Box extension to front of house in Ireland: pretty or not?

Francis McM

Saw this on tv recently (Sunday night), and wonder what other people think of this as an extension in front of a semi-detached house, in a housing estate where are the other houses are traditional? It is certainly very different.

If these popped up in front of semi-detached houses in your area, what would you think?

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058333902/box-extension-to-front-of-house-in-ireland-pretty-or-not

I'd think you have a serious axe to grind about everything that happens in Room To Improve which you've been espousing over several threads and forums, and it might be best for your own sanity if you stop watching it.

Francis McM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121695342#Comment_121695342

I like much of the inside of the house, it is the outside view from the public road I am not so sure about. Great TV anyway. Do you like the view of the house from the road?

SharkMX

That in your picture is disgusting looking. You dont usually see big extensions on the front of houses. Maybe planning has decided its ok to go that way now, but that is one of the ugliest extensions ive ever seen.

BOHSBOHS

the planning docs and Dermot B mentioned bringing the front out in line with the house next door but the final build appeared to extend out further?

ednwireland

it's awful

Riddle101

Back of the house would be more appropriate because traditionally most house extensions I've seen are usually built in the back so it doesn't look too out of place.

Mrs OBumble

I like it: it gives conformist suburbia a solid kick.

Looks like a flat was removed from a 1970s tower block and dropped into their front garden.

SteM

My mum lives in a council estate where 80%ish of the houses have been bought. The people opposite her did a very similar extension a few years ago but in a mid-terrace, maybe its a little smaller. It looks awful imo, it just doesn't fit in with the original house or its surroundings.

Baybay

It is dreadfully ugly in my opinion but apparently it got PP & the owners are happy. I would not want my house to look like that.

kabakuyu

Not my cup of tea, it extends out too far, how did it get PP?

I have no room to extend out my back, I might have a look at my front garden now.

Francis McM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121695915#Comment_121695915

How did it get planning permission asks you? Well in this drawing it seems to be a different shape, not as high at the front with a different shaped window. The top of the window in the drawing is level as the other first floor windows, and the same size proportion.

Kabakuyu, build your extension out the front, you can build the front wall, and side walls of the front extension, maybe 75 cm or a few feet higher than in the drawing, it'll be grand. Possibly.

https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/Z8Y3096C6HFG/bannon.jpg

whisky_galore

"Very different": diplomatic way of saying fugly.

Boardnashea

The photo above could be very misleading. It is not clear but the top of the extension could be at the same level as the existing house.

thereiver

I think it looks awful not even the same color as the rest of the house

a traditional style door would look better it's fugly design at least the new window lines up with the old windows in the house

It looks too big in comparison with the neighbours house

Francis McM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121696192#Comment_121696192

Not misleading. Here is someone else's photo of the house from a different angle. Note the side wall of the extension where it meets the house - it is about five tiles high.

El_Duderino 09

Probably necessary to let people build non-traditional extensions given the housing shortage. Young people can't buy and rent is sky high so if your kids are going to live with you until their 30s, it makes sense to make more room than you had when they were children.

Lots of examples of couples living together in one of their parents houses. It's just the way things have gone.

It's not pretty, but It's not my business to tell other people how to build their house. Other people’s houses are like other people’s children. No matter how ugly you might think they are, you smile and say they're beautiful.

timmyntc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121696268#Comment_121696268

That looks way worse - like the house grew a tumour

Baba Yaga

its kind of...shite...but thats just my opinion...

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058333902/box-extension-to-front-of-house-in-ireland-pretty-or-not

Really like it. Modern and different. Clearly sets the original house back against the modern add on.

Many older folk won’t like it though. Kinda like touch screens. Afraid of change.

Although that’s a very misleading wide angle photo used in the OP.

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121696675#Comment_121696675

Kind of silly comment. My 72 yo mum dislikes the look of the one built opposite her but doesn't have an issue with a touchscreen on her phone. Not sure why you equated them or why you turned it into an age issue.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121696730#Comment_121696730

Hence, “many”. Your mum obviously is not one of the many. She’s the exception. My 73 year old father in law just bought an EV, but won’t touch an iPhone and he hates the box extension on the house at the back of him!

Same exception. So only silly from your perspective. It’s a different opinion just have to accept it.

timmyntc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121696786#Comment_121696786

Total nonsense generalisations. Many younger folk don't like it - are they all afraid of touchscreens and the modern world too?

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121697104#Comment_121697104

Some of them yes. Dont be so offended. Accept other people’s opinions or you’ll end up very stressed.

Funny how that offended you, yet you have no problem dissing the work amen to some people suffering from actual tumor.

As I said. Don’t stress out over other people’s opinions. You have one, I have one. Both as valid as each other.

OneEightSeven

It's a monstrosity. I would have gotten rid of the hip roof, built a gable roof and converted the attic.

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Strumms

It’s ridiculous looking. Just shows you…. Accommodation shortages / population crisis so anything goes now as far as the politicians and the builders / planners are concerned.

the upstairs isn’t all that bad but mother of fück, the downstairs.

Also I imagine it’s going to be casting shadows and minimising the natural light for the neighbour there to the left as we are looking at the pic.

I wonder was an objection lodged ? Be nuts if they didn’t. I’d have thrown money at a lawyer to get that stopped.. then again it could be a bed sit and that landlord doesn’t care….who knows.

geographica

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058333902/box-extension-to-front-of-house-in-ireland-pretty-or-not

Jesus no thanks

Francis McM

I think the scale, shape and finish of it is totally wrong and out of place too, so that makes it 19 people hate it / do not like it, and 3 people like it, with someone else neutral.

Perhaps if it had been kept smaller ( not as tall ) , like in the planning drawing, and with the window shaped and sized like in the planning drawing, it would have looked better.

we are hardwired to like symmetry so an extension like that is always going to look wrong.