Browse Forums General Discussion Re: house position on block 2Feb 25, 2011 6:49 am House position depends on the building envelope which is different for each block. The envelope is largely governed by your Local Councils Development Control Plan which dictates front rear and side setbacks etc. Easements (if you have one) can also have an effect where on the block you can and cannot position your house. Re: house position on block 3Feb 25, 2011 7:13 am As Knock it down said, you will normally be restricted in the area of your block as to where you can locate the house, but idf you're talking about which direction to have lounge/family room window etc.. then I'm pretty sure the ideal is North facing windows for living areas and try to keep out door areas facing east? I could be very wrong here but I'll do some more digging. Re: house position on block 5Feb 25, 2011 4:34 pm Here's a few thoughts from me Theres a lot of things to think about when positioning a house on a block assuming the blocks big enough to give you some choice. As Knockit down says you have to think about council setbacks, and any sewer or drainage easements (check your title documents for these). I like to place the house fairly close to the Southern Boundary so that the I can have a garden on the sunny side of the block and get sun in the building. My aim to get most of the main rooms facing North for a solar passive performance and which helps with the energy rating performance (It increased my current house by one star). This tend to give you a north facing roof pitch for future Solar power panels. Front doors should be facing the street and clearly visible from the street, it looks more welcoming and improves security. Outdoor entertaining with a westerly aspect are good for having a beer in the evening while watching the setting sun and appreciating the best views. In our last house the kitchen window was the one with the most interesting view as that is the one you find you stand at looking out the most. Regards The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: house position on block 7Feb 25, 2011 7:09 pm Quote: Outdoor entertaining with a westerly aspect are good for having a beer in the evening while watching the setting sun and appreciating the best views. Beg to differ. IMO, the thing to avoid is an entertainment area faceing west - these usaully have sliding or bifold doors opening onto them - difficult to screen such large glass opening doors effectively, meaning inside of house will get brunt of afternoon heat and glare - entertainment area will also be very hot and sun full on glare in afternoon/evening. We have an entertaining area facing east - this is fine, morning sun is much gentler - and anyway most entertaining is not done first thing in the morning Faceing North would also be good - and liveing area/ outdoor undercover area is often recomended to be North - sunny but not glary - however our block faces North so this wasnt feasible Re: house position on block 8Feb 25, 2011 7:40 pm Hi Helyn I would agree you need to avoid west facing windows. In my case what I have is the entertaining area (which is a deck) on the north side of the house but this deck has views to the west. The North facing Patio doors, which open onto the deck, have a pergola to protect them from the summer sun. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: house position on block 9Feb 25, 2011 8:36 pm Same as Helyn, I was lucky enough to jag a block pointing due north and my alfresco is on the eastern side of the house at the back - to shield from the setting sun (and the heat and boy we've had a decent stretch so far this year in WA) and to avoid the inclement weather which generally comes in from the south-west. If you are pretty free and open on house placement, then is there a particular feature or scenery you want to highlight or view you wish to enjoy? Then I would build your house around that and then incorporate as many elements of passive design you wish around that? Failing that, point it north generally is a good start for winter sun etc etc. http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs41.html Re: house position on block 11Feb 26, 2011 12:59 pm For the plan in your post I would go for North to be top of the plan and move the bed around the master bed room so that it was on the east wall with a window on the North wall (protected by a Pergola). My preference, for what its worth, if I had such a big block would always be a rectangular plan with the long edge facing North. This link shows how the floor plan for a house we built in 1991 was designed. http://www.anewhouse.com.au/?p=636 Regards The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. 6 11144 Yes it had a house on it. But Melbourne water only wanted something the original size of the existing house. We managed to fit a 45sq house on. 10 33655 4 4478 |