Hello.
I have a plot of land with a slight slope; the height difference from the front to the back is about 1.5m (5 feet).
For cost reasons, I would prefer to forgo a basement and have as much as possible on the ground floor level. The upper floor is intended to be used either by the children or possibly rented out later, depending on what the children decide to do.
I expect that building upwards with an additional upper floor will provide more flexibility than building downwards with a basement, which is usually less pleasant to live in compared to the same area at ground level.
A large double garage will be built on the east boundary. The neighboring property on that side only has frosted bathroom windows, and the owner (a relative) has also agreed to an easement if the garage is somewhat larger.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 814m² (8,761 sq ft)
Slope: approx. 1.5m (5 feet) across the entire area
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Plot ratio / floor space index: 0.7
Maximum number of floors: 2
Roof style: gable, 30 degrees
Ridge orientation: east to west
Maximum heights / limits: none, the development plan dates from 1980, and various roof and building shapes can be found in this area
Owner Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: definitely no flat roof, no bay windows or dormers
Preferably solid construction (masonry)
Guest toilet on every floor
Basement still undecided, 2 floors possible
Walk-in (level-access) shower preferred, bathtub not necessary
Flexible use for one large or two small families in the future should be possible.
House Design
Based on consultation with a licensed general contractor (GC) from the region
The shell construction will be provided by the contractor, while I will do the interior finishing myself, including electrical work, plumbing, water installations, flooring, interior plastering, etc., as I am a professional. I plan to organize and subcontract the remaining work to experienced local companies.
There is no rush, so the complete interior finishing can take some time.
Preferred heating technology:
District heating connection supplied 100% with renewable energy
Why does the design look the way it does?
The design was created by the architect after consultation based on our ideas.
What do you think of the design? What would you change?
Since the terrain needs to be adjusted and the foundation slab filled to compensate for the slight slope, how much would you estimate the additional cost for a basement? The planner suggests that a basement should be considered with a height difference between 1.5m and 2m (5 to 6.5 feet).
Do you have any other thoughts? Once you commit to a design, it’s easy to become a bit blind to alternatives...
Thank you and best regards!
Contour lines
Aerial image with dimensions and boundaries
Overview of neighboring plots
Ground Floor (GF)
Upper Floor (UF)
Front view
Front view
Rear view
I have a plot of land with a slight slope; the height difference from the front to the back is about 1.5m (5 feet).
For cost reasons, I would prefer to forgo a basement and have as much as possible on the ground floor level. The upper floor is intended to be used either by the children or possibly rented out later, depending on what the children decide to do.
I expect that building upwards with an additional upper floor will provide more flexibility than building downwards with a basement, which is usually less pleasant to live in compared to the same area at ground level.
A large double garage will be built on the east boundary. The neighboring property on that side only has frosted bathroom windows, and the owner (a relative) has also agreed to an easement if the garage is somewhat larger.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 814m² (8,761 sq ft)
Slope: approx. 1.5m (5 feet) across the entire area
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Plot ratio / floor space index: 0.7
Maximum number of floors: 2
Roof style: gable, 30 degrees
Ridge orientation: east to west
Maximum heights / limits: none, the development plan dates from 1980, and various roof and building shapes can be found in this area
Owner Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: definitely no flat roof, no bay windows or dormers
Preferably solid construction (masonry)
Guest toilet on every floor
Basement still undecided, 2 floors possible
Walk-in (level-access) shower preferred, bathtub not necessary
Flexible use for one large or two small families in the future should be possible.
House Design
Based on consultation with a licensed general contractor (GC) from the region
The shell construction will be provided by the contractor, while I will do the interior finishing myself, including electrical work, plumbing, water installations, flooring, interior plastering, etc., as I am a professional. I plan to organize and subcontract the remaining work to experienced local companies.
There is no rush, so the complete interior finishing can take some time.
Preferred heating technology:
District heating connection supplied 100% with renewable energy
Why does the design look the way it does?
The design was created by the architect after consultation based on our ideas.
What do you think of the design? What would you change?
Since the terrain needs to be adjusted and the foundation slab filled to compensate for the slight slope, how much would you estimate the additional cost for a basement? The planner suggests that a basement should be considered with a height difference between 1.5m and 2m (5 to 6.5 feet).
Do you have any other thoughts? Once you commit to a design, it’s easy to become a bit blind to alternatives...
Thank you and best regards!
Contour lines
Aerial image with dimensions and boundaries
Overview of neighboring plots
Ground Floor (GF)
Upper Floor (UF)
Front view
Front view
Rear view
The slope isn’t very steep; within the *house* it amounts to 1.5m (5 feet).
So far, I haven’t consulted an architect but have been planning with two general contractors (not system builders).
I want to think about whether and how I can achieve something better than what has been planned so far.
Before I keep hearing “shrug” and “there’s no other way,” I want to consider my options carefully.
Best regards, Ralf
So far, I haven’t consulted an architect but have been planning with two general contractors (not system builders).
I want to think about whether and how I can achieve something better than what has been planned so far.
Before I keep hearing “shrug” and “there’s no other way,” I want to consider my options carefully.
Best regards, Ralf
Ralf1980 schrieb:
The slope isn’t very steep; inside the *house* it’s 1.5m (5 feet). I’m really not sure if this is meant as a joke?
Ralf1980 schrieb:
I haven’t consulted an architect yet, but I’m planning with two general contractors (not large construction companies). And they don’t have a specialist for that?
Ralf1980 schrieb:
I just want to consider for myself whether and how I can come up with something better than what’s been presented so far. Where does the “so far” come from?
Unfortunately, I don’t see anything I would actually build.
Ralf1980 schrieb:
Before I keep hearing “shrug shoulders” and “it can’t be done otherwise,” I want to give it some thought. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I would recommend not getting too attached to the drafts or presenting them as the basis for any decisions. Every dollar you invest in a professional of your choice (please not just a draftsman working for the contractor) is well spent, in my opinion.
Some of us have already created various sketches here, but if I were to build a house on a slope, my first questions would be: Who will be my architect, and how much money do I need to budget for them?
W
WilderSueden22 Dec 2023 08:29Ralf1980 schrieb:
The slope isn’t very steep; inside the *house* it’s 1.5 meters (5 feet)That’s exactly the challenging dimension. It’s too much for a flat-land floor plan and somewhat too little for a “true hillside house.” Additionally, 1.5 meters (5 feet) is critical when planning the outdoor areas. This usually can’t be easily adjusted without notice but requires safety measures and stairs.H
hanghaus202322 Dec 2023 10:05First, mark the building envelope on your plan. It seems like you have a good connection with the building department. Have they approved a different building envelope for you? If yes, then everything is fine.
However, I suspect that’s not the case. In that situation, you either need to comply with the building envelope or submit a preliminary building inquiry. Ignoring these requirements is not a solid basis for planning.
You are also ignoring the prescribed ridge direction. See here!
Have you clarified with the building department what the required ground floor finished floor height is? It’s also unclear to me how the foundation at the slope is supposed to work. The half meter (0.5 meter) (1.6 feet) seems to rule out a basement intended for living space.
You won’t make progress here with DIY approaches. Even general contractors and planners are overwhelmed with this.
However, I suspect that’s not the case. In that situation, you either need to comply with the building envelope or submit a preliminary building inquiry. Ignoring these requirements is not a solid basis for planning.
You are also ignoring the prescribed ridge direction. See here!
Have you clarified with the building department what the required ground floor finished floor height is? It’s also unclear to me how the foundation at the slope is supposed to work. The half meter (0.5 meter) (1.6 feet) seems to rule out a basement intended for living space.
You won’t make progress here with DIY approaches. Even general contractors and planners are overwhelmed with this.
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