The Top 3 Things We Look For In a Hill Site
Kiwis can be nervous about building on the hill - and we get it! There are a few additional considerations when it comes to building on the slope - but it can (and should) be a smooth and enjoyable process. Of course, a great hill build starts with a great hill site... get the site right, and the rest will follow! Here are the top three things we look for in a hill site.
One of our favourite views from Galilee Lane, Moncks Spur - where we have several builds.
View
For many people, having a view is the whole reason they take on a hill build. When we’re assessing a section for suitability, this is the first thing we consider - asking questions like:
Could the view be built out in future or are there houses currently obstructing the view? If so - is it possible to design around these in a clever way?
Will 2 storeys be necessary to get the best of the view? Is that practical for the clients?
Are there height restrictions that will prevent a good outcome?
You don’t have to have a perfect panoramic sweep - but you have to be able to capitalize on the view you have without breaking the bank.
Sun and light pouring into a North facing living space - at our old show home in Moncks Spur.
Sun
In Christchurch especially, it’s important to design your house around the sun. Down the line, an architect can generate an accurate sun study and use this information in the design, but an experienced hill builder will be checking off these basics first:
Will the site be capturing the morning or evening sun - will the site be able to capitalize on that?
Can we harness the sun to our advantage - or is the budget going to be eaten up on glazing, heating and cooling?
Is there going to be usable outdoor space (protected from the southerly and easterly winds) so you can actually enjoy the sun?
Designing around the sun is the key to building smarter not harder. It will make best use of your budget, and mean you can enjoy a quintessential kiwi bbq without freezing your t**s off.
Access is going to be a breeze on these sites in Revelation Drive, Clifton, where the hard work has already been done!
Access:
Underpinning it all is access. Bad access can undo all the potential of a site, slowing the build down and wasting a chunk of the budget. Here’s what we’re looking for when it comes to access:
Can the site be easily entered from the street? Is excavating the site going to be practical?
What’s parking like? Will we be able to have multiple trades on site at once? Will parking need to be incorporated into the section for the homeowners?
What is needed in terms of retaining walls? Will a lot of the budget need to be sunk into this before the build commences?
If you have great views, good sun and reasonable access - your hill build has been set up for a win!
Truthfully though, the best site can be butchered with the wrong team, just like the worst site can be navigated to its advantage by the best team. This team needs to include a builder, architect, engineer and a surveyor who should all be involved as early as possible… but that’s a blog for another day.
If you’ve considered building on the hill, but haven’t found the right site (or team) yet - get in touch via the link below, we’d love to help you out.