Building into a gentle slope can enhance the efficiency of a design by providing living space inside the foundation and requiring less additional material and labor than the same amount of space above grade. And if properly designed, the in-ground living area can be bright and spacious.  

Environmentally responsible site design begins with minimizing disturbance to any site, and working with the existing topography is an essential ingredient. A more measurable benefit of building into a slope is often reduced heating and cooling expenses -and added comfort- that result from the temperature of the soil five feet below grade (the “outside air temperature” of these spaces) is a constant 52 degrees year-round. 

The ideal slope for in-ground building is a slope of 5 to 7 feet through the width of the house, or 15% to 20%.  Building on steeper slopes often presents challenges, and this type of construction is carefully regulated by local jurisdictions that vary, as do local soil types.

Codes that restrict building exist to protect the environment and the people who share it. What are the concerns with building on a steep slope; how are they addressed; and what is the cost of addressing them?

When prospective clients ask how to build the most house for their budget, my response always emphasizes efficiency: the most efficient “container” minimizes the number of “sticks” (material) relative to the square footage of enclosed apace. After all every stick requires framing labor, siding, insulation, sheetrock, and trim to install and finish. Simply put, a design that makes efficient use of material will make efficient use of your budget from start to finish. 

How do we maximize efficiency? It’s quite simple…

I recently received a phone call from an architectural firm in New York City, inviting me to discuss collaborating on a project they were planning in the Hamptons. Always interested in collaborating with other design professionals, I gladly accepted the invitation.

 At Lindal, we believe in collaboration with architectural firms. Each year we are introduced to architects by prospective clients who understand what the Lindal building system brings to the party. 

 When I arrived at the firm’s loft studio in Lower Manhattan, I was seated at a large conference table with the principal and two staff architects. The table covered with rolls of drawings, scale models, building material samples. I was all ears, but the story I was told was not a pretty one…

An ADU is a permitted second home with a complete kitchen, built on a single family home site. There are specific regulations that control the size and sometimes the use of an ADU.

An outbuilding is a structure built on a single family home site that is detached from the primary structure. It cannot have a complete kitchen. (It cannot contain any cooking appliances other than a microwave oven). Outbuildings have specific regulations and restrictions that differ from community to community.

By definition, an ADU (short for accessory dwelling unit) is a second complete dwelling unit built on a lot zoned for single family residences. This special zoning category was created about a dozen years ago as way to allow seniors to live near their adult children rather than moving to senior facilities. It is believed — and experience seems to bear this out — that seniors who reside near the kids in ADUs rather than in assisted living settings live longer, healthier and happier lives.