It’s really frustrating! We know we’re building a house and the financing is secured. Some details, like partial flooring, are already decided, but we can’t choose a house type. We have a sloping site. The slope drops 1.6m (5 feet) over 10m (33 feet) toward the southeast, with the driveway at the lower end. Our first idea was a bungalow of 130m2 (1,400 sq ft), with a basement. The basement would include a double garage, entrance, office, storage, and the rest of the living space would be upstairs. Upstairs, you can step straight out into the garden. But of course, that is quite expensive.
The other option would be to cut quite a lot of soil out of the slope at the back and fill in at the front to build a house without a basement. That would be much cheaper, but I’m hesitant about the large earthworks involved—I can’t really imagine how it would look afterward. Storage rooms would then be outside the house, in an existing outbuilding next to it.
There are so many arguments for and against each option, and we’re finding it really hard to decide! How was it for you?
The other option would be to cut quite a lot of soil out of the slope at the back and fill in at the front to build a house without a basement. That would be much cheaper, but I’m hesitant about the large earthworks involved—I can’t really imagine how it would look afterward. Storage rooms would then be outside the house, in an existing outbuilding next to it.
There are so many arguments for and against each option, and we’re finding it really hard to decide! How was it for you?
I
Ingo Kommen25 May 2012 19:39A hillside plot is definitely something nice... At least better than the new development areas I have to visit. Those give me a shudder. I’d much rather have a hillside plot.
The information about the slope is enough for me to visualize it. Only the exact dimensions of the plot would be very, very helpful to see whether the slope is on the short side or the long side of the property.
Personally, I find it very attractive to have a double garage basically on the ground floor and then build stairs from the garage to the upper floor to access the living areas. If the plot allows, you could plan a terrace on top of the garage and set the main house slightly back, and so on... And why should that mean financial ruin? Sure, it’s more expensive than a flat house, but “ruin” is the wrong term. I’m sure something like this is financially manageable.
Please include the costs for supporting the excavated side in addition to the excavation costs! For that amount of money, I would rather go with the first option.
Regards
Ingo
The information about the slope is enough for me to visualize it. Only the exact dimensions of the plot would be very, very helpful to see whether the slope is on the short side or the long side of the property.
Personally, I find it very attractive to have a double garage basically on the ground floor and then build stairs from the garage to the upper floor to access the living areas. If the plot allows, you could plan a terrace on top of the garage and set the main house slightly back, and so on... And why should that mean financial ruin? Sure, it’s more expensive than a flat house, but “ruin” is the wrong term. I’m sure something like this is financially manageable.
Please include the costs for supporting the excavated side in addition to the excavation costs! For that amount of money, I would rather go with the first option.
Regards
Ingo
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