Designing a Home for an Awkward Plot

With suitable land for self-builds still pretty scarce, easy-to-develop sites are becoming rarer. As a result, a growing number of people are broadening their searches to encompass options that are less than ideal, or sometimes inherently awkward. But what defines a tricky plot?

There are plenty of influences – both inside and outside the boundaries of a site – that could dissuade you from purchasing it. However, rather than walking away from such opportunities, it may be worth thinking twice and considering whether these apparently less-than-ideal plots could be turned to your advantage.

While an awkward site may introduce some difficulty into the process, it’s worth bearing in mind that the extra complexities associated with constructing a new house could scare away traditional developers.

Problematic plots can also be more affordable, with fewer people competing to buy them. When I’m presented with a tricky piece of land, I see it as a design opportunity – a chance to create a unique home and get the best from what’s there. In many cases the results are inspiring, as a bit more effort can create buildings that respond positively to the challenge.

This article lays out some of the most common design headaches that I have encountered when attempting to realise clients’ ambitions for a bespoke house on an awkward plot.

By applying some rigour and innovation during the site analysis, you could find that you are able to create a unique home that satisfies your needs, and I hope the solutions I’ve suggested might encourage you to look again at that site you quickly dismissed the first time round.

Access

This is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome when planning the design of a new dwelling, as you need to ensure that there’s a suitably unhindered entry point. You also need to make sure there’s adequate parking for the site. In urban areas, you can even make zero-parking a feature of new houses.

Since you don’t need to accommodate large areas for turning and parking, you can sometimes build more on the plot, too. Otherwise, make certain that sufficient space for cars can be accommodated. If the plot is cramped, consider integral garaging or, even better, have part of the new home erected over the parking area.

The post Designing a Home for an Awkward Plot appeared first on Build It.

Article reference Designing a Home for an Awkward Plot