Hillside Sloping Houses

Sloped terrains can be attractive and tempting. Building on a slope can offer the advantage of beautiful views, privacy, or a natural setting. Perhaps you’re envisioning a project that rises above the tree canopies, like in the magazines.

This is all completely true. Building on a slope is exciting and presents the challenge of how to connect the building with the terrain. Usually, the solution is a floating building that extends above the vegetation to maximize the views. Imagine large open spaces with floor-to-ceiling openings leading to expansive terraces. Imagine an interior-exterior fusion that brings the surroundings into your home. Of course, a floating building can also have a lesser impact on the terrain, as the construction techniques used involve cantilevers or slender columns.

Terracing is the way to go

If the plot has too much slope, terracing the building is a good way to honor the gradient. This allows for a stronger connection with the garden. It opens up the possibility of creating intermediate levels with short staircases connecting different areas or dramatic double-height spaces. As a result, landscaping becomes interesting, and we can create unique gardens and pools.

On flat terrain, the foundation will be roughly at the same level for the entire building. As a result, the floors will also be at the same level. This is why we will need relatively little excavation for the foundation. On sloped sites, there are two options: building on stilts or excavating using the “cut and fill” method. The most sensible option depends on the cost of excavation.

In any case, a geotechnical study of the land is needed. Boreholes are made at various points to check the composition of the soil and the level of the firm ground. If the ground is very rocky, excavation costs will be higher, and building on stilts makes sense. If the ground is less hard, it may be possible to opt for the “cut and fill” solution.

Building on Stilts

If the geotechnical study indicates that the ground is made up of hard rock, building on stilts may be the most obvious option. Excavating rock is prohibitively expensive, so this is usually the more cost-effective of the two options. Unfortunately, this often leads people to believe that building on stilts is a cheap option, which is a complete misunderstanding. Yes, if the ground is composed of hard rock, building on stilts will be cheaper than the cut and fill option.

The stunning vistas and gorgeous landscapes surrounding the land will make the extra cost worth the effort, in terms of quality of life.