ᐅ Light Wells for Basement Apartments – Possible Implementation Models

Hello everyone,

we are currently planning light wells for our basement apartment. We have included a separate basement unit and now want to install the light wells for the apartment. There are different approaches we are considering for placing them. First of all: The basement apartment will not have a direct door from the basement itself but will be accessed via the main house’s stairwell. For reasons of airtightness, we have also decided against a direct entrance to the basement apartment. For orientation, here is the basement floor plan:

The current status is as follows (of course, the bitumen surface layer, insulation materials, etc. still need to be applied, and a drainage membrane will be installed over the insulation). The topic here concerns the possible ways to realize the light well and any experiences you might have.

Here is a recent photo of the construction site:

There is approximately 4m (13 feet) of space between the basement wall and the driveway, which separates two plots of land (both owned by me) — the second being undeveloped. The balcony will later be located on the cistern side. The drainage trench will be connected to a large surrounding shaft to divert rainwater. I would like to be able to walk along the light wells and ideally have a small strip of greenery alongside, where I could later install a fence running along the driveway.

My current idea is a continuous light well along the three basement windows, since three separate interrupted light wells would not look aesthetically pleasing in my opinion. Another consideration was to raise the light wells slightly above the lawn level (using L-shaped retaining stones) to provide some safety. I assume there are regulations that require handrails or similar safety features in this case.

The following key questions arise:
- Are there any reasons against having a continuous light well? (Risks in heavy rain, etc.)
- What width should be planned to ensure sufficient light for the basement windows? (The basement windows face southeast)
- Do you have experience with solutions that do not work well or possibly good ideas?

Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
goldfisch138

goldfisch138 schrieb:

My current idea would be a continuous light well along the three basement windows,

I was thinking that the regulations for a light well would be the same as for a bay window, meaning distance requirements and only up to a certain length relative to the house, unless it is specifically applied for and approved.

What surprises me about the whole situation is that the entire basement is already in place, and only then do they start planning fundamental aspects. Didn’t you consider these details during the detailed planning phase?

goldfisch138 schrieb:

The following key questions arise:
- Are there any reasons against a continuous light well? (Risk during heavy rain or similar)
- What width is needed to ensure sufficient light for the basement windows? (Basement windows face southeast)
- Do you have any experience with solutions that don't work or possibly good ideas

There are no technical reasons against it. Water can be drained away – this is a matter of careful planning and execution.
The amount of incoming light depends not only on the width but also on the slope angle. The shallower the angle, the more light. However, this also requires more space.
Your sample photo is quite appealing – it is missing a fall protection barrier. An alternative would be to shape the terrain more extensively and consider it as a single continuous slope, lowering a larger section of the garden. However, this can be costly if done properly and attractively. Good ideas for such situations usually come from landscape gardeners rather than house builders. Try asking around locally.

What is completely missing here is the drawing of the house floor plan on the dimensioned plot of land. In that case, the measurements on the house floor plan can be omitted.

goldfisch138 schrieb:

We are currently planning light wells for our basement apartment. We have planned a granny flat in the basement and now want to install light wells for the apartment. There are different approaches we are considering for positioning them. Just to clarify upfront: the basement apartment will not be accessed through a door in the basement itself but via the main building's stairwell.

A spa area as a granny flat, as far as I recall, hasn’t been discussed here before. I remain continuously surprised and shocked at how extensively things are "planned on the fly" — even though everyone knows this always comes with a hefty surcharge.

hanse987 schrieb:

What surprises me about the whole thing: the entire basement is already built, and only now does the planning for fundamental elements begin. Didn’t you consider these details during the detailed planning phase?

kbt09 schrieb:

What is completely missing here is the floor plan of the house drawn to scale onto the measured site plan. That way, the detailed measurements of the floor plan can be omitted.

We already know that from the garage-in-construction bulge thread https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/doppelgarage-fuer-2-fahrzeuge-mit-anschliessendem-carport.48511/ — at least there the plot positioning is shown in the opening post.

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