bespoke design ideas for different sloping blocks
TRANSCRIPT
BESPOKE DESIGN IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT SLOPING BLOCKS
E X P L O R I N G T H E P O S S I B I L I T I E S
F O R Y O U R U N I Q U E S L O P E .
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Why build on a sloping site? p 4-5
Why build with a custom home builder? p 6-7
Understanding slopes p 8 -9
How a slope can shape a design p 8
Slope conversion table p 9
What is a split-level home? p 9
Understanding subsurface and surface drainage p 10-11
Why is drainage important? p10
Soil conditions p11
Bespoke Design ideas for different slopes p 12-34
Down-slope Sites p 14-19
Up-slope Sites p 20-29
Side-slope Sites p 30-35
How to get started on your sloping block design p36
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Some of the most spectacular
homes in Australia can be found
on sloping sites; overlooking our
oceans, rivers and lakes, urban
outlooks or nestled amongst tree-
tops. So where do you begin when
it comes to building a custom
home on your sloping site?
Let’s explore the essential factors.
BESPOKE
DESIGN
IDEAS FOR
DIFFERENT
SLOPES
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VIEWS Make the most of any
stunning views over
bush, city or beach.
FRESH AIR The right design on a
sloping site can capture
beautiful prevailing
breezes.
LIGHT & COMFORT Designs can be
positioned to optimise
natural light and
warmth.
LOCATION Sloping sites can unlock
new opportunities
in highly desirable
locations.
SIZE & SPACE Multiple levels or layers
can provide significant
interior space.
VALUE Sloping blocks can
often be purchased for
a comparatively lower
purchase price, helping
to offset any additional
construction costs.
It’s important to note that design and quality matters a great deal in
sloping block homes. They require extra thought and attention; not
only to optimise the design for you, but also to minimise the impact on
neighbouring properties and the natural landscape.
WHY BUILD ON A SLOPING BLOCK?
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Not many builders build on sloping blocks;
largely because every sloping site is unique.
Adapting an existing standard design
from a builder can mean compromising on
important features.
With a custom designer like Wincrest
Bespoke, your home design is designed from
the ground up to maximise the space, layout,
outlook and natural topography for your
specific site.
There is no compromise, because the design
is entirely customised to suit your land and
your lifestyle.
If there’s two potential shortcomings to
building on a sloping site, it’s that excavation
and access to build and transport materials
can be costly. That’s why it’s critical to work
with an experienced sloping site builder who
will use the natural site to its advantages.
This maximises the lifestyle benefits for you,
whilst minimising earthworks and overall
expense.
Wincrest Bespoke specialises in designing
and building on sites with slopes of up to 7
metres and greater, throughout Sydney’s
Northern Suburbs, Inner West, Eastern
Suburbs and Beaches, Central Coast,
Sutherland Shire and Western Sydney.
WHY BUILD WITH A CUSTOM HOME BUILDER?
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SLOPE CONVERSION TABLE
Slope degree (approximate) Slope gradient (rise/run) Slope percentage
1.2° 1/50 2%
2.9° 1/20 5%
4.0° 1/14.3 7%
5.7° 1/10 10%
11.3° 1/5 20%
14.0° 1/4 25%
26.6° 1/2 50%
45° 1/1 100%
A split-level home is a home design in which the floor levels are
staggered. A split-level home might also be referred to as a bi-level
or tri-level home, depending on the levels in the design.
WHAT IS A SPLIT-LEVEL HOME?
HOW A SLOPE CAN SHAPE A DESIGN
Depending on the fall profile of your site,
there are a number of different construction
methods that we consider for your custom
build.
FLAT TO SLIGHT SLOPES
These slopes can vary from a 0° to 6° slope.
A single slab is typically suitable until a slope
of about 4°, above which one or more level
changes may be recommended.
MODERATE SLOPES
Moderate slopes have a slope of 6° to 12°.
Most designs will employ either two or more
foundation slabs, or use a combination of part
slab and part bearers and joist construction.
STEEP SLOPES
Steep slopes can be anywhere from 12° to 18°.
Designs on these sites will typically be bearers
and joist construction. Depending on the site
and design, the design may include a concrete
slab foundation on the lower level.
EXTREME SLOPES
These slopes are upward of 18°. Suspended or
bearers and joist construction is typical, and
working with a specialist sloping site builder is
essential.
Before we talk design, it’s important to first understand the nature of a sloping site and the typical
construction methods that suit each type of incline.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SLOPES
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SOIL CONDITIONS
Soil conditions can be just as unique as the site’s inclination.
The presence of clay, sand or rock require special
consideration. Once again, your choice of custom home
builder will ensure your stunning new home design is
ideally suited to your site conditions – and that earthwork
costs are kept to a minimum.
Drainage is one of the key factors your builder will consider while analysing
your sloping block.
WHY IS DRAINAGE IMPORTANT?
On a sloping site, it’s not enough to simply add a foundation and build a
beautiful home on top. Rainfall and stormwater can behave differently on
slopes, and as such drainage for both needs to be carefully planned for your
custom build.
There are set requirements to be met when it comes to drainage, and a
reputable architectural designer and builder will consult with the appropriate
professionals to ensure the right solution for your new home design.
UNDERSTANDING SUBSURFACE AND SURFACE DRAINAGE
• Surface water can
be directed away
from structures using
methods such as
grading, channels and
surface inlet points.
Roof water could be
stored in rainwater
detention tanks or
piped offsite.
• Subsurface water
should be carefully
managed to minimise
dampness, and
effectively diverted
away from footings,
basements and
retaining walls.
• Stormwater runoff
must also be able
to flow via a pit or
drain and connect
to the legal point of
discharge close to or
within the property.
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BESPOKE DESIGN IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT SLOPES
The orientation of your site can
play a deciding factor in the design
of your home. Here, we explore the
difference between down-slope,
up-slope and side-slope sites, and
how they inspire design.
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DOWN-SLOPE SITES With a down-slope site the site falls down and away from the road, and as such the garage and entry will typically be on or near the upper street level.
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F R O N T E L E V A T I O N
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Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects/west-pymble/
Creature comforts at every turn,
this home is built for family living.
From the generous bedrooms to
the state-of-the-art media room,
then on to the sprawling family area
with adjoining alfresco, this home
has it all.
E X A M P L E 1
A DOUBLE STOREY DESIGN ON A DOWN-SLOPE SITE
Your front elevation may look quite streamlined, while an open rear elevation can be a great opportunity to maximise views from rooms and balconies at the back of the home.
OLD WORLD CHARM MEETS MODERN LIVING IN WEST PYMBLE Designed with its local surroundings in
mind, this contemporary home pays homage
to the area’s heritage while bringing all the
premium finishes you’d expect from today’s
homes.
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4 BEDROOMS
3 BATHROOMS
1 LIVING AREA
1 STUDY
1 MEDIA ROOM
2 GARAGES
Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects/west-pymble/
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Our design helped raise the house up
to allow a nice street presence, whilst
still keeping the living areas private
and connected to the rear yard. The
end result was a spacious and beautiful
design that any family would be proud
to call home.
HIGH ON A HILL? NO PROBLEM. Perched on a significant 5.2m
drop, our design team had
no problem envisioning a
design that would take full
advantage of the terrain. With
an extensive drop off from the
street, the existing house was
hidden from street level.
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UP-SLOPE SITES An up-slope site rises up from the road, and as such the garage and entry are typically on the lower level of the home. Extreme up-slope sites may require a long or curved driveway to avoid steep entry.
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F R O N T E L E V A T I O N
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Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects /collaroy/
The master bedroom and expansive
living areas and have been well
positioned to capture the front
facing views, at the same time
providing a seamless connection to
the dining and alfresco at the rear.
E X A M P L E 1
A TRIPLE STOREY DESIGN ON AN UP-SLOPE SITE With a multi storey design on an up-slope, one of the upper levels will typically open up to the back yard.
A STUNNING TRI-LEVEL HOME WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS Sleek lines and bold textures bring style
and sophistication to this modern home.
Taking full advantage of the narrow,
sloped terrain, this custom designed
home offers style and comfort on not
one, but three whole new levels.
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SPACE AND STYLE TO SPARE Perched on a sloping fall of
3.12m, this full-split home
has been custom built to
seamlessly accommodate the
local terrain. Our designers
have gone to great lengths
to consider every inch of this
floorplan, crafting a layout
that would take advantage
of the views whilst being
practical and liveable on every
level.
4 BEDROOMS
4 BATHROOMS
2 LIVING AREAS
1 RUMPUS
2 GARAGES
Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects/collaroy/
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Entertaining will become second
nature with the adjoining kitchen,
lounge and alfresco area, not to
mention the sprawling front balcony
to take in the spectacular views.
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F R O N T E L E V A T I O N
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Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects /wamberal/
The sprawling living areas were
placed on the top floor to maximise
the panoramic views and take
advantage of a glorious raked
ceiling. Large north-facing windows
allow natural light to fill the home.
E X A M P L E 2
A SPLIT-LEVEL DESIGN ON AN UP-SLOPE SITE A split-level home on an up-slope can take advantage of views from the front of the home, as well as spacious living zones that flow into one another.
A STUNNING TRI-LEVEL HOME LOCATED ON THE BEAUTIFUL CENTRAL COAST Designed for today’s active lifestyles,
this modern home takes beachside
living to a new level.
Across three well-positioned levels, our
designers have made excellent use of
space.
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3 BEDROOMS
2 BATHROOMS
1 LIVING AREA
2 GARAGES
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Our designers met this challenge with
an inspired three-level design which
beautifully married the home with its
surrounds. The large bedrooms are
well-spread out while the living areas
and expansive front balcony provide
breathtaking views of the area.
CUSTOM BUILT FOR MODERN LIVING This uphill sloping block has
a fall of between 1.8 to 3.5m
over the building footprint.
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SIDE-SLOPE SITES A side-slope site has a cross slope as you look at it from the front. With a side-slope home design, you can often take advantages of views on the lower side of the slope.
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F R O N T E L E V A T I O N
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Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects/willoughby-home/
Two large splits in the house
allowed the floorplan to transition
seamlessly with the topography
of site. Plus having the living area
elevated allowed us to capture
the views of the northern Sydney
skyline.
E X A M P L E 1
A SPLIT-LEVEL DESIGN ON A SIDE-SLOPE SITE Your front elevation may look quite streamlined, while an open rear elevation can be a great opportunity to maximise views from rooms and balconies at the back of the home.
RE-DEFINING LUXURY AND STYLE Conceived by our team of visionary
designers, this innovative home sets the
benchmark for all that will come after it.
Despite a challenging cross fall and
excessive front to rear fall, this difficult
corner block proved no match for our team.
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4 BEDROOMS
2 BATHROOMS
2 LIVING AREAS
1 STUDY
2 GARAGES
Discover this house at: wincrest.com.au/projects/willoughby-home/
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The main bedroom, with its large
walk-in-robe and ensuite, guarantees
privacy as it is cleverly located away
from the other three bedrooms. With
an upstairs living area, study, and
balcony off the dining room, there is
room for everybody in this stunning
family home.
STUNNING RAKED CEILING The heart of this home is its
well-appointed kitchen, dining
and family areas. Look up and
you’ll see its stunning raked
ceiling which, not only creates
an amazing sense of light
and space, it increases air-
flow – ideal for an Australian
summer.
A R R A N G E Y O U R C O M P L I M E N T A R Y S I T E I N S P E C T I O N T O D A Y
(02) 9895 1688
wincrestbespoke.com.au
LET US HELP YOU BUILD THE HOME YOU’VE ALWAYS IMAGINED
HEAD OFFICE
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Street Parramatta
NORTH SYDNEY
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Sailors Bay Rd,
Northbridge
SOUTHERN SYDNEY
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47 Kiora Rd,
Miranda
NORTHERN BEACHES
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1020 Pittwater Rd,
Collaroy
WESTERN SYDNEY
(02) 9895 1688
5 Noah Street
Box Hill
Created for those who seek more than just a home, a Wincrest
Bespoke are specialists in unique homes where quality workmanship
meets stunning designs.
- I t is a home exclusively created to complement its surrounds.
- It is a home whose finishes are modern and beautiful.
- It is a home built with attention to detail and superior customer service.
The difference lies in our ability to work with our client’s own
architect or designer. Together, we can work seamlessly to bring your
home’s vision to life. The result? A stunning custom designed home
that blends elegance, space and functionality to create a perfect
match for your family, suburb, land, and lifestyle.
WINCREST BESPOKE WAS BORN OUT OF THE NEED FOR A TRULY BESPOKE HOME BUILDER IN SYDNEY.