A Complete Guide To Hillside House Design

Building a home is one of the most challenging projects, especially on the hillside. Hillside houses require extra time and effort during construction and a clever design to maximize the stunning location.

Due to its challenges, many aspiring homeowners may shy away from building their homes on a hillside. However, sloping properties are more valuable, especially in a secluded yet accessible location. Therefore, a hillside house can be one of the best investments.

This article would serve as a complete guide to hillside house design to create your dream home in the most stunning location.

Challenges Of Building On A Hillside

The challenges of sloping design homes affect aspiring homeowners, designers, and builders. Unlike building on a flatland, it requires careful consideration of the following:

• Foundation Work: Building on slopes requires additional foundation work. You’ll spend more on materials and expect a more extended project timeline due to land preparation.
• Soil Cutting And Filling: Most hillside house construction requires excessive soil cutting and filling to integrate the structure with the landscape. Some builders may recommend using additional reinforcement to minimize land impact.
• Heavy Equipment Access: Accessibility is one of the most significant challenges in building a hillside house. Before construction, the builder may need to create a temporary dirt road for heavy equipment and vehicles.
• Drainage Planning: Drainage is one of the most crucial factors in ensuring the structural integrity of a hillside house, as the water may flow directly to its foundations.

While building on a slope is challenging, it’s possible with the help of expert designers and builders.

Benefits Of A Hillside House

Many aspiring homeowners happily take the risk of building a custom home on a hillside despite its challenges due to these benefits:

• Uninterrupted Views: Hillside homes usually have the most stunning views. The uninterrupted scenery also boosts property value.
• Natural Light: Due to its elevated location, a hillside house can efficiently maximize natural light, which allows you to save energy.
• Unique Landscape: Sloping properties offer an opportunity to create a unique landscape. You can build stairs and pathways surrounded by greenery to enjoy nature.

Hillside homes are some of the most coveted properties regarding aesthetics, comfort, and value.

How To Build A Hillside Home

Building a hillside home is a tedious task. However, you can turn your dream house into a reality with these steps:

1. Start With Site Analysis

Every home construction project starts with a site analysis. It involves evaluating the property’s location, size, zoning, geology, utilities, and other infrastructural land factors.

During this process, the architect will evaluate your property to develop the best design. It also includes a soil test performed by a geodetic engineer to analyze the strength of the land to build necessary reinforcements.

2. Hire A Trusted Designer And Builder

Hiring a trusted designer and builder is crucial to every home project. However, you must look for a company specializing in sloping properties to guarantee quality. The right contractor will help you achieve the following:

• Create An Ideal Home Design: Reliable construction companies have a team of professionals to create an ideal home design to ensure comfort and elegance.
• Prioritize Safety: Professionals follow the building code to prioritize safety. 
• Ensure Structural Strength: Experts design and build a strong structure to withstand earthquakes, storms, and other calamities to keep your home safe and long-lasting. 
• Build Within Your Budget: Trusted design and build companies can offer various options to construct within your budget without compromising structural integrity.

Hiring experts is a requirement when building a hillside house. 

3. Set Your Budget

Constructing a hillside house may require around 20% to 25% more than building a home on a flatland. However, these prices may increase or decrease depending on the slope. Steeper lands are more expensive to build a home due to the extra costs of land preparation and foundation work.

4. Choose A Multi-Level Design

You can maximize the sloping property by choosing a multi-level design, especially in an urban hillside neighborhood. Aside from taking advantage of an expansive living space, you can enjoy panoramic views, cross ventilation, and natural light.

5. Blend The Home With The Landscape

Building the home based on the slope is crucial to minimizing land impact. You should design the structure as part of the hill to blend seamlessly with the landscape. An excellent example is building a house with outdoor access on each level. The foundation’s side facing the upper portion can also double as a retaining wall.

6. Maximize Natural Light And Views

An efficient hillside house design maximizes natural light and panoramic views. Expert designers create a plan based on the location to build a home that harmonizes with its environment. Here are some tips to achieve this goal:

• Install Oversized Windows: Oversized windows are a must, especially for properties in rural areas. These windows can frame the scenery like a painting but much better. They also improve airflow and let the home breathe.
• Build A Balcony: A balcony lets you enjoy the outdoor views and feel the breeze. It’s a perfect spot to chill, drink coffee, or watch the sunset.
• Add An Infinity Pool: A hillside property is perfect for an infinity pool. The downward slope creates a visual continuity that vanishes the edge and blends in with the horizon.
• Build Roof Deck: A roof deck is perfect for a hillside house with primary access on the upper part. You can use it as a multipurpose entertainment area to host parties and cookouts and enjoy the environment.

Your architect or designer will recommend all the best features you can add to maximize natural light and scenic views from your property.

7. Plan Landscape Rehabilitation

Building a hillside house has a significant impact on the land. Excavating and creating dirt roads for heavy equipment and vehicles can disturb its soft scape and ecosystem. Therefore, your plan must include landscape rehabilitation.

Landscape rehabilitation involves restoring the greens to help the environment heal. Experts recommend planting indigenous trees and plants to help replenish the soil and the ecosystem. You may also avoid tree cutting during construction and work around the existing life to minimize environmental impact.

Conclusion

Designing and building a hillside house requires careful planning, prioritizing structural safety, and minimizing the environmental impact for better sustainability. Despite its challenges and risks, you can achieve your dream home on a slope hassle-free with the help of expert builders.

Cooper Black 

Cooper Black has been working in the construction industry since he graduated high school. He writes guest posts and blog articles to share his knowledge about building. When he’s not building or writing, he’s either preparing for a marathon or running one.