Rural Design Advice for Individual Houses in the Countryside

DESIGNING THE HOUSE5.Building ElementsMaterials and ColoursThe traditional buildings of the County tend to be verysimple in form, with limited decoration, and built of alimited range of locally obtainable materials - slate roofs,rendered walls, painted timber windows and doors. Localstone was used for construction of walls, but oftenconcealed by whitewash or rough harl rendering.Exposed stone construction was reserved foroutbuildings associated with the main house. Goodquality ashlar stonework was rarely used in vernacularbuildings, except for architectural detailing such asquoins, lintels and chimney stacks, mainly in estatecottages and in proximity to quarries. Elsewhere cutstone was reserved for important civic buildings(churches, courthouses, schools, etc.) or for largecountry mansions.Applied 2-dimensional embellishments, such as artificialcladding, quoins and columns, should always be avoidedThe colour of a new building should aim to blend withsurrounding buildings and the local landscape. Bold,vivid colours should be avoided, especially on walls androofs. Generally the use of ‘earthy’ colours thatcomplement the natural hues of the countryside will bemost appropriate for large surfaces (walls). Whites, offwhitesand light greys were often the dominant colours oftraditional buildings, and can effectively off-set morebrightly painted elements such as doors. Windows andtheir surrounds should preferably also be muted incolour.58. 59.57.Simple materials and colours of traditional cottageThe range of contemporary building materials hasincreased greatly in recent years, providing newopportunities for the creative use of natural products.Artificial materials, including pvc doors, windows, eavesand weatherboarding, fibre-cement slates and concreteroof tiles should all be avoided.60.Wherever possible, natural materials that are moresustainable should be used. Timber, glass, slate, plaster,lime mortar, insulation such as sheeps wool, renderedand painted blockwork and the appropriate use of stonecan be successfully combined to create attractivecontemporary houses. Natural materials such as thesewill also allow good ventilation in the home, which hasconsequent health benefits. A random mix of materialssuch as brick, stone and concrete should be avoided.61. 62.63. 64.County Limerick: Rural Design Advice for Individual Houses in the Countryside51.