Housing in the rural Irish landsacpe

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    • December 17, 2002 at 4:33 pm #705891
      Billiam
      Participant

      I am currently researching a dissertation on the subject of housing in the rural Irish landscape. I would really appreciate reading people’s views/advice on the following issues:

      -Examples where new housing has successfully been integrated into existing rural settlements in Ireland (or abroad)

      -Approaches to gaining community involvement in the planning of new development in a village, examples of where this has been successfully implemented and the type of architecture produced.

      -I was also wondering if any research has been done into Irish identity and architecture i.e. peoples’ associations with their built heritage, especially vernacular dwellings? Do designers/conservationists and the general public share the same values/desires?

      I would be very grateful of any insight you could provide on these matters, and perhaps any information on publications I should read or people I should contact.

      Thanks!

    • December 17, 2002 at 5:28 pm #723546
      N3
      Participant

      Have you looked at a book by Niall McCullough and Valerie Mulvin called “A Lost Tradition: The Nature of Architecture in Ireland” (1897)

    • December 18, 2002 at 12:59 pm #723547
      Billiam
      Participant

      That book has been really useful, N3, but I’m looking for specific examples of where an attempt has been made to integrate modern housing into a rural context in Ireland, where the vernacular has been interpreted in some way.

      The National Spatial strategy talks about the need to consolidate rural towns and villages. If this is to be achieved, how should the design of new housing be approached?

      One non-Irish example of an approach to combining new with old is the work of Giancarlo de Carlo in Urbino. To determine the design requirements he makes a rigourous analysis of the existing conditions including the needs of the local community. Has such an approach ever been taken in Ireland?

      Is this type of approach suited to Ireland, or maybe something more radical is called for? Perhaps most Irish people have no desire to respect our vernacular past?

    • December 20, 2002 at 3:45 pm #723548
      ED209
      Participant

      Some of the work done by Neil Heggarty, the cork city architect, might be of use to you. Don’t know where you might find it though.

      Merry Christmas to one and all, I am going home.

    • December 24, 2002 at 11:19 pm #723549
      pvdz
      Participant

      Mark Guard architects London, hse in galway, A&U I think. McGarrey Ni Ainigh house in Cavan, A&U for sure. Shay Cleary house in wicklow,very recently in irish architect. Grafton Architects hse in Doolin Co Clare,dunno. Extension to hse in Wicklow, Fagan Kelly Lysagt, recently in Irish architect. O’Donnell & Toumey hse in Co Louth, recent Irish Architect again. Goulding hse in Wicklow, One of the lads from Scott Tallon Walker, also see his own hse, Recent AJ.

      There is a buddist community/village on the edge of a hill overlooking the sea in Castletownbere in Co. Cork, I was there as a child, It seemed amazing then, I dont know who designed it though,

      Also see competition for house for Irish prime minister in 1987, in Phoenix park, so big its practically bloody rural. Entries here from OMA, miss Hadid etc. of course it wasnt built.

      Heres a few to get you started, Most of these are modern interpretations of the old Irish Farmhouse. As you may have deduced by now Irish modern private house building is v. dismal compaired to the continent, its even worse than the UK. Peoples tastes for rural housing are strongly influenced by our colonial past too. I dont know what has been written on this but its definatly worth looking at if you are discussing Irish identity with architecture.
      Good luck

      PS If you do find any interesting books on Colonialist influences on contemporary Irish house building will you post it, thanks

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