Hello everyone,
we are currently looking for a suitable plot of land and have come across a nice one that is also very reasonably priced. However, it is located on a slope and has an unusual shape. That’s why I wanted to get some opinions on whether you would feel confident building on it. The house itself can also be somewhat unconventional. 🙂
About the plot: You can already see some details in the picture. It is a wide but not very deep plot. The driveway access is from the front, coming off the street. From the street to the back of the plot, there is a drop of about 3 meters (10 feet).
About the house: The house should probably be positioned as far to the right as possible so that the main garden faces west—we are already settled on that. It should be a wide house with a maximum depth of 9 meters (30 feet) according to the building limits. We would like a double garage, which should probably be placed as far to the right and back as possible, with the main entrance then on the right side? Would it make sense to have the main living area on the ground floor and to have half of the building with a basement? We would then mainly use the basement as a wellness area with a sauna and utility room, and have the upper floor reserved for the bedrooms. Building 1.5 stories is allowed.
We would really appreciate many opinions. Of course, I am happy to answer further questions if anything in the description was unclear. 😎
we are currently looking for a suitable plot of land and have come across a nice one that is also very reasonably priced. However, it is located on a slope and has an unusual shape. That’s why I wanted to get some opinions on whether you would feel confident building on it. The house itself can also be somewhat unconventional. 🙂
About the plot: You can already see some details in the picture. It is a wide but not very deep plot. The driveway access is from the front, coming off the street. From the street to the back of the plot, there is a drop of about 3 meters (10 feet).
About the house: The house should probably be positioned as far to the right as possible so that the main garden faces west—we are already settled on that. It should be a wide house with a maximum depth of 9 meters (30 feet) according to the building limits. We would like a double garage, which should probably be placed as far to the right and back as possible, with the main entrance then on the right side? Would it make sense to have the main living area on the ground floor and to have half of the building with a basement? We would then mainly use the basement as a wellness area with a sauna and utility room, and have the upper floor reserved for the bedrooms. Building 1.5 stories is allowed.
We would really appreciate many opinions. Of course, I am happy to answer further questions if anything in the description was unclear. 😎
Hello, Kisska,
Your main issue seems to be the slope of the plot, but I don’t see this as a problem unless you specifically want a level garden. For the house, this potential disadvantage can actually be an advantage, because you can save on light wells for the basement on the north, northwest, and northeast sides. If you enter the house from the street at roughly ground level, the terrain drops about 1 meter (3 feet) at the house, which would allow your basement to have unobstructed windows and therefore more natural light.
Whether the ground on the north side can or should be filled in and supported with retaining walls (L-shaped blocks) is something an architect can certainly clarify for you. Feel free to contact me via private message for more information.
Best regards,
Dirk Grafe
Your main issue seems to be the slope of the plot, but I don’t see this as a problem unless you specifically want a level garden. For the house, this potential disadvantage can actually be an advantage, because you can save on light wells for the basement on the north, northwest, and northeast sides. If you enter the house from the street at roughly ground level, the terrain drops about 1 meter (3 feet) at the house, which would allow your basement to have unobstructed windows and therefore more natural light.
Whether the ground on the north side can or should be filled in and supported with retaining walls (L-shaped blocks) is something an architect can certainly clarify for you. Feel free to contact me via private message for more information.
Best regards,
Dirk Grafe
B
Bauexperte5 Jan 2014 11:58Hello,
Sloping sites are not a problem, more of an interesting challenge. However...
Regards, Bauexperte
Sloping sites are not a problem, more of an interesting challenge. However...
Kisska86 schrieb:It’s not only the sloping site that significantly increases the cost of building the house, but also the idea of an overall "unusual" single-family home. Are you aware of this and have you planned the appropriate budget?
... the house itself can also be a bit more unusual. 🙂
Regards, Bauexperte
The question is also what kind and to what extent you are allowed to build near the boundary and to fill the ground toward it.
As far as I know, this is specified in the land development plan / zoning plan.
In my opinion, a challenging plot like this (with limited depth) as well as a sloped site should be handled by an architect.
I would avoid trying to squeeze a standard single-family house with a basement onto or into such a plot. An architect experienced in hillside construction can create a much better solution for you 🙂
As far as I know, this is specified in the land development plan / zoning plan.
In my opinion, a challenging plot like this (with limited depth) as well as a sloped site should be handled by an architect.
I would avoid trying to squeeze a standard single-family house with a basement onto or into such a plot. An architect experienced in hillside construction can create a much better solution for you 🙂
We understand that an architect needs to be involved. I was just a bit unsure because of the slope. After all, it’s 3 meters (10 feet) and on a north-facing slope. You can see the length and width of the plot in the picture. According to the development plan, only about three meters (10 feet) must be maintained around the plot from the neighboring property or the street. That means the house can be up to 9 meters (30 feet) deep and up to 27 meters (90 feet) wide. The garage can reach all the way to the property line. Haha, of course, we don’t want it that wide. 😉 We still want some garden space for the kids.
@Dirk: Thanks already for the tips. We don’t need a flat garden. I’ve also thought a bit about how it could roughly look. But I’m not confident enough yet to post anything here... my drawing looks quite amateurish. Does a basement on a slope still have to be poured concrete, or can it be built with masonry? Or can it be a mix? If I have full wall height on the basement facing the north side and floor-to-ceiling windows, then it can only be masonry, right?
@Bauexperte: The plot is cheaper in terms of costs, so a somewhat more unusual house can comfortably fit financially. By "financially," I mean. 😀 I’ve worked for years as a mortgage consultant and can assess this well. 😀
@ypg: A standard single-family house doesn’t have to be the result, as I said. 🙂
@Dirk: Thanks already for the tips. We don’t need a flat garden. I’ve also thought a bit about how it could roughly look. But I’m not confident enough yet to post anything here... my drawing looks quite amateurish. Does a basement on a slope still have to be poured concrete, or can it be built with masonry? Or can it be a mix? If I have full wall height on the basement facing the north side and floor-to-ceiling windows, then it can only be masonry, right?
@Bauexperte: The plot is cheaper in terms of costs, so a somewhat more unusual house can comfortably fit financially. By "financially," I mean. 😀 I’ve worked for years as a mortgage consultant and can assess this well. 😀
@ypg: A standard single-family house doesn’t have to be the result, as I said. 🙂
I can share a bit from our limited experience with a sloped plot, maybe it will be helpful.
We have a slope of 3.30m (11 feet) diagonally over about 35m (115 feet), and that's quite significant. A slope of 3m (10 feet) over 15m (50 feet) already means roughly a 24% gradient, if I’m not mistaken.
We consulted several architects and presented our project; not all of them recognized the potential of a slope or were motivated to design for it.
We ended up with an "unconventional" split-level house design that meets ALL our wishes and much more. But it wasn’t easy even for the professionals...
My advice: if you’re interested in unique living and have a capable and, above all, motivated architect by your side, you can create a completely custom home on a slope. The only challenge I see for you is the north-facing orientation, but that can be solved with an architect.
What I wouldn’t do: use a standard pre-made floor plan with a basement and ground floor — boring and a missed opportunity. You can never properly adapt that to a slope. I have studied slopes, floor plans, and split-level houses very thoroughly. It hurts to see otherwise.
What you must not underestimate: costs! Even as someone involved in construction financing, I’m aware of the overall costs, but a slope is a slope. The foundation, slab, and so on are not necessarily standard, as well as protections towards neighbors — all of which add costs that a typical flat-lot builder wouldn’t have.
Conclusion: a slope can be great if you like it and have an architect who thinks similarly and sees it as a challenge and professional honor to design you something cool. But you also have to expect that standard pricing won’t apply.
Demian
We have a slope of 3.30m (11 feet) diagonally over about 35m (115 feet), and that's quite significant. A slope of 3m (10 feet) over 15m (50 feet) already means roughly a 24% gradient, if I’m not mistaken.
We consulted several architects and presented our project; not all of them recognized the potential of a slope or were motivated to design for it.
We ended up with an "unconventional" split-level house design that meets ALL our wishes and much more. But it wasn’t easy even for the professionals...
My advice: if you’re interested in unique living and have a capable and, above all, motivated architect by your side, you can create a completely custom home on a slope. The only challenge I see for you is the north-facing orientation, but that can be solved with an architect.
What I wouldn’t do: use a standard pre-made floor plan with a basement and ground floor — boring and a missed opportunity. You can never properly adapt that to a slope. I have studied slopes, floor plans, and split-level houses very thoroughly. It hurts to see otherwise.
What you must not underestimate: costs! Even as someone involved in construction financing, I’m aware of the overall costs, but a slope is a slope. The foundation, slab, and so on are not necessarily standard, as well as protections towards neighbors — all of which add costs that a typical flat-lot builder wouldn’t have.
Conclusion: a slope can be great if you like it and have an architect who thinks similarly and sees it as a challenge and professional honor to design you something cool. But you also have to expect that standard pricing won’t apply.
Demian
Thanks, demian!!!
Your answer was very helpful, and I think it’s really too complicated... Besides the fact that I don’t like split-level houses at all, I also don’t know any skilled architects in this area. Mostly just standard floor plan types. Well, and how to find one is also a mystery to me. Some more distant relatives of ours built on a slope and later had a lot of problems... We found out about that today. Otherwise, everyone we know has built houses on flat land... We’ll probably have to keep searching and be prepared to invest more money in the plot. :o
Your answer was very helpful, and I think it’s really too complicated... Besides the fact that I don’t like split-level houses at all, I also don’t know any skilled architects in this area. Mostly just standard floor plan types. Well, and how to find one is also a mystery to me. Some more distant relatives of ours built on a slope and later had a lot of problems... We found out about that today. Otherwise, everyone we know has built houses on flat land... We’ll probably have to keep searching and be prepared to invest more money in the plot. :o
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