For the Architect
Basements provide the opportunity for the Architect to offer clients an alternative design solution for a project that planning constraint might otherwise not allow.
For example, including a basement beneath a new building will not increase its height, mass or bulk yet still provide additional usable space within the same footprint. As a consequence it will have no adverse impact on its surroundings and thus where land is designated Green Belt, Area of Natural Beauty, National Park or other sensitive areas basements are normally permitted by local planning authorities.
For example a basement:
- Under a new house, bungalow or block of low rise flats increases the living space by 100% for a single storey, 50% for a two storey or 33% for a three storey building
- In urban areas overcomes issues of unneighbourly development such as increases in height, massing, overlooking etc.
- May be used as separate accommodation from the rest of the house
- Garaging cars can increase the number of houses on a site
- Can be constructed on steeply sloping or hilly sites
- Overcomes problems on sites with poor soil conditions, high water tables or contaminated land
Glatthaar basements also make a positive contribution to the environment.
This includes:
- Better utilisation of land particularly in poor soil conditions
- Developing of smaller plots
- More living space (30-50%) for the same footprint
- Additional garden and amenity space
- More space between properties
- Extra space to allow home working, thus saves travelling
- More thermally efficient living space as basement is partly or wholly below ground
- A reduction in structure infiltration (air changes)
- Possible savings on the cost of insulation
