For an architect designing holistically, all sites present challenges; some are more obvious than others. It is often assumed that a large open site is a dream – and it is an opportunity! But more options don’t necessarily make the design solution easier. Sometimes it is these sites that make us work harder, and more creatively. On a simple flat block or steep escarpment or oceanfront block, any and all of the following constraints might need to be considered and solved:
- Boundary setbacks
- Height restraints
- Floor Space Ratio
- Protection from/access to the environment
At Cadence & Co, we believe the best split-level home designs come from understanding these constraints and using them as a framework not just for compliant creative solutions, but for a home that delivers ‘wellness’ and serves as the backdrop for a life well lived, for generations to come.
Where to place a house
The answer to “where should the house go?” is rarely as simple as “on top of the hill”. Many factors must be considered before we can start narrowing down the location, with many more shaping the layout and form. As our Principal, Michael Kilkeary, puts it: “I am reminded here of my Jack Russell, currently an irrepressible puppy. During long hours of fetch in the park, she will trace the scent of a small rubber ball back and forth across a large park, honing in, zigzagging back and forth. Often she’ll circle the ball a few times, not yet realising it’s there, until she eventually finds it. And she always does!”
The questions we ask ourselves throughout the primary architectural design phase have a similarly dogged approach, as we continually cross-check, narrow down and prioritise the parameters, until we eventually arrive at a master plan that just makes sense. Whether it’s destined for a tri-level design or something else, every home starts with the same fundamentals.
Some of the initial and perhaps most obvious questions for split-level house plans include:
- Where are the views?
- Where does the sun rise? Where does it set?
- Where is the wind to block? Or the breeze to capture?
And once we’ve decided on a placement for the home, other questions arise:
- How do we approach the home?
- How do we enter the home?
- How do we make that journey intuitive?
- How do we create a sense of arrival?
All these questions are about defining relationships, and we put the concept of ‘home’ at the centre of these relationships. For us, this means a home that has a considered relationship with the following attributes:
- The outlook or view
- The climate
- The neighbours
- The way rooms flow from one to the next, to the next and to the next again
- The budget
- The values of our client
- The lifestyle of our client, now and in the future
It is the success of these many relationships that defines the success of the home itself.
Designing for steep slopes and coastal homes
For us, the design journey begins by breaking the design down into rooms and examining the purpose and character of each. And remember, rooms may be internal spaces or external courtyards. Sometimes, everything is a room, and we design ‘rooms’ that:
- Create a sense of experience as we move through them
- Offer moments of interest and/or reason to pause. This could be a view or a beautiful piece of art. These are resolved spaces, yet they offer teases and experiences within the greater purpose of the home
- Cultivate a sense of orientation and progress. Especially in large, contemporary-style, split-level, and heavily engineered homes, creating sightlines to landmarks, courtyards, and gardens not only connects the viewer to nature and the environment but also serves as a navigational aid, allowing us to move through the spaces with ease and comfort.
When these kinds of considerations inform the design of a home, we move through its spaces as we move through a timeless European city – we look, seek and navigate intuitively, and our mind and senses are free to experience the beauty of what we discover.
We welcome anyone working on a challenging home site to get in touch to discuss their project and the solutions Cadence & Co can provide.