Rural Design Advice for Individual Houses in the Countryside

2.EVOLUTION OF THE COUNTRY HOUSEThe new country house is aresponse to a revitalisedpassion for countrysidelivingLearning from the PastIn recent times the countryside has progressivelybecome a more attractive place in which to live. With thedecline in agricultural employment has come a new typeof rural dweller, with particular requirements and a newform of building.By far the greatest pressure for one-off housing in thecountryside is now urban-generated. The traditional andclassical models that characterised the landscape up tofifty years or so ago have been replaced by differentstylistic elements that do not always respond positively totheir rural context.7.The character of rural County Limerick is defined by itsdifferent landscapes containing a range of traditionalbuildings. For generations people who lived in thecountryside were directly related to or involved in ruralactivities. This was reflected in the design of ruralhouses, dictated by the requirements of shelter, access,drainage, available materials and skills, as well ashistorical and cultural influences.8.Traditional domestic architecture can be simplydivided into two main types, reflecting thecircumstances and social divisions of history – thevernacular cottage descended from medieval andpre-historic roots, and the ‘Classical’ house thatemulated the principles of the EuropeanRenaissance.The formal floor plan, use of materials, white walls,regular windows, pitched roofs, simple details andeconomic use of scarce resources gives a sense ofcontinuity between the smallest cottage and largestcountry house.The traditional buildings of the County tend to be verysimple, and built of a limited range of locally availablenatural materials. Many were only one room deep, givinga narrow rectangular plan form which could be extendedsequentially. The addition of byres and ancillarybuildings, with lean-to and split level roofs, onto thegable ends of single-storey houses was common, addingvariety and visual interest to the simple rectangular form.Traditional two-storey houses were of simple classicalproportions, with symmetrical façade and plan layout,translated from the grand country house through to themore humble farmhouse.Wherever possible, the design of new houses in thecountryside should respect and build upon this strongtradition, while interpreting present domestic needs in acontemporary way that continues to reinforce the builtheritage of the County.6.County Limerick: Rural Design Advice for Individual Houses in the Countryside