Leaving Certificate Social and Scientific Home Design and Management Elective ©PDST Home Economics

 The most common house in rural areas in the early 1800s was the single storey thatched cottage.

 It generally consisted of two rooms, a kitchen and a bedroom.  The walls were constructed from solid stone, the windows were small and the door - usually a half-door, opened into the kitchen.  An open turf fire was used for cooking and to provide heat.  The thatch was of reeds, straw or hay  Some cottages had a room, or loft, directly under the thatch, which was accessed by a ladder, where children slept.

 Better-off farmers lived in large two-storey stone house's with slated roofs.

 Wealthy landowners lived in big estate houses

 In urban areas, Georgian style houses were popular at this time.

 Some were detached but many were two, three or even four-storey terraced houses.  Walls were made of stone covered with a layer of lime plaster.  The houses often had basements  Roofs were slated

 The Georgian house, is a simple classical design based on the architecture of the Greeks and the Romans.  The main features include columns and decorative doorways with a range of fanlights  The rooms had high ceilings with deep cornicing (decorative moldings), architraves around doorways and distinctive fireplaces.

 The suburbs of the larger towns and cities housed the middle classes who lived in small terraced houses. and many shopkeepers lived over their shops

 Ordinary workers lived in single-storey cottages

 Although building slowed during the 1800s there was a move away from the simple classical Georgian style of house to more ornate styles including Gothic and Tudor styles.

The Gothic style  The main features of Gothic architecture include pointed windows, arches and doorways and high- pitched roofs.  Stone continued to be an important building material.

The Tudor style  also included high pitched roofs, plaster panels with timber framing and projecting (bay) windows.

In Rural areas  Two-storey houses with slated roofs became more common,  Improved transportation led to availability of a greater variety of building materials and brick became popular.

 Many of the wealthier families moved from city- centre Georgian terraced houses to newly built houses in the suburbs.

 The Georgian houses were divided, and rented to poorer families, who often lived in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

 The early twentieth century saw a move away from the terraced house to the detached or semi- detached house.

 Council and housing estates were built on the outskirts of towns and cities.  These houses were built of brick with plaster walls.

 As land became more expensive, the houses were usually two-storey’s high.  A common design was used which was less ornate than the Gothic or Tudor styles of the previous century.  Tiles were introduced to replace roof slating.

 During this period 70% of the population still lived in rural Ireland.  The end of the Second World War (1945), rural electrification (1946) and government housing grants brought changes to housing in rural Ireland.  The slate roofed bungalow gradually replaced the thatched cottage of the past.

 Private housing estates using a common design became very popular during the late twentieth century.

 There was huge variety in design in private houses including classical and modern designs.  Building regulations greatly improved housing standards.

 High-rise apartment blocks were built because of the high cost of land.

 Local authorities continued to build housing schemes throughout towns and cities.

 New materials and methods e.g. double-glazing, plastic (PVC) and fiberglass were commonly used.

 Many of the housing styles of the last two centuries can still be seen throughout Ireland.  More people are now classified as urban dwellers (57%).  In towns and cities, many terraced, semi-detached and detached houses can be seen.

 Nowadays, due to a shortage of space, apartment blocks are common.

 Complexes, which include a variety of town houses and apartments, can be found in many towns and cities throughout Ireland.  These complexes are often enclosed behind security gates.

 Housing estates, both private and local authority, continue to be built. Although each housing estate usually consists of one style of house, there are many different styles including single-storey detached, dormer style and two storey semi-detached

 Nowadays, a popular option is to buy and restore old dilapidated buildings. The old style thatched cottage can be found in many tourist areas throughout the country.

 Custom-designed houses, where plans are drawn to the customer’s specifications, are popular when building on a private site.

 A popular method of extending space within houses is to convert attic space and install Velux windows.  Conservatory extensions can be seen on many houses throughout the country.

 Sheltered housing is commonly used for the elderly or disabled.