Why are new builds all so ugly?

Ubbquittious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119070031#Comment_119070031

The bloody Brits eh?

In some of the poor African countries they barged into they imposed a 'hut tax' to encourage the locals to become """civilised""" and move into Western-style houses

dragonkin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119056308#Comment_119056308

The designs of the first two and the third are basically the same, a long rectangle with a roof on top. The third has too many windows, reminds me of my student accommodation where you always felt on display and the neighbours could see exactly what you were up to.

Im not a fan of the original bungalows but I’d say they’re probably more comfy inside than the more modern version also the colours are more natural, something very stark and minimalistic about the third house,

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119072661#Comment_119072661

the FORM of both are similar, though the first house is hipped.

however the designs couldnt be much different, they are a world apart.

its obvious that the first two are typical bungalow bliss, hallway down the centre, double deep plan form. You can see in the first house that the living room to the front is in the completely wrong place. it has a single aspect most probably facing east (going by the shadows) and it is sandwiched between the entrance hall and whatever that room is to the front left.

the orientation of house two is harder to determine because of the clouds, but its obviously a double deep plan as well, meaning one half of the house is always colder than the other, and probably has to have lights on all day. Assuming the kitchen is most probably in the back right of the photo, because its "cut into" the site, it means youre looking out the window at a concrete wall and grass bank... delightful. its again obvious that there are much better views on the left hand side of the house, yet there was absolutely no attempt to design for these views. its very clearly a house plan dropped onto a site with no consideration for the orientation or topography.

at least house 3 has retained a single room deep plan which allows for that double aspect window in the living space, clearly a large open planned space. the patio is very well considered with no disturbance from cars and looks like a lovely place to be on a sunny day. House 2 has none of this.

"stark and minimal" equates to resolved and considered. trust me, as a designer, "simple" is extremely hard to achieve. a circle is the most perfect, simple form... but how many edges were chipped away to achieve it??

petronius

Seems all architects and designers of new builds and refits have drunk from the same font. Many things seem to be cut and paste from the fashionable designs of today. Grand Designs and Room to improve have a lot to answer. High ceilings to let light in, walkin wardrobes the BS Bingo of architects

Cladding that doesn't age well, they all seem to be taken from an IKEA brochure, with house interiors that look like your office, decking that will last a few winters (how environmentally unfriendly), gardens without grass (not absorbing/storing water)....

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119074244#Comment_119074244

Cladding that doesn't age well, they all seem to be taken from an IKEA brochure, with house interiors that look like your office, decking that will last a few winters (how environmentally unfriendly), gardens without grass (not absorbing/storing water)....

sounds like youve more of a problem with builders than designers.

dudda has already dealt with this succinctly above.

High ceilings to let light in

oh the horror !!!!

🙄

mickdw

Rurally, the design guidelines have really steered design to narrow form with simple detailing. That is why alot of the new builds are of this style and it's no bad thing.

I'm not a fan of timber cladding myself. It ages very quickly and designers appear to be fine with that and argue that this is as it's supposed to be but imo it's just a maintenance and repair issue for the future.

Stephen_Maturin

Can’t stand the modern new builds.

Horrible boxy profiles, that manky dull cladding everywhere, overuse of glass and crappy pine - makes for sterile, soulless “homes”.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119075222#Comment_119075222

Pine?

When was the last time you looked at a new build house? Pine detailing is definitely not modern.

Stephen_Maturin

The pine was in reference to the interiors

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119080605#Comment_119080605

Yes, I know. Pine detailing everywhere is a Tiger-era thing, definitely not modern.

You won't see any pine skirtings or doors or window frames in any houses being built today.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119070031#Comment_119070031

Ironically, the peasant house with small windows and thick walls would be warmer than the gentry house with huge single glazed windows and high ceilings.

Equally ironically, many rural McMansions appear to be concrete built pastiches of the once hated 'big house', the forebears of McMansion owners may have incinerated a few back in the day.

monseiur

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119086057#Comment_119086057

I guess many of the gentry's country piles were summer houses, fishing lodges etc. they could afford to move to warmer climes when the temerature dropped, thanks partly to the exorbitant rent they were changing their half starved tenants whose only hope /dream of travel was a one way ticket to America, Australia etc.

jackboy

There are some nice new houses being built but most people still want the huge house with a massive boring front lawn, as that is still seen as a status symbol.