Basement or not?
Hello,
we are currently planning our single-family house.
Like many others, we are debating whether to include a basement or not.
Our plot is 380 sqm (about 4,086 sq ft)
Floor area ratio (FAR) 0.4
Two full floors allowed
Our architect and builder recommend skipping the basement.
Reasons:
1.) The building envelope is quite large: 12.9 m x 14 m (42 ft x 46 ft)
2.) Instead of a basement, use the attic space (eave and ridge heights will be respected)
Originally, we wanted a house with 140 sqm (1,507 sq ft) of living space (70 sqm (753 sq ft) per floor) plus a basement of 70 sqm (753 sq ft).
Additionally, a standard garage with one parking space.
To save costs, we are now planning as follows:
A house with a footprint of 8 x 12 m (26 ft x 39 ft). After deducting exterior wall thickness, this results in about 80 sqm (861 sq ft) of living space per floor.
That makes a total of 160 sqm (1,722 sq ft) of living space (20 sqm (215 sq ft) more than originally planned) plus a double garage measuring 6 x 9 m (20 ft x 30 ft).
The attic would have a knee wall height of 30 cm (12 inches).
It feels like we would have the same amount of space as with a basement. However, our office and pantry would be on the ground floor (instead of the basement as initially planned) along with a garage adjacent to the heating room.
What do you think about this idea?
Basically, we are shifting our space requirements above ground.
Many build basements because the building envelope is more restricted, which is not the case for us.
Has anyone built something similar?
Hello,
we are currently planning our single-family house.
Like many others, we are debating whether to include a basement or not.
Our plot is 380 sqm (about 4,086 sq ft)
Floor area ratio (FAR) 0.4
Two full floors allowed
Our architect and builder recommend skipping the basement.
Reasons:
1.) The building envelope is quite large: 12.9 m x 14 m (42 ft x 46 ft)
2.) Instead of a basement, use the attic space (eave and ridge heights will be respected)
Originally, we wanted a house with 140 sqm (1,507 sq ft) of living space (70 sqm (753 sq ft) per floor) plus a basement of 70 sqm (753 sq ft).
Additionally, a standard garage with one parking space.
To save costs, we are now planning as follows:
A house with a footprint of 8 x 12 m (26 ft x 39 ft). After deducting exterior wall thickness, this results in about 80 sqm (861 sq ft) of living space per floor.
That makes a total of 160 sqm (1,722 sq ft) of living space (20 sqm (215 sq ft) more than originally planned) plus a double garage measuring 6 x 9 m (20 ft x 30 ft).
The attic would have a knee wall height of 30 cm (12 inches).
It feels like we would have the same amount of space as with a basement. However, our office and pantry would be on the ground floor (instead of the basement as initially planned) along with a garage adjacent to the heating room.
What do you think about this idea?
Basically, we are shifting our space requirements above ground.
Many build basements because the building envelope is more restricted, which is not the case for us.
Has anyone built something similar?
B
Bieber081512 Dec 2016 15:40If money weren’t an issue, I would have built with a basement, but for me, living spaces belong above ground. So in this case, it’s clearly: without a basement.
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