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American styled houses in Ireland

  • 04-08-2020 2:54pm
    #1
    dave 27
    Registered Users Posts: 1,206 ✭✭✭


    Hi all, just wanted to find out if anyone has photos of American styled houses built in Ireland?

    I understand they are probably rare enough because of the planning laws etc etc and materials would be different but id love to find out more about them in Ireland if they are being built at all or examples of them here.

    Anyone have any info on this?


Comments

  • #2
    JoeA3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,450 ✭✭✭JoeA3


    I think I know the type of houses you mean, mostly dating from the ‘80’s to early ‘90’s, sprawling large houses, lots of faux add ons, white picket fences, that sort of thing? Or are you talking about something more contemporary?

    The odd one I see like the above looks horribly dated now and very out of place. The planners don’t tend to look favourably on designs like that anymore, same goes for big box dormers, mock Georgian mansions, etc.


  • #3
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,137 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    Rathmichael, D18 has a few.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=rathmichael+site:myhome.ie&tbm=isch

    e.g.

    https://www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/pemberley-castlegate-ferndale-road-rathmichael-dublin-18/4444364
    https://www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/springmount-ferndale-road-rathmichael-dublin-18-d18-v0v8/4273950
    https://www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/nara-ferndale-hill-ferndale-road-rathmichael-dublin-18/4366726

    There's also the Homeleigh estate near Castleknock.

    https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3671135,-6.4002807,3a,75y,319.66h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0jtFTiJ9EpxoXanJNbjVgw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192


  • #4
    dave 27
    Registered Users Posts: 1,206 ✭✭✭dave 27


    Thanks for the replies, it was more traditional style i was thinking of, see below exmples.

    https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/291045194640281042/

    https://www.alamy.com/southern-style-house-american-home-image181135682.html

    Are there any Irish books that incorporate this style or can you even build them with planning?


  • #5
    Thephantomsmask
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,369 ✭✭✭Thephantomsmask


    Annaville in Cork city but it was built in the 30's.

    https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/20866097/the-american-houses-annaville-western-road-gillabbey-cork-cork-city


  • #6
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,830 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    dave 27 wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies, it was more traditional style i was thinking of, see below exmples.

    https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/291045194640281042/

    https://www.alamy.com/southern-style-house-american-home-image181135682.html

    Are there any Irish books that incorporate this style or can you even build them with planning?

    Not out in the countryside.


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  • #7
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,137 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    dave 27 wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies, it was more traditional style i was thinking of, see below exmples.

    https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/291045194640281042/

    https://www.alamy.com/southern-style-house-american-home-image181135682.html

    Are there any Irish books that incorporate this style or can you even build them with planning?

    That style of house makes no sense in Ireland, architecturally. The climate is all wrong for it.

    As looksee posted on the Veranda thread:
    the veranda is part of the main structure, and despite the arguments above is designed to keep light (and thus heat) out of a house, which is why they are less appropriate in Ireland where we mostly have only just enough light.

    And I doubt you would find that style of house in parts of the US which have anything close to Ireland's climate. So it's not really "traditional", since time and space are connected.

    On which subject, which part of the US is closest to Irish climate? In terms of minimum temperatures you can look at "plant hardiness zones", in which Ireland is 9a/9b. Looking at US plant maps, the east coast with Ireland's winter minimums is too hot in summer; going up the west coast northwards to limit summer maximums you get Oregon or Washington State. But it's continental weather so is never going to be directly comparable.

    Anyway, what's Oregon vernacular housing like? This?

    The porch is interesting, though presumably it's for rain rather than sun. :)

    image.png

    As well as climate there's materials (e.g used in the cladding). The history of timber in Ireland (and specifically deforestation of broadleaf forests and eventual replacement with f'ing spruce) is quite fascinating (to me, anyway), a lot of the hardwoods went to ship building I think.

    So the English oak thing never really caught on here, although maybe geology and Brit-induced poverty was another. It was probably cheaper to pay famine labour to dig clay out of the ground (see "Brickfield" on old estate maps) and gather field stone than bother with wood which would rot away in the high humidity.


  • #8
    dave 27
    Registered Users Posts: 1,206 ✭✭✭dave 27


    I understand about the building materials, ive seen near me a house with brick build-up but with a nice front varanda like in the ones i posted which looked so nice and make me to believe they were possibly more common


  • #9
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 54,090 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    There are some houses in Greystones that have the American style veranda around the house:

    b3453b21-a0c4-4ad0-a30d-2a2b89b2657a_m.jpg


  • #10
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,137 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    Ah yeah, those are on Google Maps now.

    https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1476092,-6.0860811,3a,32.6y,357.56h,90.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjGDHFbhG5L7zY2AwASqc0A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

    Every time I drive past them I feel a strong sense of love/hate. They face towards the sea, but I suspect the view will be blocked by the houses being built over the road, which is a main road and so quite busy.

    So what are you supposed to do with that verandah? Sit out watching the cars whizz by?


  • #11
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 54,090 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Lumen wrote: »
    Ah yeah, those are on Google Maps now.

    https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1476092,-6.0860811,3a,32.6y,357.56h,90.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjGDHFbhG5L7zY2AwASqc0A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

    Every time I drive past them I feel a strong sense of love/hate. They face towards the sea, but I suspect the view will be blocked by the houses being built over the road, which is a main road and so quite busy.

    So what are you supposed to do with that verandah? Sit out watching the cars whizz by?

    There's one or two of them that are high up enough that you'd have a nice sea view from your veranda.

    I really like the look of them, they are a bit different to the norm.


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  • #12
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 18,749 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    i don't get the climate argument?

    Al ot of houses in Finland & Sweden look like those American style houses, timber on the outside, verandas all around.
    they are definately not trying to keep the sun out in those countries!

    Maybe you could look at some of the houses from there OP? see if there are plans for them?


  • #13
    booooonzo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 478 ✭✭booooonzo


    bubblypop wrote: »
    i don't get the climate argument?

    Al ot of houses in Finland & Sweden look like those American style houses, timber on the outside, verandas all around.
    they are definately not trying to keep the sun out in those countries!

    Maybe you could look at some of the houses from there OP? see if there are plans for them?

    I've had this discussion with builder mates of mine. they all say "our climate doesnt suit" but i'm not so sure I agree either but i'm no expert..

    I think the Veranda makes such sense and would allow for more out door living in our summers between showers!

    Our house had decking installed when it was all the rage no doubt and then the whole lot was covered over.... at least it's useable most of the time now!


  • #14
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,648 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    Isn't the modern trend of making a garden an outside room just a variation of this.


  • #15
    Dardania
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,612 ✭✭✭Dardania


    bubblypop wrote: »
    i don't get the climate argument?

    Al ot of houses in Finland & Sweden look like those American style houses, timber on the outside, verandas all around.
    they are definately not trying to keep the sun out in those countries!

    Maybe you could look at some of the houses from there OP? see if there are plans for them?

    Having lived in Finland, while the autumn humidity can be high, for the rest of the year it is quite dry. In winter your lips crack easily while there's snow around. TImber is quite a long lasting material there.

    The veranda concept I think could be adapted for here - certainly commercial building use brise soleil which does similar function...


  • #16
    3d4life
    Registered Users Posts: 901 ✭✭✭3d4life


    bubblypop wrote: »
    i don't get the climate argument?

    Al ot of houses in Finland & Sweden look like those American style houses, timber on the outside, verandas all around.
    they are definately not trying to keep the sun out in those countries!...

    Provides some protection for a snow free walkway around the house. ( not just Finland and Sweden either - e.g. traditional alpine chalets )

    Houses with a lot of exposed timber tend to be in dry ( if cold ) climates. For better or worse our 'warm', humid climate promotes timber rot.

    Perhaps in the Irish climate 'concrete built is better built' :D


  • #17
    booooonzo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 478 ✭✭booooonzo


    I noticed in NZ they had massive over hangs on their retail units (and some housing) which was great for the wet weather. Probably more so a necessity with the snow also but worked so well


  • #18
    Tabnabs
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,750 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tabnabs


    3d4life wrote: »
    Provides some protection for a snow free walkway around the house. ( not just Finland and Sweden either - e.g. traditional alpine chalets )

    Houses with a lot of exposed timber tend to be in dry ( if cold ) climates. For better or worse our 'warm', humid climate promotes timber rot.

    Perhaps in the Irish climate 'concrete built is better built' :D

    Typical west of Norway houses are subjected to over two metres of rain per annum. Their summers can be warmer and winters colder, but not incredibly so. The climate argument doesn't stack up.

    My number one concern is not having a project team who can design and detail the house properly to the local climate and a builder competent in all wooden domestic construction.


  • #19
    3d4life
    Registered Users Posts: 901 ✭✭✭3d4life


    Tabnabs wrote: »
    ....My number one concern is not having a project team who can design and detail the house properly to the local climate and a builder competent in all wooden domestic construction.

    Nail on head !

    Meanwhile, some entertainment : https://www.pprune.org/jet-blast/596837-here-we-build-them-wood.html


    <edit>

    In Japan they do it with precision :D

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_PwiyWM9nc


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