We recently had a question on our Facebook page that has since inspired this post. We were asked if we had any tips for building on a sloped terrain. So here goes:
Cut and Fill:
Drainage:
Your sloping site may dictate higher building cost with regard to drainage and sewers, depending on the size of the project. If the sewerage system is uphill from the site, will you need to have pumping systems installed? If the system is downhill, you may need to slow flow down to the sewers.
You will need to consider water run off from the site and make sure you make sufficient measures to deal with surface water. Investigate soakaways and drainage channels to make sure your surface water is dealt with correctly and doesn’t end up flooding your lower floor or the surrounding area.
Views:
This about views and maximising the views wherever possible. One benefit to having a steep site is that you can look at designing a stepped building which means lots of opportunity for slimmer rooms with glazing – and views. Investigate change in levels within your building and how these relate to each other and offer views out of the site and beyond. You could be looking over the roofs of the lower parts of the building from the upper. With this in mind think about interesting roof finishes or maybe sedum, green roofs. There is also the opportunity for terraces and outside spaces.
Access:
Think about access and how people will be able to move through and around the steep site.
Light:
Consider how you will use light. Does your site benefit from a good aspect? How can you make sure you get light into the buildings?
Here are a few inspiration images for you…
Make sure you take a look at our site analysis pages and apply those questions to your sloped terrain – this should help nail down the pros and cons of your site and how to approach your design. Good luck!
For our Site Analysis Pages click here.
All images are from google images. Sketches by First In Architecture.
I never knew how important site analysis was in the construction and planning on a house until today. If there was no site analysis done before the commencement of constructing the building, plans would change dramatically when they saw the landscaping. That is why plans are so important when constructing anything.
building a structure with in sloping terrain may cost extra expensive compare to that of flat terrain but it is more challenging with respect to the designer/planner
I am interested in the property, Which is made on slop. The back wall of the ground room is the retaining wall. There are no pillars but one room is above and another room lower level was constructed. What is your advice, can I buy this house. It will strengthen in long run.
Please advice. There are other houses on sale.
Hi there, I’m afraid I can’t comment on individual situations such as this. All the best with your house purchase. Emma
Mam I have a small doubt.The new flat surface that we generated,we will start laying plinth on that surface or do we consider it as the plinth level ?Basically the new flat surface will be a ground level or plinth level