings. Generally, a minimum set back of 20 metres from the nearest edge of road surface will be required along County and Regional roads and a set back of 30 metres along National Primary and National Secondary roads. Along New National Primary Roads a set back of 90 metres may be required (although the new development may be located closer if it can be demonstrated that acceptable noise levels can be achieved). In all cases the amenities of nearby residents need to be fully considered. Careful consideration also needs to be given to the scale of proposed building in relation to its neighbours. A large house should not be placed in proximity to a small one, and conversely a new small house insensitively located can detract from the appearance of an established large house. In all cases, the new building should be arranged to respect the privacy of neighbours and to avoid any over-looking. Over-scaled in relation to plot and distance from road Typical set-back Under-scaled and exposed in relation to plot size Adequately set-back from road and absorbed by planting Scale and Set-back Considerations Size of a new house should be suitably proportioned to its plot and not overwhelm smaller scale neighbours

5. Page 35

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   C o u n t y L i m e r i c k : R u r a l D e s i g n A d v i c e f o r I n d i v i d u a l H o u s e s i n t h e C o u n t r y s i d e 31. P L A N N I N G T H E S I T E 4. Building Form and Proportion New houses in the countryside should aim to reflect the simple traditional forms, while adapting to meet modern needs. Overall, a building’s proportions are determined by the envelope (the width, height and depth of walls) together with the roof pitch (angle). Traditional rural buildings have a wide frontage and narrow plan, which controls their scale and proportions and results in a constant roof pitch. Altering the proportions of the plan, while retaining the same roof pitch, quickly leads to a less appropriate building form. For most new rural houses, simple, familiar forms will appear most appropriate. The general aim should be to adapt the best from the local elements and to interpret shapes and sizes in a contemporary manner. Achieving the right proportions of a new building is an essential prerequisite of successful design. Where necessary the apparent size of a house can be reduced by breaking down the plan footprint into smaller elements, thereby decreasing the overall scale of building and providing the opportunity for a more interesting built form. A rectangular floor plan maximises light and circulation and, with additions that are subservient to the main block, presents a flexible template that can be interpreted and refined in a variety of contemporary ways. The solutions are almost limitless and need to be determined by the owners brief for the new house, the landscape context, and the detailed siting considerations as set out previously in this Design Advice. A well-proportioned contemporary house Simple grouping of building forms Avoid over-scaling traditional form and altering roof pitch to suit Avoid “façade” architecture of all types and periods In all situations, new house design must be in accordance with current Irish building regulations (refer Appendix 2). This can require skilful interpretation of standards to achieve the best proportional relationships and design solutions to sometimes competing objectives. 42.

6. Page 36

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   C o u n t y L i m e r i c k : R u r a l D e s i g n A d v i c e f o r I n d i v i d u a l H o u s e s i n t h e C o u n t r y s i d e 32. P L A N N I N G T H E S I T E4. Simple dominant form with additions Awkward junctions and additions to be avoided Continuous eaves accentuate linear form Twin “M” ridges reduce excessive depth and overall bulk Avoid deep complex plans giving a dominant boxy form, unresolved extensions, disproportionate gabling and ‘foreign’ hip detailing A new rural house needs to effectively satisfy a wide range of design criteria and building standards 43. 44.

7. Page 37

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   C o u n t y L i m e r i c k : R u r a l D e s i g n A d v i c e f o r I n d i v i d u a l H o u s e s i n t h e C o u n t r y s i d e 33. P L A N N I N G T H E S I T E 4. Topography Positioning of a new building in undulating and hilly areas needs careful consideration to allow a practical house design which does not look out of place. Buildings that break or disrupt the skyline should be avoided. Instead the natural folds of the local topography should be used to help absorb the new house. Naturallyoccurring shelves or the gentlest part of a slope should be selected wherever possible in order to minimise earth moving and to avoid excessive scarring of the landscape. Sloping sites can also present the opportunity for creating an innovative solution to house design without detracting from the character of the hillside. By responding to the difference in levels in a creative manner, a distinctive stepped construction can be achieved which can be far more appropriate than the use of artificially-created platforms. In such situations the narrowest elevation of the building should face down the hill, avoiding the need for excessive cut and fill. Careful shaping of the land around the building, with a preference for cut rather than fill, can also help it blend more successfully with the surroundings while creating further shelter. Excess fill should be either removed or carefully graded to suit the natural slope of the hillside. In flatter and low-lying areas the position of the building on its site needs to take full account of views from surrounding areas and the means for creating privacy and enclosure. Retaining existing features, building setback from the front of the site and the treatment of the boundaries are all of special importance in such areas. A new building should respond positively to a sloping site Avoid over-excavation or creating an artificial plateau Let the natural slope of the land dictate the building form Contemporary building forms can adapt to sloping sites in innovative ways

8. Page 38

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   C o u n t y L i m e r i c k : R u r a l D e s i g n A d v i c e f o r I n d i v i d u a l H o u s e s i n t h e C o u n t r y s i d e 34. P L A N N I N G T H E S I T E4. Building Orientation Orientation is concerned with the location of the proposed house in relation to views (both to and from the site) and to the elements (wind direction and path of the sun). The most acceptable site layout needs to achieve a number of often conflicting considerations, such as views and prospects, climate, shelter, privacy, and minimising impact on the surroundings. Whereas orientating a house to take full advantage of views can be of benefit to the owner, this may well result in the house being over-conspicuous in the landscape. Sometimes a partial or glimpsed view outwards may suffice, framed by vegetation or the local topography. Elsewhere it may be necessary to orientate the house so that just a specific part of it has access to the view (e.g. from a gable end). A thorough site appraisal is required to ensure that views both of and from the property are considered from a variety of different vantage points. Building form arranged to create shelter and privacy Sustainable Site Planning Being more efficient in how we use energy in our daily lives can strongly influence the selection of a site. Many decisions affecting the energy performance of a house need to be taken early in the site planning and design process. Considering increased energy efficiency at an early stage can also have immediate benefits such as:  Saving money on electricity and heating bills;  Creating a more comfortable and convenient home; and  Making a vital contribution to reducing climate change. Energy Performance The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings requires every home for sale or rent in Ireland to be rated as to its energy performance. This must be determined and demonstrated in two distinct ways - all new dwellings must address both:  Building Regulations  Technical Guidance Document - L The Building Regulations require that all houses are constructed to minimum standards of materials, workmanship, services and energy consumption. The Technical Guidance Documents (TGD) give instruction and guidance on the manner in which compliance with the building regulation can be made. TGD – L concerns energy use and CO2 emissions from buildings. The primary method of demonstrating compliance with the building regulation under TGD – L is by minimising CO2 emissions associated with energy consumption in the building. The method of determining the energy and CO2 performance is the Domestic Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP). Building Energy Rating The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings requires every new home constructed, sold or rented must be rated as to its energy & CO2 performance. New houses constructed after 2007 should have a BER of B1 or better.

9. Page 39

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   C o u n t y L i m e r i c k : R u r a l D e s i g n A d v i c e f o r I n d i v i d u a l H o u s e s i n t h e C o u n t r y s i d e 35. P L A N N I N G T H E S I T E 4. Traditional grouping of buildings for natural internal shelter Building Location and Form Traditionally buildings in the countryside were positioned to take advantage of available shelter, such as natural folds in the landform, orientating the building in relation to prevailing winds and the path of the sun, and using sheltered areas next to woodlands. Such factors are equally relevant to present day houses for energy conservation reasons. A detached house in the countryside can present a large exposed surface area that needs to be carefully considered in relation to energy efficiency. Layouts should try to avoid any unnecessary exposure to the elements and the new building positioned to take account of the prevailing wind direction (particularly from the south-west) and to create a good micro-climate. A compact building form is best for reducing heat loss. A rectangular building with one of the longer facades facing south can allow for increased solar heating, day-lighting and natural ventilation. Pitched roofs should also have one slope orientated south to allow for optimum performance of a roof-mounted or roof-integrated active solar heating system. Orientate the uses of the house to maximise on solar gain. Tree and hedge screening Prevailing winds Garage, storage, services Study, office, kitchen Kitchen, breakfast, bedroomsDay - living, conservatory, patio E W N S Evening - living, sitting Creating Shelter:  Use existing natural features of the site to help protect the building from the elements.  Arrange the site to guide the wind over and around the building.  Use the house, out-buildings and garden walls to create a more enclosed micro-climate.  Introduce shelter planting of native species to help dissipate the wind.  Retain existing boundaries such as hedgerows, stone walls or earth and stone banks. Internal Layout Organise the internal layout of the house to make best use of sunshine and daylight - locate the most used rooms on the south side and least used rooms to the north side. As well as reducing energy costs and lowering fuel bills, sunny south-facing rooms have high amenity value. Try to minimise projections such as bay and dormer windows, which increase the surface-tovolume ratio of a building and thereby increase heat loss. They also tend to be more difficult to insulate effectively. 45.

10. Page 40

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    C o u n t y L i m e r i c k : R u r a l D e s i g n A d v i c e f o r I n d i v i d u a l H o u s e s i n t h e C o u n t r y s i d e 36. P L A N N I N G T H E S I T E4. Award-winning family home based on sustainable design principles, including sheltered location, use of a ground source heat recovery system, high levels of thermal insulation, maximum use of natural lighting, and maintenance-free materials. The total aperture of solar panels should not exceed 50% of the total roof area. 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 emissions. For further details refer to Sustainable Energy Ireland publications (e.g. ‘Your Guide to Building an Energyefficient Home’) and to the Limerick Clare Energy Agency (LCEA) website for available publications and useful sources of information. The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government has published amendments to the Exempted Development Provisions of the Planning & Development Regulations 2001, in respect of microrenewables for domestic use. The exemptions are a welcome guide to the inclusion of renewable energy technologies. The exemptions will apply to:  Solar thermal panels, up to 12 m2 (with conditions);  Solar PV panels up to 12 m2 (with conditions);  Heat Pumps, various types (with conditions);  Small Wind turbines & masts (with conditions); and  Biomass boilers & storage facilities (with conditions). Please Note: Exemption from planning does NOT excuse you from the proper design and installation of micro renewable equipment, and in particular from very strict technical requirements for the installation of electrical micro generation equipment. The Limerick Clare Energy Agency would draw your attention to the following requirements and recommends that you comply fully with them:  A competent person should accurately size the micro renewable installation, contributing to the thermal or electrical requirements of the building;  A competent person should install the micro renewable equipment, storage equipment and controls. Connections to the buildings electrical system must comply with the latest standards of the Electro Technical Council of Ireland (ECTI);  Where such micro electricity generation equipment may be connected to the Electricity Supply Grid (directly or indirectly), connections to and from the building electrical system must comply with the latest standards of the Electro Technical Council of Ireland, and comply with the interface protection settings of the G10 standard (Annex A of EN50438);  A license (permission) will be required to export electricity to the public grid, even if you are exporting it free of charge; and  Failure to comply with the technical regulations outlined above could endanger the life of electrical repair persons, and may expose you to sever financial penalty. 46.

Source Limerick City and County Council: Rural Design Advice for Individual Houses (July 2012) · 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.