BESPOKE DESIGN IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT SLOPING BLOCKS

E X P L O R I N G T H E P O S S I B I L I T I E S

F O R Y O U R U N I Q U E S L O P E .

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Why build on a sloping site? p 4-5

Why build with a custom home builder? p 6-7

Understanding slopes p 8 -9

How a slope can shape a design p 8

Slope conversion table p 9

What is a split-level home? p 9

Understanding subsurface and surface drainage p 10-11

Why is drainage important? p10

Soil conditions p11

Bespoke Design ideas for different slopes p 12-34

Down-slope Sites p 14-19

Up-slope Sites p 20-29

Side-slope Sites p 30-35

How to get started on your sloping block design p36

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Some of the most spectacular

homes in Australia can be found

on sloping sites; overlooking our

oceans, rivers and lakes, urban

outlooks or nestled amongst tree-

tops. So where do you begin when

it comes to building a custom

home on your sloping site?

Let’s explore the essential factors.

BESPOKE

DESIGN

IDEAS FOR

DIFFERENT

SLOPES

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VIEWS Make the most of any

stunning views over

bush, city or beach.

FRESH AIR The right design on a

sloping site can capture

beautiful prevailing

breezes.

LIGHT & COMFORT Designs can be

positioned to optimise

natural light and

warmth.

LOCATION Sloping sites can unlock

new opportunities

in highly desirable

locations.

SIZE & SPACE Multiple levels or layers

can provide significant

interior space.

VALUE Sloping blocks can

often be purchased for

a comparatively lower

purchase price, helping

to offset any additional

construction costs.

It’s important to note that design and quality matters a great deal in

sloping block homes. They require extra thought and attention; not

only to optimise the design for you, but also to minimise the impact on

neighbouring properties and the natural landscape.

WHY BUILD ON A SLOPING BLOCK?

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Not many builders build on sloping blocks;

largely because every sloping site is unique.

Adapting an existing standard design

from a builder can mean compromising on

important features.

With a custom designer like Wincrest

Bespoke, your home design is designed from

the ground up to maximise the space, layout,

outlook and natural topography for your

specific site.

There is no compromise, because the design

is entirely customised to suit your land and

your lifestyle.

If there’s two potential shortcomings to

building on a sloping site, it’s that excavation

and access to build and transport materials

can be costly. That’s why it’s critical to work

with an experienced sloping site builder who

will use the natural site to its advantages.

This maximises the lifestyle benefits for you,

whilst minimising earthworks and overall

expense.

Wincrest Bespoke specialises in designing

and building on sites with slopes of up to 7

metres and greater, throughout Sydney’s

Northern Suburbs, Inner West, Eastern

Suburbs and Beaches, Central Coast,

Sutherland Shire and Western Sydney.

WHY BUILD WITH A CUSTOM HOME BUILDER?

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SLOPE CONVERSION TABLE

Slope degree (approximate) Slope gradient (rise/run) Slope percentage

1.2° 1/50 2%

2.9° 1/20 5%

4.0° 1/14.3 7%

5.7° 1/10 10%

11.3° 1/5 20%

14.0° 1/4 25%

26.6° 1/2 50%

45° 1/1 100%

A split-level home is a home design in which the floor levels are

staggered. A split-level home might also be referred to as a bi-level

or tri-level home, depending on the levels in the design.

WHAT IS A SPLIT-LEVEL HOME?

HOW A SLOPE CAN SHAPE A DESIGN

Depending on the fall profile of your site,

there are a number of different construction

methods that we consider for your custom

build.

FLAT TO SLIGHT SLOPES

These slopes can vary from a 0° to 6° slope.

A single slab is typically suitable until a slope

of about 4°, above which one or more level

changes may be recommended.

MODERATE SLOPES

Moderate slopes have a slope of 6° to 12°.

Most designs will employ either two or more

foundation slabs, or use a combination of part

slab and part bearers and joist construction.

STEEP SLOPES

Steep slopes can be anywhere from 12° to 18°.

Designs on these sites will typically be bearers

and joist construction. Depending on the site

and design, the design may include a concrete

slab foundation on the lower level.

EXTREME SLOPES

These slopes are upward of 18°. Suspended or

bearers and joist construction is typical, and

working with a specialist sloping site builder is

essential.

Before we talk design, it’s important to first understand the nature of a sloping site and the typical

construction methods that suit each type of incline.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SLOPES

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SOIL CONDITIONS

Soil conditions can be just as unique as the site’s inclination.

The presence of clay, sand or rock require special

consideration. Once again, your choice of custom home

builder will ensure your stunning new home design is

ideally suited to your site conditions – and that earthwork

costs are kept to a minimum.

Drainage is one of the key factors your builder will consider while analysing

your sloping block.

WHY IS DRAINAGE IMPORTANT?

On a sloping site, it’s not enough to simply add a foundation and build a

beautiful home on top. Rainfall and stormwater can behave differently on

slopes, and as such drainage for both needs to be carefully planned for your

custom build.

There are set requirements to be met when it comes to drainage, and a

reputable architectural designer and builder will consult with the appropriate

professionals to ensure the right solution for your new home design.

UNDERSTANDING SUBSURFACE AND SURFACE DRAINAGE

• Surface water can

be directed away

from structures using

methods such as

grading, channels and

surface inlet points.

Roof water could be

stored in rainwater

detention tanks or

piped offsite.

• Subsurface water

should be carefully

managed to minimise

dampness, and

effectively diverted

away from footings,

basements and

retaining walls.

• Stormwater runoff

must also be able

to flow via a pit or

drain and connect

to the legal point of

discharge close to or

within the property.

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BESPOKE DESIGN IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT SLOPES

The orientation of your site can

play a deciding factor in the design

of your home. Here, we explore the

difference between down-slope,

up-slope and side-slope sites, and

how they inspire design.

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DOWN-SLOPE SITES With a down-slope site the site falls down and away from the road, and as such the garage and entry will typically be on or near the upper street level.

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Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects/west-pymble/

Creature comforts at every turn,

this home is built for family living.

From the generous bedrooms to

the state-of-the-art media room,

then on to the sprawling family area

with adjoining alfresco, this home

has it all.

E X A M P L E 1

A DOUBLE STOREY DESIGN ON A DOWN-SLOPE SITE

Your front elevation may look quite streamlined, while an open rear elevation can be a great opportunity to maximise views from rooms and balconies at the back of the home.

OLD WORLD CHARM MEETS MODERN LIVING IN WEST PYMBLE Designed with its local surroundings in

mind, this contemporary home pays homage

to the area’s heritage while bringing all the

premium finishes you’d expect from today’s

homes.

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4 BEDROOMS

3 BATHROOMS

1 LIVING AREA

1 STUDY

1 MEDIA ROOM

2 GARAGES

Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects/west-pymble/

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Our design helped raise the house up

to allow a nice street presence, whilst

still keeping the living areas private

and connected to the rear yard. The

end result was a spacious and beautiful

design that any family would be proud

to call home.

HIGH ON A HILL? NO PROBLEM. Perched on a significant 5.2m

drop, our design team had

no problem envisioning a

design that would take full

advantage of the terrain. With

an extensive drop off from the

street, the existing house was

hidden from street level.

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UP-SLOPE SITES An up-slope site rises up from the road, and as such the garage and entry are typically on the lower level of the home. Extreme up-slope sites may require a long or curved driveway to avoid steep entry.

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Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects /collaroy/

The master bedroom and expansive

living areas and have been well

positioned to capture the front

facing views, at the same time

providing a seamless connection to

the dining and alfresco at the rear.

E X A M P L E 1

A TRIPLE STOREY DESIGN ON AN UP-SLOPE SITE With a multi storey design on an up-slope, one of the upper levels will typically open up to the back yard.

A STUNNING TRI-LEVEL HOME WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS Sleek lines and bold textures bring style

and sophistication to this modern home.

Taking full advantage of the narrow,

sloped terrain, this custom designed

home offers style and comfort on not

one, but three whole new levels.

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SPACE AND STYLE TO SPARE Perched on a sloping fall of

3.12m, this full-split home

has been custom built to

seamlessly accommodate the

local terrain. Our designers

have gone to great lengths

to consider every inch of this

floorplan, crafting a layout

that would take advantage

of the views whilst being

practical and liveable on every

level.

4 BEDROOMS

4 BATHROOMS

2 LIVING AREAS

1 RUMPUS

2 GARAGES

Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects/collaroy/

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Entertaining will become second

nature with the adjoining kitchen,

lounge and alfresco area, not to

mention the sprawling front balcony

to take in the spectacular views.

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Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects /wamberal/

The sprawling living areas were

placed on the top floor to maximise

the panoramic views and take

advantage of a glorious raked

ceiling. Large north-facing windows

allow natural light to fill the home.

E X A M P L E 2

A SPLIT-LEVEL DESIGN ON AN UP-SLOPE SITE A split-level home on an up-slope can take advantage of views from the front of the home, as well as spacious living zones that flow into one another.

A STUNNING TRI-LEVEL HOME LOCATED ON THE BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL COAST Designed for today’s active lifestyles,

this modern home takes beachside

living to a new level.

Across three well-positioned levels, our

designers have made excellent use of

space.

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3 BEDROOMS

2 BATHROOMS

1 LIVING AREA

2 GARAGES

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Our designers met this challenge with

an inspired three-level design which

beautifully married the home with its

surrounds. The large bedrooms are

well-spread out while the living areas

and expansive front balcony provide

breathtaking views of the area.

CUSTOM BUILT FOR MODERN LIVING This uphill sloping block has

a fall of between 1.8 to 3.5m

over the building footprint.

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SIDE-SLOPE SITES A side-slope site has a cross slope as you look at it from the front. With a side-slope home design, you can often take advantages of views on the lower side of the slope.

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Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects/willoughby-home/

Two large splits in the house

allowed the floorplan to transition

seamlessly with the topography

of site. Plus having the living area

elevated allowed us to capture

the views of the northern Sydney

skyline.

E X A M P L E 1

A SPLIT-LEVEL DESIGN ON A SIDE-SLOPE SITE Your front elevation may look quite streamlined, while an open rear elevation can be a great opportunity to maximise views from rooms and balconies at the back of the home.

RE-DEFINING LUXURY AND STYLE Conceived by our team of visionary

designers, this innovative home sets the

benchmark for all that will come after it.

Despite a challenging cross fall and

excessive front to rear fall, this difficult

corner block proved no match for our team.

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4 BEDROOMS

2 BATHROOMS

2 LIVING AREAS

1 STUDY

2 GARAGES

Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects/willoughby-home/

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The main bedroom, with its large

walk-in-robe and ensuite, guarantees

privacy as it is cleverly located away

from the other three bedrooms. With

an upstairs living area, study, and

balcony off the dining room, there is

room for everybody in this stunning

family home.

STUNNING RAKED CEILING The heart of this home is its

well-appointed kitchen, dining

and family areas. Look up and

you’ll see its stunning raked

ceiling which, not only creates

an amazing sense of light

and space, it increases air-

flow – ideal for an Australian

summer.

A R R A N G E Y O U R C O M P L I M E N T A R Y S I T E I N S P E C T I O N T O D A Y

(02) 9895 1688

wincrestbespoke.com.au

LET US HELP YOU BUILD THE HOME YOU’VE ALWAYS IMAGINED

HEAD OFFICE

(02) 9895 1644

Level 2, 18 Pitt

Street Parramatta

NORTH SYDNEY

(02) 8880 9380

Shop 4, 115

Sailors Bay Rd,

Northbridge

SOUTHERN SYDNEY

(02) 9190 5310

47 Kiora Rd,

Miranda

NORTHERN BEACHES

(02) 9971 1597

1020 Pittwater Rd,

Collaroy

WESTERN SYDNEY

(02) 9895 1688

5 Noah Street

Box Hill

Created for those who seek more than just a home, a Wincrest

Bespoke are specialists in unique homes where quality workmanship

meets stunning designs.

- I t is a home exclusively created to complement its surrounds.

- It is a home whose finishes are modern and beautiful.

- It is a home built with attention to detail and superior customer service.

The difference lies in our ability to work with our client’s own

architect or designer. Together, we can work seamlessly to bring your

home’s vision to life. The result? A stunning custom designed home

that blends elegance, space and functionality to create a perfect

match for your family, suburb, land, and lifestyle.

WINCREST BESPOKE WAS BORN OUT OF THE NEED FOR A TRULY BESPOKE HOME BUILDER IN SYDNEY.