The Natural and the Built Environment (Leaving Cert Construction Studies): Revision Notes
The natural and the built environment
What is built heritage?
Built heritage refers to the buildings and structures created by our ancestors in their settlements. Understanding these constructions helps us appreciate both historical building standards and modern construction methods.
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) organises Ireland's architectural heritage into four main categories:
The NIAH classification system provides a comprehensive framework for understanding Ireland's diverse architectural heritage, helping preserve and categorise buildings based on their historical function and significance.
- Fortified buildings: castles, defence towers, ringforts, military structures
- Religious structures: cathedrals, churches, shrines, monasteries
- Formal architecture: state institutions, estate homes, public buildings
- Informal architecture: vernacular buildings, rural cottages
Architecture displays different styles and periods that show its development through time. Regional variations also exist depending on location within the country. Today's heritage buildings exist under both private and public ownership.
Understanding settlement
Settlement refers to how communities form when people establish themselves in particular areas. Several key factors influence where people choose to settle, and these factors have remained remarkably consistent throughout human history.
Choosing a settlement location
- Shelter represents a fundamental human need. Throughout history, people have sought and built shelters to provide comfort and protection.
- Fresh water supplies are needed for survival and daily activities.
- Food availability determines whether a community can sustain itself long-term.
- Raw materials for building and industry must be accessible locally.
- Trading routes enable commerce and economic development.
Natural resources significantly influence how settlements develop. For example, the River Liffey and River Suir played major roles in Dublin's and Waterford's early growth.
Once established, settlements typically develop trade and industry. Trading settlements flourish in central locations or where multiple routes converge.
The natural and built environment
The environment encompasses our surroundings, which can be natural, human-made, or a combination of both.
- Natural elements include landscapes, vegetation, water features and geological formations.
- Built elements include structures, roads, infrastructure and modified landscapes created by humans.
The key principle is that natural and built elements should exist in harmony with each other. Successful settlements demonstrate this balance between respecting natural features whilst meeting human needs for shelter and community. This principle remains as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.
Ireland's earliest settlements
Human settlement in Ireland extends back thousands of years. One of the earliest known settlements at Mount Sandel in Coleraine, County Derry, dates to approximately 7000 BC.
Archaeological evidence reveals seven structures at this site. These were circular huts measuring six metres across, featuring a central hearth for fire. The construction techniques used by these early settlers demonstrate adaptation to local resources.
Key Points to Remember:
- Settlement depends on five key factors: shelter, fresh water, food, raw materials, and trading routes
- Natural and built environments must exist in harmony for successful communities
- Built heritage includes fortified, religious, formal, and informal architectural categories
- Ireland's settlement history extends back to 7000 BC with evidence at Mount Sandel
- Early Irish building techniques used local materials like wattle, daub, timber, and thatch