Basic House Designs Architecture II Dr. Ku-Michitti

What are the four basic house designs? The one-story or ranch The one-and-one-half story The two-story Split-level

Lesson Objectives After this lesson, students will be able to: –Recognize the four basic house designs. –List the main advantages and disadvantages of each design. –Compare and contrast the relative cost of heating and cooling for each design.

One-Story Ranch Designs All the regular living space is on one level Low-pitch roof with wide over hangs Typically found in a L-shape, U-shape, or rectangular design Image retrieved from:

The One-Story Ranch Design: Example

The One-Story Ranch Designs: Advantages vs. Disadvantages Advantages –Indoor/Outdoor living atmosphere Patios, terraces, etc. –No stairs –Low-pitch Roof Low maintenance Disadvantage –Cost more to built than other designs with the same sq. footage More roof area More foundation length –Larger lot, more spread out –Difficult to heat What are the advantages & disadvantaged of the one-story ranch design?

One-and-One-Half Story Designs Sometimes called the “Cape Cod” Essentially one-story with a steeper roof to allow expansion of the attic Dormers provide extra light and ventilation Any space with less than 5 feet of headroom is considered unusable –Total square feet of space in attic is about ½ of the 1 st floor

The One-and-One Half Story Design: Example

One-and-One-Half Story Designs What is an advantage of the one-and- one half story design? –Economic in cost per unit of habitable living space –Built-in expansibility

Two-Story Designs Economical to build Usually traditional styles, now adapting to a contemporary style

Two-Story Designs

Advantages –Heating & Cooling are economical –Less land needed Disadvantages –General exterior requires more maintenance More difficulty due to height –Stairs –Lack of variation Why has the two-story house become more popular? What are the advantages & disadvantages of the two-story design?

Split-Level Designs Conceived for the sloping or hilly lots Takes advantage of the difference in elevations Efficient use of land/space Little or no hall space is required Basement ordinarily equals about 40 to 60% of the space occupied by the house

Split-Level Designs

What are some negative aspects of the split-level design? –More expensive to build than a two-story house Cheaper than a ranch –Heating –Access to different levels

Review What are the four basic house styles? What are some characteristics of the one- story style? What are the different shapes of the one- story style? What are the advantages of a 2-story house design? Disadvantages? What type of elevation are the slip-level house designs mainly built on?