Project of a house on a slope with a basement. Is it advisable to build houses on a slope?

Without a doubt, the ideal condition for building a country house is a flat plot, but this is not always the case - quite often country plots are located on the slope of a ravine or on the edge of a river descent. In such situations, building a house becomes somewhat more complicated, and there are many reasons for this, among which landslides and ground movements occupy a special place. In general, building a house on a slope is a little more difficult, and if you are faced with such a task, then you need to start solving it by studying basic information.

House on a hillside photo

House on a slope: advantages and disadvantages

Not everything is as scary as it might seem at first glance - at one point, building a house on a slope creates some difficulties, and at another, as they say, it makes solving some problems easier. It is for this reason that the first place to start studying the issue of constructing such buildings is to become familiar with their advantages and disadvantages. Let's start with the shortcomings - these include the following points.


And, of course, there are design difficulties - a house on a hillside does not have standard designs. You should understand that if you are faced with the decision to build a house on a slope, you will have to turn to builders who, for quite a lot of money, will develop a project that will take into account everything necessary to make your house warm, cozy and durable. Now regarding the advantages of a house on a steep slope. There are quite a few of them too.


Even watering areas with a house on a slope is an advantage - proper terracing of the slope will retain the right amount of water for vegetation to grow. In general, complete harmony - in the sense that the disadvantages of building a country house on a slope are almost completely compensated by the advantages.

How to build a house on a slope: the foundation is everything

The foundation of a house is a responsible structure that fully ensures the reliability and durability of the building - in the case of a house on a slope, this point is very relevant, and this stage of construction should be treated responsibly. Let's face it - not every type of foundation is suitable for such buildings. Of all the existing diversity, only three varieties are used.


To learn how to build the foundation of a house on a slope, watch this video.

In general, making a foundation for a house on a slope is a rather complicated matter, and it does not depend on the type of foundation chosen. Not only does it need to be correctly calculated taking into account local factors, but it also needs to be built correctly - in general, this is a matter exclusively for professionals.

Building a house on a slope: features of arranging a slope

A properly designed slope is another guarantee that the building will stand for a long time and nothing will happen to it. Just don’t think that terraces will help you cope with the arrangement of the hill one hundred percent - yes, they play an important role, and level areas significantly reduce soil movement. But besides this step, you need to think about other possibilities that, together with the terraces, will serve to reliably strengthen the slope.


In general, it will be necessary to carry out a full range of measures aimed at solving issues such as strengthening the slope, preventing landslides and soil erosion.
And in conclusion to the topic of how to build a house on a slope, a few words about the signs that indicate that building a house on your site will require a lot of costs to strengthen the slope. These are natural phenomena - ravines, rickety trees, pillars and other similar things - they indicate a fairly large moving layer of soil, which can reach up to 3m. By the way, the moving layer of soil, or rather its thickness, is a direct indication of the depth of the foundation and the depth of the base of the retaining walls, through which the area is terraced on the slope.

Of course, building houses on slopes is very difficult, but it is worth noting that “uneven” terrain has some advantages.

The most significant among them is the opportunity to save money and materials through the correct use of height differences. For example, some house designs allow you to place most of the utility rooms under the first floor, which will eliminate the need for a huge amount of excavation work. So, what are the considerations involved in designing and building a house on a site on a slope?

Original house built on a slope (Switzerland)

Depending on the nature of the relief, land plots can have a slope of up to 15 degrees or more. If the slope is small, then there is no negative impact on the layout of the house. Moreover, due to the presence of such a slope, it becomes possible to place additional buildings below a residential building at different elevations, without blocking the view of the site or shading.

If necessary, separate entrances can be arranged to different levels of a residential building, while isolating utility rooms from living areas, and the daytime area from the sleeping area.


An example of a wooden house project on a small slope

If the slope is more than 15 degrees, then you should limit yourself to cottage projects that are designed specifically for areas on a slope. Such projects, naturally, differ in some design features. For example, a basement, a garage and a summer kitchen are often located in the basement on a slope. According to the architects, thanks to this placement of the kitchen area, it is possible to avoid overheating of the premises in the summer, as well as provide a high-quality view of the area from the window and good natural lighting of the room.


An example of a house layout on a slope

The features of the relief largely determine the choice of house design and the costs of future construction. The relief is determined depending on the slope of the surface, which is calculated as the ratio of the difference in height of two terrain points to the horizontal distance between them, which represents the tangent of the angle of inclination of the line to the terrain. Slope is measured in percentages or fractions. For example, a slope of 10 meters when moving 100 meters diagonally corresponds to a slope of 10% or 0.10 m.

In addition, the magnitude of the slope also affects the relief. If, for example, the slope is no more than 3%, then the site is considered flat; if the value is from 3 to 8%, then the site has a slight slope; if up to 20% - then average and more than 20% - steep.

If the site has a slight slope, then the construction of the building can be carried out in several ways:

In this video you can see how the house was built, half-buried into the slope

Building a house on a slope has many features. How to determine the slope of a site? How to properly place a house on a slope? What are the advantages of such construction?

The most successful option for construction is a rectangular plot on flat ground. The characteristics of the site dictate the construction conditions. Do not be disappointed if you have to build a house on a slope - this can become a feature, a highlight of the project, and not a disadvantage.

Surface features (ravines, mountains, hills) are called terrain and are determined by slope. The slope is determined by the difference in height between two points projected onto a horizontal line. The slope of a surface is indicated in percentages rather than degrees. For example, a rise of 20 m per 100 m horizontally is equal to 20:100 = 0.2 (20%). The following types of terrain are determined by the percentage of slope:

  • Flat (slope up to 3%)
  • Low slope (3 to 8%)
  • Medium slope (8 to 20%)
  • Steep slope (from 20%)

For the construction of a private house, they prefer flat areas or with a slight slope from the center. Such plots make it possible to implement a project of any complexity, but more often standard houses are built on them. If a slope is necessary to drain water, then it is formed with crushed stone and cement with a height of about 50 cm, and the width is made 1-1.5 m larger than the foundation.

Sites with a slight slope are suitable for buildings without foundations. Sometimes soil is poured on the side of the slope for construction.

Sites with a moderate slope can be used for buildings with a basement. In the basement, if access is possible, you can place a garage. In such an area, they do not add soil, but, on the contrary, cut off part of the slope. In such buildings, you need to take a serious approach to waterproofing the foundation and basement.

On areas with a steep slope, construction will require an individual design taking into account all the surface features. Of course, the layout of a house on a slope requires special preparation and additional expenses. But as a bonus, you get a lot of possibilities using surface features.

Negative points

Your site may seem like a complete insoluble misunderstanding to you. In fact, there are only a few negative points:

  • complex calculations before construction - leave this task to professionals
  • individual design – a standard project cannot be implemented on a slope
  • a long preparatory stage - in principle, no construction can do without this
  • higher costs for waterproofing than when building on a flat site
  • There may be difficulties with the delivery of materials and special equipment

You can build housing in several tiers, thus dividing the house into zones for different purposes. You can clear several parallel terraces the width of the buildings and build a house in a cascade. The platforms are reinforced with slabs, timber or walls.

The location of the house on such terraces allows you to create a project with open areas for recreation, winter gardens and a dining area under a canopy. This option is recommended when the surface slope is more than 12 percent. It is also advisable to strengthen the area around the perimeter.

Location on the site

The best option is construction on a southern slope. It is better to orient living quarters to the east, southeast and south. This way you will always be warm and light. During the cold season, less snow accumulates on the south side and it melts faster. If construction on the western slope cannot be avoided, then it is better to locate the house closer to the northern border of the site and, if possible, at the highest possible point.

There are two options for the location of the house on the site:

  1. fit the project into the existing landscape - this option is convenient because the house will organically fit into the surrounding area. It requires careful development at the house planning stage.
  2. level the terrain for construction - this option requires complex preparatory work and costs. After construction, you still have to work on landscaping on the site.

In relation to the house to the horizontal axes of inclination, parallel (a), diagonal (b) and perpendicular (c) placement on the site is distinguished.

To avoid creating shadows, buildings should be placed at a high point on the site (top). This solution simplifies waterproofing and drainage of water from the site. If your house is located in the middle of a slope and there are other areas higher up, take care of additional water drainage - a system of drainage pipes and ditches will help you.

If you plan to build on a steep rocky area, then you should use every flat area - building with terraces will be the best option and will help make the most of the landscape. You can solve it this way: connect separate buildings with transitions and play with this in the layout. Place the hallway and wardrobe at the bottom, the kitchen and dining room above, the recreation rooms further down, and the bedrooms at the top (diagonal and perpendicular placement). It should be noted that cold air falls down the slope, so at night the temperature in the house can drop by 10 C - this is the effect of a cold pocket. To avoid cooling the premises, a glazed winter garden or gallery can be installed on the top side near the house.

Otherwise, current fire and sanitary construction standards should be adhered to.

Building a house on a slope– a responsible decision associated with many difficulties. But your reward will be a unique structure. Using the features of the site and properly planning the construction, you will build a non-standard architectural work. From a practical point of view, in such a site it is much easier to organize sewerage, irrigation and water drainage, and when building taking into account the landscape, it is possible to save on earthworks and landscaping. You may benefit from building a house on a slope.

Many owners view a plot of land with difficult terrain as a punishment. But any disadvantage can easily be turned into an advantage. To do this, you do not need to call a grader for leveling. A competently used height difference will demonstrate all the charm of a non-standard landscape. Of course, construction on a relief site, as well as its arrangement, will be fraught with difficulties. But the end result will give you satisfaction with the work done and will arouse the envy of your neighbors. This article will discuss the correct arrangement of a site with a slope.

Linking a house to a plot with a slope

There are 2 ways to link a building to a site with a slope - without changing and with changing the existing landscape. A typical project is developed on the basis that construction will be carried out on a level site.

A house being built in an area with natural conditions requires processing of the underground and basement parts. Thus, the housing will have characteristic features that correspond to the site.

The slopes of the site are divided into:

  • on flatlands, where the slope is up to 3%;
  • with a small slope (up to 8%);
  • with an average slope (up to 20%);
  • steep (over 20%).

On slopes it is not only difficult to construct buildings, but also to construct access roads. Retaining walls, embankments and other strengthening structures are installed on slopes with height differences of 1:2.

Project of a site with a slope

Vertical layout of a site with a slope

Work on arranging a landscape with a complex “character” includes:

  • leveling the terrain as much as possible by removing soil in one place and adding it in another;
  • organization of storm drains, which can be either hidden or open;
  • determining the optimal location of the main house, gazebo, summer shower, vegetable garden, garden trees;
  • correction of small irregularities using the terracing method; for steep drops - arrangement of retaining walls.

  • This approach will help not only to correctly divide the territory into functional zones, but also makes it possible to design it in an original way.

Drainage system on a sloped area

  • The organization of the drainage system should be given due attention. Drainage will allow you to regulate the water balance and ensure rapid removal of water formed after precipitation or melting snow.
  • Rain and melt water form gullies. And the steeper the height difference, the greater the likelihood of slope failure. Since even small streams can create large ravines and lead to landslides of soil masses.
  • The drainage arrangement begins after all the main excavation works and communications have been laid. Knowing at least the approximate location of the main buildings and green plantings will help to correctly install the drainage system.
  • The installation method can be open or closed. The main advantage of a hidden drainage system is space saving. Since the canals run underground, access roads and paths can be built on top of them.
  • Trenches are dug along the slope of the entire site to the receiving collector. What is more effective is the installation of drainage in a herringbone pattern, where additional outlets are adjacent to the main line at an acute angle. With this method, the central trench should be located just below the auxiliary channels.

  • The depth of the trenches can range from 30 cm to 1 meter. The slope should not be less than 2 mm per linear meter of length. This parameter is important even in areas with a slope, because part of the system can also pass on a flat area.
  • A 10 cm layer of sand is poured into the bottom of the trench and compacted. Geotextiles are laid on top of it, the edges of which should cover the channel walls with a margin. Next, crushed stone is poured with a layer thickness of 10-20 cm.
  • Perforated polymer pipes are laid on the gravel bed and connected. The pipes are covered with a layer of crushed stone, and the finished system is covered with geotextiles. The entire “pie” is covered with sand and soil.

Design of a site with a slope

Mastering a complex landscape is fraught with certain difficulties. But this should not be an obstacle. A competent approach to landscaping work will lead to enchanting results.

Plot with a slope photo

  • Elevation differences make it possible to realize the most daring, original ideas. Alpine design is best suited for these purposes. The highlight of this style is the use of rough-hewn stones and a large number of delicate and bright colors. With the help of these 2 elements, the maximum number of tasks is solved:
    • zoning of the site is carried out;
    • boulders and plants serve to strengthen the slopes;
    • promote snow retention;
    • perfectly decorate the entire space.
  • Planting green spaces should be carried out based on the rule - the lower the point, the taller the plants. That is, low-growing varieties are planted on the upper part of the slope, and shrubs and trees are planted in the lowlands. This placement will help visually level the terrain.

  • The entire area of ​​the site must be planted. Between the beds and fruit trees, a lawn or ground cover plants (ivy, barberry, Japanese quince) are planted in empty areas. In addition to the aesthetic component, they will protect the soil from washing out.
  • In hilly areas it is impossible to do without paths and stairs. They should be as comfortable as possible, since you will have to move around them more than once during the day. It is recommended to make the width of the paths and the height of the steps of the stairs the same throughout the entire territory; this approach will help to avoid injuries.
  • Paths are laid out on a relatively flat surface. To visually smooth out the difference in heights, they are made tortuous.
  • Stairs and steps are necessary on steep slopes. If the slope is very large, then railings are installed on at least one side. The optimal tread width is 25-30 cm, the riser height is 15 cm. The slope of the entire structure should not exceed 45°.
  • If the flight of stairs is long, then rest areas are built, from which you can change the direction of ascent. The presence of more than 10 steps requires a concrete base, which will provide stability and prevent “sliding” of the entire staircase.
  • Terracing will help to properly arrange a site with slopes. The size and shape of the platforms is based on their purpose, so one width is needed for a vegetable garden, and another for a gazebo with a barbecue.
  • Zoning of the site is carried out taking into account its location relative to the cardinal points. Shading is also taken into account; shade-loving plants are planted in such places; a bench for reading can be installed.
  • When planning, it should be remembered that the more terraces are organized on the territory, the lower the height of the fortification walls. Accordingly, their construction is easier. Each terrace should ideally be equipped with its own drainage system.

Slope strengthening

Preventing the sliding of a loose mass of rocks is carried out by carrying out various fortification structures. The method of fixing the soil depends on the steepness of the terrain.

  • Natural strengthening. For relatively gentle slopes (up to 30°), creeping plants are used to form a decorative cover. Branched roots will create a natural frame. Willow, lilac, and rose hips are planted in the lowlands. Over time, the developing roots of the shrubs will also reliably hold the soil together.
  • Geomaterial. An excellent solution would be geotextiles or geogrids. The material is spread on the site and covered with soil. After a while, the soil will twitch and turn green. Such strengthening does not imply a change in terrain. The protective layer covering the material is resistant to adverse weather conditions and chemical influences. The service life of the product is 50 years.

  • embankment. Consolidation measures can be carried out using an embankment. But when implementing them, it should be remembered that the embankment occupies a usable area, so it is rational to use it in spacious areas. Another disadvantage is regular topping, that is, after a certain period of time, soil is removed from the base and added to the top of the slope.
  • Retaining walls. Walls made of natural materials (stone, wood) look advantageous and practical. The fortification structure will protect the slope from destruction and delimit the space through terracing. They can be installed on hilly terrain with any elevation changes.
  • Low walls (up to 80 cm), which play more of a decorative role than a functional one, are equipped on their own. The construction of a massive structure, designed to largely prevent landslides of soil masses, should be entrusted to professionals.
  • Gabions. Modular designs are widely used by landscape designers. Gabions are easy to install; they are filled with pebbles, coarse crushed stone, and rubble stone. You can fill the voids between the material with earth, and then in the spring, the unaesthetic mesh with cobblestones will disappear behind green growth. Modules are purchased from the manufacturer or made from wire yourself. Stone walls with sprouts sprouting give the area a noble, visually aged appearance.

  • When designing reinforcement structures, the forces acting on overturning and shearing are calculated. Strength and durability are given to the walls through a foundation, the thickness and depth of which depends on the height of the supporting wall, its purpose and the type of soil.
  • The supporting part of the wall resists vertical loads. The presence of a drainage system during the construction of walls is mandatory. It will prevent rain and melt water from washing away the base of the wall.
  • The most commonly used material for building walls is stone. Artificial or natural boulders can be laid either with or without mortar. With the “dry” masonry method, soil is laid in the voids and sown with seeds. Unfortunately, the lack of mortar makes the wall not a particularly reliable structure during prolonged rains and during spring floods.

  • Brick is also particularly popular. The clinker masonry may be loose or dull. The material allows you to build walls of any configuration, winding and zigzag shapes.
  • Wooden elements fit harmoniously into the surrounding landscape, but due to their special characteristics, their use as a fortification structure is not advisable. Of course, treatment with special preparations will extend the life of the wood, but again, this is only temporary protection. This design requires regular maintenance.
  • If, when constructing walls made of stone and brick, the height of the structure should not exceed 70 cm, then the use of concrete allows a similar figure of 3 m. Here you can use concrete slabs made in a factory, or pour the concrete mixture into the prepared formwork.

In conclusion, I would like to summarize some results:

  • a plot of land with difficult terrain will be cheaper, but the costs of its development will be noticeably higher than on a flat area. Conclusion: no savings;
  • extensive work on tying a residential building to the topography, the location of recreation areas and beds are fully compensated by the overall original appearance of the site. Conclusion: the difference in heights provides more opportunities to implement non-standard ideas than flat terrain.

House on a slope or difficult terrain

When choosing a site for the construction of a country house, we are happy when we find a perfectly flat site, and we are upset if the location suits us, but the site has complex terrain. There is no need to worry about this, because a talented architect will always be able to turn the disadvantages of a site into its undeniable advantages. The only question is: how much will such an exclusive cost?

Features of architecture on a slope

The upcoming construction costs and the choice of design for the future home largely depend on the features of the relief. The relief is determined by the slope of the surface, which is calculated as the ratio of the difference in height of two terrain points to the horizontal distance between them, which is the tangent of the angle of inclination of the line to the terrain.

Slope is measured in fractions or percentages. For example, a rise of 10 m while moving 100 m diagonally corresponds to a slope of 0.10 or 10%. Depending on the magnitude of the slope, areas can be flat (the slope is no more than 3%), with a small slope - from 3 to 8%, medium - up to 20% and steep - over 20%.


Formula for determining slope: (slope = a/b x 100%), where a is the height difference, b is the distance
between points

Of course, flat areas are optimal from the point of view of construction, but in this article we will not talk about them. There are several ways to build a house on plots with a slight slope:

  • place the house on level ground, for which soil is added from the side of the slope. At the same time, you can save on an individual project and build a cottage according to any of the standard ones you like.
  • cut the lower (ground) floor of the house into the slope. In this case, as in all others (that is, on areas with a medium and steep slope), construction is possible only according to an individual project.
  • building a house on a slope involves multi-level house, each level of which is shifted along the slope(terrace and cascade-sectional houses). The most difficult and expensive option, at times.

Naturally, the question may arise: is it possible to level the slope, ensuring a level construction site? As practice shows, changing the natural structure of the relief is extremely rare, since it is associated with large labor and financial costs, as well as disruption of the environment (movement of groundwater, soil layer, vegetation, etc.).

That is why, when building on complex terrain, it is better to turn to “organic architecture”, the main canons of which were developed by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. This is architecture “inscribed” in nature - “bending around” the trees, “climbing” the slope, repeating the most remarkable features of the relief, which allows the house to organically dissolve into the surrounding landscape. The formation of a rational slope profile is achieved by giving it an appropriate steepness, terracing and general planning.

The technical side of the issue of building a house on difficult terrain

When searching sites for building a house experts advise choosing the highest and driest place on the site. This is due to a number of reasons:

  • Firstly, buildings located below the top of the hill are an obstacle to the movement of cold night air, resulting in its stagnation and the formation of a so-called cold pocket. In this place the temperature can be 9 ºC below the ambient temperature.
  • Secondly, precipitation can accumulate at the bottom of the slope and the ground there becomes swampy, which creates serious difficulties for building a foundation.
  • Thirdly, construction at the highest point makes it possible to optimally solve the problem of drainage, which is quite acute for areas with complex terrain, and organize the unimpeded natural flow of surface water. If the soil is sandy, then surface drainage is sufficient, but if the soil is clayey, it is also necessary to arrange foundation drainage. Linear surface drainage of the site helps to remove water from the foundation of the house, cutting off the flow of rain and melt water flowing from the slope to the base of the buildings with a line of channels.

Of great importance for construction on a slope is the composition and characteristics of the occurrence of soils, as well as groundwater. In some cases, in order to eliminate or weaken the softening and destructive effects of groundwater on soils, to reduce and eliminate filtration pressure, it is necessary to carry out artificial dewatering.

There are many difficulties in designing houses on slopes and their subsequent construction. The architect's task is to turn them into advantages. Of great importance for the formation of the architectural image of the house is the direction from which it is approached - from the foot of the slope or from its top: when “recognizing” the house, its perception changes.

In the first case, as a rule, the building is located so that we can see it completely. In the second, only the “top” of the building is visible, that is, those floors (or floor) that are located at the top of the slope. We enter the house, and suddenly it turns out that it is much larger, that it has not one or two, but three floors. There is a gradual “opening” of it.

If we talk about the technical issues of constructing a building on a complex terrain, then the main role here is given to the characteristics of the soils lying on the site. It’s one thing to have homogeneous soil or a dense layer that can serve as a foundation for a foundation. In this case, you can pour a monolithic strip foundation, designing it so that it can resist the pressure of the slope.

And it’s a completely different matter if the soil lies in heterogeneous horizontal or, even more so, inclined layers that can slide down the slope. In these conditions, it will be necessary to build a foundation on piles. The nature and depth of groundwater should also be taken into account.

To prevent soil sliding, terracing of slopes is used. Artificial changes in the relief of a slope (slope) should be provided to prevent and stabilize the processes of shear, sliding, extrusion, landslides and soil flow, including landslides and flows.

Since the house is partially buried in a slope, increased requirements are placed on the building’s hydro- and thermal insulation in order to avoid condensation and leaks on the walls. It is also necessary to provide for the presence of supply and exhaust ventilation in the house, since some of the premises will remain without the possibility of natural ventilation.

Slope exposure

One of the most important characteristics of a site with complex terrain, taken into account when designing buildings, is its exposure - a combination of steepness and orientation of the slope. We already talked about steepness (slope level) at the beginning of the article, let’s look at the concept of orientation. Orientation is expressed in azimuths or directions.

The azimuthal geodetic scale of the horizon has 360º, counting from the north direction clockwise. According to the orientation of the slope, the territory is divided into sections corresponding to eight directions - north, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest, west, northwest.


The most favorable slopes for construction are those facing south and southeast.

It turns out that the orientation of the slope, no less than the geological features of the site, influences the decision on the possibility or impossibility of construction.

The most favorable slopes for this are those facing south and southeast, and those oriented to the north or west are unfavorable. And that's why. Slopes facing south and southeast are well insolated (lit by sunlight), winds from the south blow weaker, which ultimately allows partial savings on heating the building. In this case, even the use of alternative sources of heat - solar power plants - can become economically profitable.

Experts are unanimous that northern slopes are completely unsuitable for building a house (except in areas with a hot climate). There is insufficient insolation here, strong cold winds blow. Making a home comfortable in such conditions is very difficult and, most importantly, more expensive. Construction on western slopes should also be avoided, but for a completely different reason. In the afternoon, they are exposed to active sunlight, which can lead to overheating of the premises and discomfort to the people in them.

Based on an analysis of the slope exposure, a decision is made to exclude certain areas of the territory from the main development. They can be used for other functional purposes.

It should be borne in mind that construction on a slope is not always possible. In particular, if a soil study showed the likelihood of a landslide. Of course, something can be done in this case, for example, installing foundation piles 20 m deep, if this is, of course, economically justified. The customer must decide for himself whether he is ready to incur large financial expenses. Sometimes the site offers a beautiful view of the sea, mountains or other landscape beauty, which is of decisive importance for future owners of property on a slope.

And yet, before building a house on a site with difficult terrain, it is recommended to conduct a thorough study of the soil. For example, in the West there is such a practice. Before making a decision to build on any site, its potential owners contact the design bureau.

Architects study the features of the relief and give an opinion on how economically feasible construction is there. We practically do not have this stage. Moreover, in practice there were cases when all the beliefs of the architect had no force for the customers, and construction was stopped at the stage of the zero cycle, since the customer ran out of money. As a result, he was left without money and without a home.

It is necessary to understand that economical construction does not work on difficult terrain. The costs of the zero cycle (digging a pit, monolithic and drainage work, construction of retaining walls, etc.) may exceed the cost of the house itself. It all also depends on the cost of land in a given location; sometimes the cost of a site with complex terrain can be an order of magnitude lower than nearby sites with a flat surface, in which case the costs of a zero cycle can be justified.


Choosing a house type

Although construction on a slope or on difficult terrain is carried out exclusively according to individual projects, all of them can one way or another be divided into two types:

  • stepped houses
  • houses of variable number of storeys.

The first ones have a stepped shape corresponding to the slope of the site being built, and are divided into cascade-sectional (consisting of sections of equal height, shifted vertically by half a floor or by a floor) and terraced. Terrace houses consist of one-, two- and three-story buildings running both along and across the slope. In this case, the roof of the lower part of the building is a terrace-balcony for the upper part. If cascade-sectional houses are designed for construction on slopes with a slope of 7 to 17%, then terraced houses - at least 25-30%.

The second type of buildings - houses of variable number of storeys - have their long sides across or diagonally across the slope. Moreover, they have a roof at the same level and a different number of floors in different parts of the building, which depends on the difference in relief. The construction of houses of variable number of storeys is possible on slopes with any slope.