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
H
hanghaus202324 May 2024 12:26Don’t panic. You’ve already purchased the property. How far along is the neighbor? Take a picture. The neighbor’s flat area can only be done with SM anyway. I’ll ask again. Is this one of the 3 remaining plots?
There is no shaft on your property down there.
There is no shaft on your property down there.
What does "residual plots" mean? The information might be outdated.
The neighbor’s house is built on the west side; landscaping hasn’t started yet. The neighbor has built a natural stone wall on the southern side, but nothing has been done at the boundary yet. It is currently partially sloped and partly covered with gravel for the driveway. I don’t know the exact plan and will need to ask.
What do you mean by “shaft”? A drainage or utility shaft? There is one at the curve, which is visible on the site plan, and another one further down the street, at the end of the adjacent southern property.
Revised version of option 2 attached.
Image 1 shows a view from the south towards the neighboring property; mine is basically to the right of the wall. Image 2 shows the southern boundary facing west.
The neighbor’s house is built on the west side; landscaping hasn’t started yet. The neighbor has built a natural stone wall on the southern side, but nothing has been done at the boundary yet. It is currently partially sloped and partly covered with gravel for the driveway. I don’t know the exact plan and will need to ask.
What do you mean by “shaft”? A drainage or utility shaft? There is one at the curve, which is visible on the site plan, and another one further down the street, at the end of the adjacent southern property.
Revised version of option 2 attached.
Image 1 shows a view from the south towards the neighboring property; mine is basically to the right of the wall. Image 2 shows the southern boundary facing west.
H
hanghaus202324 May 2024 14:49You have a problem with the 1.2m (4 feet) structural membrane on the south side. You are actually 3m (10 feet) deeper.
H
hanghaus202325 May 2024 14:08The landscaping is probably somewhat cheaper since the garage will be placed on the southeast boundary. However, the setback of 1.2 m (4 feet) probably won’t be enough. So you should consider making the garage longer.
Does that make the basement essential? In my opinion, the costs would be much higher.
Do you want the west-facing orientation towards the higher neighboring plots/houses? I had thought more along the lines of southeast orientation.
Does that make the basement essential? In my opinion, the costs would be much higher.
Do you want the west-facing orientation towards the higher neighboring plots/houses? I had thought more along the lines of southeast orientation.
H
hanghaus202327 May 2024 17:36I looked for a suitable floor plan.
with basement
with basement
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