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Many local planning authorities provide guidelines outlining good practice to be followed when locating a dwelling house in the countryside - Leaving Cert Construction Studies - Question 6 - 2006
Question 6
Many local planning authorities provide guidelines outlining good practice to be followed when locating a dwelling house in the countryside. (a) Discuss in detail t... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Many local planning authorities provide guidelines outlining good practice to be followed when locating a dwelling house in the countryside - Leaving Cert Construction Studies - Question 6 - 2006
Step 1
Discuss in detail three planning guidelines that you consider should be observed when locating a dwelling house in the countryside.
Answer
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Impact on the rural landscape:
- It is crucial to evaluate the orientation and placement of the house relative to traditional homes. Positioning the entrance to one side and utilizing existing hedgerows can help maintain visual continuity.
- Use materials such as local gravel for driveways and avoid heavy tarmacadam to reduce visual intrusion.
- Retain natural land features such as trees and hedgerows, and avoid overtly modern or industrial facades to ensure harmonious integration.
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Traditional building forms, scale and features:
- The form of new dwellings should reflect local architectural styles, with simple, proportional designs. For instance, maintaining low eaves and a narrow plan can help blend the building into the landscape.
- Buildings should not exceed a height that disrupts the skyline; utilizing traditional roofs and scales can create a sense of place and balance with surroundings.
- Incorporating traditional materials such as stone or timber can support visual coherence.
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Landscaping of the site:
- The landscape should frame the dwelling, incorporating and preserving existing trees and shrubs to enhance biodiversity and shelter.
- Avoid introducing invasive species and instead employ native plants that contribute to local ecosystems.
- Setback from the road should be designed to limit visual impact, and the design should maintain the natural topography of the site.
Step 2
Using notes and freehand sketches, outline in detail two proposals that would minimise the visual impact of the newly built house and thus help integrate the house into the landscape.
Answer
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Proposal One: Strategic Planting
- Incorporate dense native hedging along the property lines to provide a natural screen against the house. This would help soften the visual impact and provide habitats for local wildlife. The design should feature a mixture of shrubs and small trees that maintain the natural look of the countryside.
- Use evergreens to maintain year-round cover and visibility protection from critical view angles.
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Proposal Two: Earth Mounding
- Create gentle earth mounds around the foundation of the house to help it blend into the landscape. This would effectively lower the visibility of the building by raising the surrounding ground level slightly.
- Include wildflower planting on the mounds to encourage local biodiversity and aesthetic appeal.