Les O’Donnell is a Chartered Architectural Technologist and structural engineer with over 30 years’ experience designing and supervising the construction of new builds. His practice, Landmark Designs, is based in Co Tyrone. All of the information contained in the guide is for information purposes only; professional guidance must be sought for your own specific project.
How would you tackle the challenges of building on a narrow site and equally importantly, why would you even want to build on one? You may find the land has a favourable characteristic which in another situation you would view as a shortcoming. Or it may be that, more than other types and precisely because […] More
Soil is perhaps most commonly thought of as a varying mix of dirty stuff in which to grow your vegetables. But in construction terms, ‘soil’ can apply to any combination of rock, gravel, sand, clay, silt, peat and man-made or ‘filled’ ground. To complicate matters further, very different soil types can be found next to […] More
An exposed site is more often than not a landmark location and this is quite often the main reason for choosing one. It is also frequently secluded, generally rural and possesses exceptional views. Also affecting site choice are the perceptions of the house on a hill, plain or coast which appeals to poignant, exciting or […] More
Building on a sloping site doesn’t need to be an uphill battle – what you need to do is get the right people on board, do lots of planning and be ready to spend a bit extra for the privilege that excellent views confer, including the potential of a good resale value… In addition to […] More
English