ᐅ Basement versus Increased Living Space on the Ground Floor
Created on: 19 Apr 2022 20:36
H
HalloClarissa
Dear all,
We are planning to build a bungalow with 3 rooms and about 85 sqm (915 sq ft) of living space. Since the plot is on a slope, we need to build with a partial basement.
Which option would likely be more cost-effective:
1. Living area on the ground floor (including a guest room) of 85 sqm (915 sq ft) and a 50 sqm (538 sq ft) basement used mainly as a utility cellar with a technical room (then we would only need one bathroom).
2. Ground floor only 75 sqm (808 sq ft), guest room in the partially finished 50 sqm (538 sq ft) basement as living space (which would require a second bathroom but could be fitted out later by ourselves).
As soon as the basement is meant to have living space, the access routes must be heated and insulated. Also, an internal staircase is necessary. A purely utility basement could possibly be accessed only from outside without an internal staircase, saving space.
Theoretically, a room on the ground floor requires about 12 sqm (129 sq ft). If this room is located in the basement, additional space for stairs on both floors and another hallway is needed, approximately 24 sqm (258 sq ft).
Am I thinking about this correctly?
Has anyone calculated a similar case before?
We are planning to build a bungalow with 3 rooms and about 85 sqm (915 sq ft) of living space. Since the plot is on a slope, we need to build with a partial basement.
Which option would likely be more cost-effective:
1. Living area on the ground floor (including a guest room) of 85 sqm (915 sq ft) and a 50 sqm (538 sq ft) basement used mainly as a utility cellar with a technical room (then we would only need one bathroom).
2. Ground floor only 75 sqm (808 sq ft), guest room in the partially finished 50 sqm (538 sq ft) basement as living space (which would require a second bathroom but could be fitted out later by ourselves).
As soon as the basement is meant to have living space, the access routes must be heated and insulated. Also, an internal staircase is necessary. A purely utility basement could possibly be accessed only from outside without an internal staircase, saving space.
Theoretically, a room on the ground floor requires about 12 sqm (129 sq ft). If this room is located in the basement, additional space for stairs on both floors and another hallway is needed, approximately 24 sqm (258 sq ft).
Am I thinking about this correctly?
Has anyone calculated a similar case before?
gutentag schrieb:
I marked the dimensions on the development plan. Your measurement error is more than 3 m (10 feet). You should be able to narrow down the property’s location—for example, is there a bend in the building line?
The thin blue line shows your property according to the survey plan. Unfortunately, it’s unclear whether the east-west orientation is correct. That is actually all quite clear.
11ant schrieb:
The option “only utility basement, 11ant schrieb:
the unused area as a granny flat 11ant schrieb:
living basement standard for these rooms, parking space for the second dwelling unit) …
So, I wasn’t idle between 6 and 8 pm and scaled the plot to the given dimensions; the heights are just rough estimates since the hand drawing is closer to about 30 m (98 feet) in width rather than 18.90 m (62 feet) 😉
But it’s enough for a sketch.
I arranged the rooms in the orientation the original poster prefers. People who know me tend to combine rooms rather than waste space on unnecessary hallways. Also, I’m frugal, but I would expect that when you get older, you don’t want to settle for much less quality of life than you’ve experienced before. And
I have noticed repeatedly: you always need a bit more space. Leaving aside accessibility or partly because of it: the bedroom was already mentioned as unusable. Kitchen: oven at knee height? Hardly any work surface, island only 60 cm (24 inches) deep. Dining table 80 cm (31 inches) wide, no cabinets at chest height? Hallway: no room for a sideboard, very little storage for shoes. Guest bathroom next to the heater. Heater located in the middle of the house and not on an exterior wall. There is no escape route in the hallway… honestly? Such naive draftsmanship (not the software, but the content) is typical of 20- to 30-year-olds who don’t yet realize how much space certain things actually require. You don’t necessarily need much more floor area, but it has to fit correctly. By the way, have you planned a carport or something similar?
If I were you, I would consult an architect… also, the small upper windows on the south side don’t make much sense. And the design is fundamentally not the budget version at all. Quite the opposite of what you initially described. Are you aware of that?
But I’ll stop here… this is not really a floor plan discussion. Yes, I probably missed the point here 🙄
HalloClarissa20 Apr 2022 21:23gutentag schrieb:
Why not do it like this from the start?
Now I have roughly placed the lot correctly.
On the east boundary, there is an elevation difference of about 5.7 m (19%) and on the west boundary about 5 m (17%). The street also has a slope of about 4%.
Where should the garage or parking space be located?Stgutentag schrieb:
Why not do it like this from the start?
Now I have roughly placed the lot correctly.
[ATTACH alt="Grundstueck123.JPG"]71220[/ATTACH]
On the east boundary, there is an elevation difference of about 5.7 m (19%) and on the west boundary about 5 m (17%). The street also has a slope of about 4%.
Where should the garage or parking space be located?Thank you. The house will be positioned along the east boundary with the parking space there as well (the sewage inspection chamber is located there at the lower point). Additionally, the plots on the opposite side of the street are staggered slightly, so despite the north-facing slope, we won’t have too much midday shade – the larger windows will be positioned so that they face the 6 m (20 feet) gap between the houses across the street.
HalloClarissa20 Apr 2022 21:24gutentag schrieb:
Why not do it this way from the start?
Now I have roughly positioned the plot correctly.
[ATTACH alt="basement-living-area-versus-more-living-space-on-ground-floor-571101-1.JPG"]71220[/ATTACH]
There is about a 5.7 m (19 ft) height difference at the east boundary and about 5 m (17 ft) at the west boundary. The street also has a slope of approximately 4%.
Where should the garage or parking space be located?Great – thank you very much, really awesomeHalloClarissa20 Apr 2022 21:32ypg schrieb:
This is actually all quite clear.
…
So, I was busy from 6 to 8 PM scaling the plot to the dimensions, with the heights only approximate since the hand-drawn version is closer to 30 meters (98 feet) in width rather than 18.9 meters (62 feet) 😉
But it’s enough for a sketch.
I’m drawing the rooms oriented as the OP wants. Those who know me here know that I tend to connect rooms and avoid unnecessary corridors. Also, I try to be economical, but I would expect that with age, one wouldn’t want to significantly reduce their quality of life. And
I’ve noticed time and again: it all somehow needs more space. Not even considering accessibility, or partly because of it: the bedroom has already been mentioned – it’s unusable. Kitchen: oven at knee height? Hardly any work surface, island only 60 cm (24 inches) deep. Dining table 80 cm (31 inches) wide, no cabinets at chest height? Hallway: no space for a sideboard, few cabinets for shoes. Guest bathroom beside the radiator. Radiator placed in the center of the house, not on an exterior wall. There is no escape route in the hallway… honestly? Such naive planning (not the software, but the layout) is typical for 20- to 30-year-olds who don’t realize certain things require space. Sometimes not much more floor area is needed, but it has to be right. By the way, are you planning a carport or something?
If I were you, I’d look for an architect… even the small upper windows on the south don’t make sense. And the design, in principle, is not exactly a budget version. Quite the opposite of what you initially described. Are you aware of that?
But I’ll stop now… this isn’t supposed to be a floor plan discussion. Yeah, I probably missed the point 🙄 All good, every suggestion is welcome. I’ve since revised the floor plan again. Anyway, thank you very much.
HalloClarissa20 Apr 2022 21:34gutentag schrieb:
A north-facing slope is not easy. Do you at least have a nice view to the north? How tall is the house on the north side? Are there pictures of the plot?
In winter, you probably get little to no sun. That’s why, in my opinion, the large window front on the south side might not be very practical. Yes, the view to the north is beautiful, and we want to be able to look out at it from the sofa.
HalloClarissa schrieb:
Why doesn’t a partial basement make sense? Does it really not save any cost? Only if absolutely necessary, because it comes with limitations: it would work if the partial basement is only on the downhill side; however, for utility connections that are not located under the building, access would have to be from the side (since having a utility room on the ground floor would make this solution impractical). On the utility side, this would also mean paving only the parking space (the other side could have a solid floor or even a garage).
HalloClarissa schrieb:
I have revised the floor plan again by now. Then I’m curious to see it.
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