Hello!
We are going to build a house and we are a bit stuck. It is hard to decide which design we prefer more. Our plot has a rather steep incline and therefore our choices are around more traditional suterränghus on platta på mark or alternatively a house on metal platform. Cost are approximately similar.
Would be interesting to hear opinions about these two designs? Flat house on pillars vs a barnhouse.
Pros and cons?
Which one would you prefer?
Other ideas?
The plot is on a slope of a rocky hill with some light forest around. We have one neighbour on the right, on the northern side. Plus one neighbour on the western side down the hill and then a field further down.
We would like to catch as much sun as possible That's the reason for larger windows towards south - day light, and west - evening light, plus a nice view over a field.
Regarding the space under the pillar house, it would likely be just a bare stone from the beginning. Maybe converting it to a garage later. But no junk there, absolutely not
So far we came up with some of the following pros and cons:
1. House on pillars:
+ more space (no need for stairs)
+ terrace directly outside the kitchen/living room on western-southern side
+ possibility to later convert the space under the house for a garage and storage
+ solid floor
- more contractors, harder and riskier to coordinate construction
- house will take more space on a plot
2. Barnhouse:
+ house would take less space on a plot
+ less construction risk, more traditional design
+ two floors have a better potential to divide areas, possibility to have the first floor owned by our three kids. This on the other hand might also be a downside as kids already now often are too close in their own gadgets
- cannot have a terrace directly outside the kitchen/living room on the second floor. If we build a terrace it will take all the sun from the first floor windows making it like a basement.
- less space, because stairs will take about 10sqm. Though in general we like stairs
- kitchen/living room on the second floor in a wooden house, I might be wrong, but personally think it is not a great solution. Its probably not as solid as concrete or a metal construction and after a while the floor will probably start making noises
1. House on pillars:
+ terrace directly outside the kitchen/living room on western-southern side
A terrace further from the house will be used significantly less. On the same level and closer is better. I've tried both
+ possibility to later convert the space under the house for a garage and storage
I really like the "case study" feel of houses but think you need to keep the area under the house clear and not build a garage to keep the feel of the house.
+ solid floor
A wooden floor needent be creaky but you always run the risk of soundtransfer. That can be mitigated through insulation
- house will take more space on a plot
Will both houses have the same internal area?
2. Barnhouse:
+ house would take less space on a plot
+ less construction risk, more traditional design
A six meter ceiling with a 10 meter span without pillars is far from easy or cheap to build.
- cannot have a terrace directly outside the kitchen/living room on the second floor. If we build a terrace it will take all the sun from the first floor windows making it like a basement.
- less space, because stairs will take about 10sqm. Though in general we like stairs
- kitchen/living room on the second floor in a wooden house, I might be wrong, but personally think it is not a great solution. Its probably not as solid as concrete or a metal construction and after a while the floor will probably start making noises.
The floor won't make nioces but it can act like a large drum when the kids are running around. More insulation!
Sorry about my spelling, writing in english with swedish spell checking is terrible.
I vote for the Barn house, very cool design. And also I don’t believe they would cost the same to make. The pillar house I’ve never seen in Sweden, only in LA. Sutteränghus is more modern in my opinion.
