Design guide · Monaghan County Council
Monaghan Design Guide
The council's guidance on siting and designing a house in the countryside.
Monaghan County Council · 2008 · 105 pages
Ask this document
Answers come only from the text of Monaghan Design Guide, each claim linked to its page. They are not advice; check the page itself.
Free, with a daily limit.
- 1.3 the design PROCESS The diagram below outlines the key stages in the design process. By its very nature a good design process is iterative (circular). It does not follow a simple linear sequence. The diagram below is intended to illustrate those tasks that will generally need to be undertaken if a design project is to result in a successful solution. Many of these occur in tandem. They may need to be re-examined as the brief is refined during the design process. DEVELOP A DESIGN CONCEPT ANALYSING YOUR REQUIREMENTS Define your needs Select your architect Draft an outline brief Select your site APPRAISING THE SETTING Examine the character of the surrounding landscape - topography and vegetation Identify good (and bad) views into and out of the site Assess positive and negative impact on neighbours Assess whether a new house on this site will pose problems of prominence APPRAISING THE SITE Check boundaries Adequate size of site Existing features Access levels Access point/s Exposure/shelter/prevailing winds Orientation issues Opportunities/problems for sustainable developments Existing features Drainage/sewage disposal Constraints (e.g. legal, boundary issues wayleaves etc.) Relationship to adjacent buildings within or beyond the site Existence or absence of mature native species hedge boundaries and/or native broadleaf tress ‘Idea’ Position of dwelling on site Access & circulation Orientation Size & shape Height of house relative to adjacent buildings and setting Internal arrangement of spaces Location of private, sheltered garden spaces Site Layout Detailed floor plan Design of facades Position/size of windows Composition/proportion/size of windows and doors Show all materials and colour Detailed site plan - show existing and new levels, drainage, proposed site planting Detailed drawings for planning consent SCHEME DESIGN
No text on this page — it is probably a drawing, a map, a photograph or a scanned page. See it in the PDF.
- 13 the signature of MONAGHAN 2. The Signature of Monaghan… 2.1 Character & Context 2.2 The Rural Landscape 2.3 Building Typology 2.4 Settlement Patterns 2.5 Materials/Colour 2.6 Potential of Re-using Existing Buildings
- 14 THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION To identify the key ingredients that make up the particular character of the landscape and built environment of rural County Monaghan. WHAT IS CHARACTER? Character is what makes Co Monaghan unique, different from other counties. It is the things that are found in this area and no where else. These include: Natural topography – drumlin landscape interspersed with lakes Indigenous vegetation – trees, hedgerows and shrubs Soil and rock types – these affect colour and type of vegetation Field patterns – small fields with hedge boundaries Building types Local Materials An assessment of character examines the overall aesthetic quality of what we see and assess whether it is pleasing to look at or not. It identifies very special and attractive ingredients in the mix listed previously and signals when the aesthetic quality of some of these things is under threat. Buildings have a huge impact on the character of an area in a way that is disproportionate to the land area they occupy. Changes in building types can dramatically change the character of an area very quickly. What are the key elements of rural housing in Co Monaghan? How do they sit in the County’s countryside? WHY IS CHARACTER IMPORTANT? The particular character of an area is its identity. If an area starts to lose its unique elements, its identity changes. If these elements are lost then the area becomes more homogeneous, and then its character becomes less distinctive. In recent years Monaghan has experienced a standardised architectural approach, with countless architectural limitations littered throughout the rural landscape. This is a loss to the local community and has a negative impact on the County’s unique identity. 2.1 character & CONTEXT
- 15 It is important to identify the patterns of Co Monaghan’s rural character - both past and present to see what lessons can be learnt from them. These lessons can be applied in the design and siting of new houses being built in the countryside today so that we achieve continuity with the main traditional characteristics. This will allow new house types to evolve in response to modern living aspirations. This will reinforce, and where necessary repair, the County’s unique regional identity. HISTORIC CULTURAL CONTEXT Historically three major formative forces1 have been identified as being at work in the making of the built environment within the Irish landscape: Isolation Poverty Colonisation Ireland’s peripheral location on the edge of mainland Europe meant it was relatively isolated from the influence of newly emerging architectural styles on the continent with the result that change came slowly and was often diluted. Within the countryside rural dwellings were also relatively isolated from their neighbours. Widespread poverty across Ireland was reflected in a predominance of small landholdings outside the landed estates, and small scale vernacular architecture. Colonisation brought the influence and wealth of the Ascendancy class. The fine architecture of their large country houses and other estate buildings such as stables, workers’ cottages etc were the result. The impact of industrialisation in the countryside was minor and came in the form of isolated mill buildings, canal and railway architecture. The three forces highlighted above resulted in unique patterns of built development that were quite different from what was happening in mainland Europe2 and gave Ireland its own unique characteristics. Their influences were reflected in the historic rural architecture of Co Monaghan as much as anywhere else. (1 refers to “A Lost Tradition –The Nature of Architecture in Ireland” Niall McCullough and Valerie Mulvin, 1987)
- 16 NEW WAVE OF HOUSEBUILDING We are experiencing what is arguably the most dynamic construction period in the history of the County since the Ulster Plantation. People are expressing their new found wealth in their homes with many making lifestyle choices to build afresh in the countryside. Already it is being transformed quite dramatically. A COUNTRYSIDE WORTH VISITING Much of the new rural housing built in the Co Monaghan countryside during the 1970s and 80s has been unremarkable in terms of design quality. Though these did little to enhance the natural beauty of the place their relatively small size did not dominate the wider landscape to any great extent. However the size and scale of new rural houses within the County has been increasing at an alarming rate. There are numerous examples of recently built houses of poor design quality, enormous size and poor siting that fail to harmonise with the surrounding countryside. Although many are built in high quality materials with expensive landscaping and boundary features, their design shows little regard for their natural surroundings and many detract greatly from the beauty of the wider landscape. In a very short space of time these changes are impacting negatively on the character and identity of the Co Monaghan countryside. The County’s once attractive rural character is being diluted and is under significant threat. PAUL KEOGH ARCHITECTSFRANK O’MAHONY ARCHITECTS
- 17 THE FUTURE There are strong indicators that a new influence is emerging - global warming and depleting world oil reserves. This raises the issue of a sustainable approach to rural development and poses a number of questions and dilemmas. These will be examined in greater detail later in this section. BALANCE It is understandable that people want to live in the countryside; however it is a non-renewable resource. As the density of single houses increases the countryside will eventually lose its character. It is necessary to achieve a balance between facilitating the regeneration of rural communities and protecting the character and aesthetic quality of the countryside. HENCHION REUTER ARCHITECTSMICHAEL KELLY ARCHITECTS
- 18 2.2 the rural LANDSCAPE THE MONAGHAN LANDSCAPE Monaghan contains a rich variety of landscapes, it is a landlocked county bounded by Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh, Cavan, Meath and Louth. The high upland landscapes include the mountain moorland associated with Sliabh Beagh, which supports peatland habitats and a range of water waterbodies and small streams. Other upland landscapes include farmland associated with Mullyash Mountain on the eastern County boundary and a number of isolated rocky outcrops in the southern part of the County. A central low lying chain of Lakelands extend across the entire width of the County from Rockcorry to Castleblayney, dividing higher ground to the north and south. This Lakeland farmland features pastoral landuses and important wetland habitats around the lakes which are fringed with reeds and riparian vegetation. To the north and south of the Lakeland, upland drumlin farmland becomes the dominant land form and use. These elevated landscapes rise above low lying farmland and generally extend in an east west direction across the county. County Monaghan contains extensive river systems including the River Blackwater which is located to the north east and broadly defines the County boundary.
- 19 Further south, the River Finn extends from Smithborough to Clones and Lough Erne in Fermanagh. The principal urban areas located in the north and the west include Monaghan and Clones, located in the foothills of the upland farmland associated with the northern half of the County. Further south, Castleblayney and Ballybay represent the main urban areas located in the low lying Lakeland area. Carrickmacross is characterized by flat plains and drumlins. WHAT IS A LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREA? Landscape character areas are the unique individual geographical areas in which landscape types occur. They share generic characteristics with other areas of the same type but also have their own particular identity. Thirteen Landscape Character Types have been defined within Monaghan County. (For more detailed information refer to the County Monaghan Landscape Character Assessment) BLANKET BOG KEY CHARACTERISTICS Elevated, flat and open, moorland landscape with extensive long range views Peatland habitat cover throughout with no field pattern present or boundary subdivisions Occasionally Loughs Presence of small mountain streams Minor roads present, the edges of which can be lined with wind pruned native shrubs species and Absence of settlements and few if any single dwellings. It is a remote wild landscape setting. Absence of settlements and few if any single dwellings IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT The open and exposed character of these areas with their panoramic views makes them quite sensitive to change, though forestry is the most predominant landuse this is likely to result in a significant landscape change. DRUMLIN FARMLAND KEY CHARACTERISTICS Low lying small to medium sized drumlins predominantly in a north to south orientation A patchwork of predominantly medium sized fields defined typically by native hedgegrows and used for pasture Dispersed small to medium sized Loughs Extensive network of tertiary roads Isolated and small clusters of farm and residential properties Minor roads bounded occasionally by large estates, the boundary definition being cut limestone walling
- 20 IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT An increase in the number of individual residential properties could place pressure on this landscape if sited or designed inappropriately. This landscape contains a proliferation of single dwellings and small clusters of rural housing, generally on a small scale and relatively simple in terms of design detail. These dwellings have not caused significant injury to this landscape and many are well sited in lower lying areas. In a number of locations, particularly on approaches to Monaghan and Carrickmacross, larger developments are evident. A number of small, traditional stone built villages such as Emyvale and Glaslough are prominent in this landscape. Glaslough and Tullyree contain more recently developed residential areas which are simple in design and rendered white. Further development which is out of scale and character may compromise the landscape. DRUMLIN FOOTHILLS KEY CHARACTERISTICS Rising ground with small to medium sized drumlins predominantly in a north to south orientation Mid to long ranging views A patchwork of predominantly small sized well drained fields typically defined by native hedgerows and used for pasture Patches of heath (Calluna spp) and gorse (Ulex spp) Isolated farm and residential properties IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT There are no larger settlements or discrete urban areas within this landscape type. Individual houses grouped with farm buildings are served by tertiary roads and rural lanes. Single rural houses are present in remote locations some of which have had a significant visual impact. Further unchecked development could compromise the integrity of this landscape.
Source Monaghan County Council: Monaghan Design Guide (2008) · 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.