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CHAPTER 2BASIC HOUSE DESIGNS

AT – 201

Introduction to Architecture

Dan Trent

August 27, 2012

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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

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KEY TERMS

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

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FOUR Basic Designs

One-Story Ranch One-and-One-Half Story Two-Story Split-Level

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

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FACTORS to Consider

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

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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

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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

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Summary of DISADVANTAGES

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

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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

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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

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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)

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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)

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TWO-STORY DESIGN

Classic examples

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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

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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)

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SPLIT LEVEL DESIGN

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Split Level Cross Section

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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

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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

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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 ______________

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QUESTIONS?

Thank you for your attention!