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I have chosen to research two rows of houses in Portmarnock, North County Dublin. The houses were chosen for a multitude of reasons; the semi-detached housing type is common in the city of Dublin and surrounding areas. However, due to their more recent construction, the reflection and research surrounding them may not be as substantial as other, more documented typologies such as the Georgian terrace. There is also an abundance of alterations built on this specific road, be it through planning or through exemption.
The development of Carrickhill Road and Drive began in 1968, but its history in construction goes back much further. The carraig, translated from Irish to mean rock, is in reference to a rocky highpoint in the area, 34m above sea level, upon which a quarry and limekiln were situated until 1870. The rows of houses back onto each other, either east or west facing, allowing for south light to pour into the back gardens, with the Road enjoying the morning sun whilst the Drive receives it in the late evening. The standard semi-detached houses were initially built with carports that allowed vehicles to drive through into the back garden. All of the houses on Carrickhill Road and Drives have converted these carports in the ‘70s and ‘80s, be it as a more modern garage or integrated into the domestic spaces. |