Plot of land on a slope

Hello everyone,

we are considering purchasing a plot of land and currently have two options in view. However, both are on a slope and we want to build a city villa without a basement.

Plot 1 (20x35m), short side facing the slope, has a height difference of about 2 meters over the 20m
Plot 2 (24x29m), long side facing the slope, has a height difference of about 6 meters over the 29m

Now to the questions:

1.) In the case of Plot 1, can redistribution (cutting at the top, filling at the bottom) be used as a base for a slab foundation, or is filled area always bad for the slab and associated with high additional costs?

2.) Plot 2: does building without a basement make any sense at all given the large height difference??

Sorry for the unspecific information, but the main goal is to get a rough feeling. Everything else will have to be discussed in detail with an architect anyway.

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

I think 2m can still be compensated quite well. The question will be, what is the condition of the ground? Do you already have information about the soil or a soil survey? You can also ask other builders next door if someone has already built there. What about groundwater? For the 6m, I think I wouldn’t build without a basement.

Our plot also has a slight slope and we are building without a basement. The difference between street level and the level of the base slab is about 1.30 m, with 5m from the front door to the street. However, the height could not be too much because our development plan states that the natural ground levels may neither be excavated nor filled. In the middle of our plot, the ground is quite flat, so our house fits on it without major changes.

Hello,

we are considering acquiring a plot of land and currently have two pieces in view. However, both are on a slope and we want to build a city villa without a basement.

Plot 1 (20x35m), short side to the slope, has an elevation difference of about 2 meters over the 20m
Plot 2 (24x29m), long side to the slope, has an elevation difference of about 6 meters over the 29m

Now to the questions:

1.) Can plot 1 be used as a base for a floor slab by redistribution (cutting at the top, filling at the bottom) or is filled area always bad for the floor slab and associated with high additional costs?

No.

First, the topsoil will be set aside anyway, and secondly, foundations are only allowed on natural ground. If this is not the case, the soil report will show how and with which material of what grain size a safe foundation can be made.

2.) Plot 2: Does building without a basement even make sense given the large height difference??

No.

Although from my subjective point of view, a utility basement is the most expensive storage space in the house I can imagine. With a 6 m difference – you will probably also have to backfill a part, but this is specified in the text regulations for the plot (terrain course/adjustment) – I would plan a residential basement, at least partially with access to the terrain.

With a plot on a slope, you will repeatedly encounter the term "foundation additional costs" in your discussions!

Rhenish greetings

Thanks for your input! We will look at both properties again today, but my tendency at the moment still leans toward property 1. We will request the soil survey and terrain/course adjustment plan from the municipality.

Hello,

We will request the soil survey and terrain/course adjustment plan from the municipality.

You will have to commission the soil survey yourself or your preferred provider includes it in their scope of services. The municipality is unlikely to have such a document. Maybe from the surrounding planned roads, provided the property is located in a new development area. But even then, you should commission a soil survey specifically for your property.

Rhine regards