Basement living versus more living space on the ground floor

We live in a very steep building area. I know 10 houses from the inside and 5 of them do not have a basement for cost reasons. 2 of these houses each belong to an architect themselves. So I don't believe that a basement must be cost-effective. Especially if you want to live age-appropriately without stairs. I would leave it out.

We live in a very steep building area. I know 10 houses from the inside and 5 of them have no basement for cost reasons. 2 of those houses belong to architects themselves. So I don't believe that a basement has to be economically sensible. Especially if you want to live age-appropriately without stairs. I would leave it out. [/QUOTE How did you then place the house or support the slope? Then only stilts would have been possible

We live in a very steep building area. I know 10 houses from the inside and 5 of them have no basement for cost reasons. 2 of those houses belong to architects themselves. So I don't believe that a basement has to be economically sensible. Especially if you want to live age-appropriately without stairs. I would leave it out.

But how did the "no-basement builders" then set up the house? On stilts?

I don't think the basement is bad. There are guest rooms and a workshop located here. Both rooms are needed but not daily. If both need a walker, they will no longer live in the house or in the basement a caregiver has their own domain.

Somewhere I read that you really need barrier-free, because you plan that using a walker or wheelchair should not be a reason to move out. Here I can recommend the site Nullbarriere. From my experience, you have to be very proactive to ensure that you can get from the yard to the terrace with a walker. It's not done by just having no stairs and no shower tray. Many say sure, no problem, and then the thresholds and the shower tray are missing in the house. What about the rest? At the moment, it's only about the floor plan and the arrangement of the furniture allowing enough movement space. The rest comes as needed and according to the current state of the art.

But how did the "non-basement builders" then set up the house? On stilts?

Google . This is how it can look without a basement. Not the cheapest solution.

I don’t think the basement is bad. There are guest rooms and a workshop here. Both are rooms that are needed but not daily. If both need a walker, they will no longer live in the house or a caregiver will have their own domain in the basement. I read somewhere that you really need barrier-free because you plan that a walker or wheelchair should not be a reason to move out. Here I can recommend the site Nullbarriere. In my experience, you really have to push yourself to get from the yard to the terrace with a walker. It’s not just about no stairs and no shower tray. Many say yes, no problem, and then the thresholds in the house and the shower tray are missing. What about the rest? Right now it’s only about the floor plan and the arrangement of the furniture allowing for movement space. The rest comes as needed and according to the current state of technology.

That’s correct. We are also not planning for the worst case (electric wheelchair). However, the doors should be wide enough right from the start for a normal wheelchair and thresholds eliminated. I try to simplify everything a bit by arranging the doors/rooms (so that at least one person can get straight from the door to the bed, or to the level shower, for example, without further turns). Most people can still consciously walk a few steps in old age; the problems in everyday life are usually the small trip hazards and everyday things. For example, we will definitely install an outlet at standing height directly below every light switch (vacuum cleaner). I do have ideas and actually a professional background regarding age-appropriate renovation of old buildings. I’m just looking for a sensible and most cost-effective approach to combine the topics “living on one level” with the topic “basement necessary/useful because of a slope.”

Yes, small stumbling blocks always become annoying at some point. It is only frustrating if the nursing service can’t properly reach the shower and the kitchen is only accessible by maneuvering back and forth three times. It works pretty well with a compass to get the 1.5 m turning area. I think the space requirement at the bed shouldn’t be underestimated. I see it with my parents how something generous becomes a bit small. If you build without a basement, you have to support the house in some way. Wall, stilts, etc. Just like did. However, he didn’t necessarily look at costs. His focus was more on how he wanted it. With such a height difference, the cheapest solution is always to reduce the floor area and put rooms in the basement. Reducing is only possible to a limited extent for you. I find the solution as you have drawn it quite good. Everyday life upstairs, everything else downstairs. I would also plan a niche upstairs for the washing machine and dryer. Carrying the laundry basket downstairs can be tedious.