ᐅ House placement on a sloped lot: Where should the house be located?
Created on: 17 May 2024 16:41
K
KrisHoss
Hello,
we have purchased a fully serviced plot of land from the municipality. I have already had it surveyed. The plot is sloped, dropping steeply at the lower right corner. After some consideration, I have identified two possible locations for the house (approximately 70 m² (750 sq ft) footprint with a basement, not yet finalized) with different advantages and disadvantages. Maybe you can help me decide between these options. The expected costs for the site work and earthworks for the two options are the main focus.
Option 1: The house is located at the upper corner of the plot, with the basement fully underground. Here, about 4.5 m (15 ft) of hillside at the lower right corner need to be retained.
Advantage: The house sits high, likely offering a better view over the valley, with a south-facing garden (is this an advantage?)
Disadvantage: In my view, the lower right corner looks unattractive. The steep slope is probably complex and costly to build and maintain.
Option 2: The house is placed at the lower right corner. Here, the house and the hillside garage retain most of the land. The remaining retaining structures are then moderate in height.
Advantage: It appears better integrated into the terrain, with no unnaturally high support structures. Large courtyard on the eaves side.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 625 m² (6,725 sq ft)
Slope: yes, steeply sloping at the lower right corner, see elevation plan
Site occupancy index (Grundflächenzahl): 0.4
Floor space index (Geschossflächenzahl): 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see attachment
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of stories: 2
Roof type: gable
Maximum heights / limits: eaves height 4.5 m (15 ft). The reference point is not entirely clear to me, see excerpt from the development plan
Additional requirements: retaining walls max 1.2 m (4 ft) above natural ground level
Client Requirements
Basement, stories: fully basement
Number of people, ages: 2 adults, 2 children (2 and 3 years old)
Room requirements on ground floor and upper floor: office and hobby room, location flexible
Office: home office for the wife, possibly private office for the husband
Guest bedrooms per year: rare
Open or closed architecture: rather open
House Design
Designer: terrain plan created by me using freeware, floor plan draft by general contractor, although this is not the main focus of my thread
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: about 460,000 (SF)
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings: 500,000
Preferred heating system:
As mentioned, in the first step I want to find the best location for the house considering site costs and other factors. Accordingly, the entrance will be either at the eaves or gable side.
I would appreciate your assessments of the options, and maybe someone has a third idea?
Thanks and best regards,
Kris
we have purchased a fully serviced plot of land from the municipality. I have already had it surveyed. The plot is sloped, dropping steeply at the lower right corner. After some consideration, I have identified two possible locations for the house (approximately 70 m² (750 sq ft) footprint with a basement, not yet finalized) with different advantages and disadvantages. Maybe you can help me decide between these options. The expected costs for the site work and earthworks for the two options are the main focus.
Option 1: The house is located at the upper corner of the plot, with the basement fully underground. Here, about 4.5 m (15 ft) of hillside at the lower right corner need to be retained.
Advantage: The house sits high, likely offering a better view over the valley, with a south-facing garden (is this an advantage?)
Disadvantage: In my view, the lower right corner looks unattractive. The steep slope is probably complex and costly to build and maintain.
Option 2: The house is placed at the lower right corner. Here, the house and the hillside garage retain most of the land. The remaining retaining structures are then moderate in height.
Advantage: It appears better integrated into the terrain, with no unnaturally high support structures. Large courtyard on the eaves side.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 625 m² (6,725 sq ft)
Slope: yes, steeply sloping at the lower right corner, see elevation plan
Site occupancy index (Grundflächenzahl): 0.4
Floor space index (Geschossflächenzahl): 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see attachment
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of stories: 2
Roof type: gable
Maximum heights / limits: eaves height 4.5 m (15 ft). The reference point is not entirely clear to me, see excerpt from the development plan
Additional requirements: retaining walls max 1.2 m (4 ft) above natural ground level
Client Requirements
Basement, stories: fully basement
Number of people, ages: 2 adults, 2 children (2 and 3 years old)
Room requirements on ground floor and upper floor: office and hobby room, location flexible
Office: home office for the wife, possibly private office for the husband
Guest bedrooms per year: rare
Open or closed architecture: rather open
House Design
Designer: terrain plan created by me using freeware, floor plan draft by general contractor, although this is not the main focus of my thread
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: about 460,000 (SF)
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings: 500,000
Preferred heating system:
As mentioned, in the first step I want to find the best location for the house considering site costs and other factors. Accordingly, the entrance will be either at the eaves or gable side.
I would appreciate your assessments of the options, and maybe someone has a third idea?
Thanks and best regards,
Kris
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
Could you take a photo (screenshot) of the relevant area in the survey plan? Then we can read it.
I’m still considering. Maybe a split-level design could work?
If you include a basement, you’ll probably have to plan it that way. But you’ve already identified the main issue. How will the terrain be managed?
I don’t see the house along with the entire site fitting the budget. Did the neighbor to the north build a bungalow or one with a basement?
Is your plot one of the three remaining building lots? I might have filled out the questionnaire a bit incorrectly. The budget isn’t fixed and shouldn’t be the main focus here—more that I want to understand what budget to expect for each option. The neighbor built a bungalow, but it’s also a vacation home.
Right now I have an offer of 460,000 for a reasonably suitable house plus basement.
Excavation for the basement with a friend’s excavator service is about 15,000.
Initial estimate from the landscape gardener (based on my plan for option 2: paving the driveways, retaining wall next to the garage, lawn, terrace, garden edging) is 60,000.
Additional costs 20,000.
Furnishing/kitchen 30,000.
I could manage that. That would be the next step; if I have doubts then I’ll start a thread in the financing section ;-) I’m looking for input on what the smartest solution would be for fitting basement, underground floor, and attic space on the plot. Smart in the sense that terrain-related costs don’t skyrocket, and the site can also be well designed and easy to maintain.
H
hanghaus202319 May 2024 13:01Here is my proposal.
Section
This is how it works, if you want, almost without retaining walls.
A surveyor should at least measure the corners of the plot and the manhole cover on the property.
Section
This is how it works, if you want, almost without retaining walls.
A surveyor should at least measure the corners of the plot and the manhole cover on the property.
H
hanghaus202319 May 2024 13:06Do you know the neighbors' plans to the south and west?
If a basement is planned, that is still possible. It costs about 100,000 more.
If a basement is planned, that is still possible. It costs about 100,000 more.
KrisHoss schrieb:
That would be the next step though; if I have doubts here, I’ll open a thread in the financing section.. . .possibly better suited for the construction costs thread.H
hanghaus202320 May 2024 14:15I have illustrated the maximum level using SM. With your version, even with SM, much less is achievable.
This is also possible without retaining walls; simply place the excavation material in the south and slope it down to the boundaries at a 1:2 ratio.
This is also possible without retaining walls; simply place the excavation material in the south and slope it down to the boundaries at a 1:2 ratio.
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