1

CHAPTER 2BASIC HOUSE DESIGNS

AT – 201Introduction to Architecture

Dan TrentAugust 27, 2012

2

OBJECTIVES List four basic house designs Explain the chief advantages of each

house design List disadvantages of each house design Explain traffic circulation in a floor plan

3

KEY TERMS Intermediate Level Living Level One-and-One-Half Story One-Story Ranch Sleeping Level Split-Level Traffic Circulation Two-Story

4

FOUR Basic Designs One-Story Ranch One-and-One-Half Story Two-Story Split-Level

Side-by-Side Front-to-Back Back-to-Front

5

FACTORS to Consider Available Space (Footprint) Site Contour Climate Convenience Cost Surroundings Personal Preference Personal Needs

6

ONE STORY RANCH DESIGNS

CHARACTERISTICS All regular living space on one level Low pitched roof Usually over a crawl space or on a slab, but

may have a basementADVANTAGES

Lends itself to Indoor/outdoor livingPatios, porches, and terracesGlass brings outdoors in (looks bigger)Easy maintenance (painting, cleaning gutters)

Easy to add on rooms/wings

7

ONE STORY RANCH DESIGNS

DISADVANTAGESMore costly to build due to larger roof

area and longer foundationRequires a larger lot since it spreads OUT

and not UPMay cost more to heat because it is so

spread outMaintenance issues due to all the roof

area and exterior wall areaConsiderable hall space required to

access all rooms

8

Summary of DISADVANTAGES

Higher cost (roof area) Larger “footprint” requires larger lot Difficult to heat since it is so spread out Long Hallways

9

One-and-One-Half Story CHARACTERISTICS

Essentially a ranch house with a steeper roof that allows use of the attic for living space

Dormers usually added to provide light and ventilation

10

ADVANTAGES Lower cost (almost twice the space under one

roof) Expandable (if one wishes to finish attic space) Versatile (finish “upstairs” later as family

grows) Lower heating/cooling cost

11

DISADVANTAGES Low head room along perimeter Steeper roof, stairs, and dormers add to

cost Wasted space at lower end of short walls

(see figure 2-12 on page 41)

12

TWO-STORY DESIGN Advantages

Smaller “footprint” so can be built on a smaller lot

Lower heating/cooling costs More economical to build (2 floors, one roof)Disadvantages

StairsOut of “style” in favor of contemporary lookNot easily modified or “dressed up”Difficult maintenance (gutters, painting)

13

TWO-STORY DESIGN Classic examples

14

SPLIT-LEVEL DESIGN As the name suggests, the house is

“split” into multiple levels Basement (heating/cooling equipment or

storage) Intermediate (garage or recreation room) Living level (kitchen, dining, living, and

bathroom) Sleeping level (bedrooms and baths) See page 46

15

SPLIT-LEVEL DESIGN Conceived to solve problems presented

by a sloping or “hilly” lot Three basic variations

Front-to-Back (for lots that are “high” in the front, low in the back – looks like a RANCH from front)

Back-to-Front (for lots that are low in front, high in the back)

Side-to-Side (for lots that slope from one side to the other

(see page 46 – next slide)

16

17

SPLIT LEVEL DESIGN

18

Split Level Cross Section

19

TRAFFIC CIRCULATION The movement of people from one area

or room to another Plan for maximum efficiency of

movement SHORT travel paths DO NOT go through rooms to get to other

rooms Classic Kitchen Triangle –

Stove-Refrigerator-Sink

20

INTERNET RESOURCES www.OwensCorning.com

Building materials, composite, sustainability, d www.gp.com/build/index.html

Products, sustainability, products, safety, where to buy, resources (products = PLYTANIUM, resources = DOGHOUSE)

www.reynoldsbp.com Roof shingles, bay windows, patios/decks

21

QUESTIONS (for YOU) List 4 basic residential house designs Identify 5 advantages of the ranch style

house List 5 disadvantages of the ranch style

house A one-and-one-half story house can be

recognized by its _________ ___________ , which often has ___________ to allow light into the attic

Traffic circulation must be planned for maximum efficiency of ______________

22

QUESTIONS?

Thank you for your attention!