Importance of neighborhood & lot in home design

If you’ve been daydreaming about the perfect home you’re planning to build, chances are, you have a fairly clear layout and home style in mind. But have you thought about how the surrounding neighborhood and property fit into the equation? If not, don’t be surprised. Many forget to consider these factors before they decide upon a specific floor plan and build, only to discover later that they are in no way compatible with their plans.

Common Problems

A few typical problems demonstrate why it’s so important to keep the neighborhood and lot in mind when drafting your home’s design.

• The exterior views the imagined layout provided are made impossible by the position of nearby houses and buildings, or natural features such as hills and trees.
• Unwelcome views into your home are made possible by the placement of the windows and balconies of neighboring homes and buildings.
• A room that was supposed to be a relaxing space becomes uncomfortably hot and an undesirable spot to spend time in because it is located where the afternoon sun blazes its worst.

These issues are easily preventable during the design phase, but not easily fixed after construction. You certainly can’t change the location of your neighbor’s house or the movements of the sun, however, you can design with these realities in mind.

Features that Affect Home Style and Design

How can you determine the ways your lot and neighborhood should influence your home’s design? All it takes is studying a few key features.

• Lot

Whether you’re renovating an existing house or building from scratch, your lot should always have an influence on your floor plan. Privacy and access are the main features to keep in mind. One key is to strike a balance between the amount of daylight let in while screening for limited visibility by outsiders. You don’t want to end up with a fishbowl wrapped with curtains that are kept closed at all times, just to avoid voyeurs. Locating the best areas for access between your inside and outside living areas will change from one lot parcel to another due to existing landscaping, sloping terrain, scenic vistas, or adjacent undesirable features.

Other things you’ll want to consider are the lot’s sun-lighting (is it shaded by trees, or exposed most of the day?), soil conditions, drainage and the location of power/cable lines (if not underground, where should your meter be to avoid unsightly power lines draping across the yard and obscuring your backyard views).

• Neighborhood

In addition to living in your home, you’ll be part of the neighborhood as well. It’s important to select a neighborhood with the right “vibe”, one that matches your values and lifestyle. For example, a family will be far better off in a family-oriented community than an urban center known for its nightlife. You’ll also want to make sure that your home isn’t too far away from places you’ll frequently need to visit, such as banks, grocery stores, and restaurants.

A last point is one of profitability: It’s a smart investment to build a home that has a similar style and monetary value to those surrounding it. If you build a mansion in a neighborhood of modest 1-bedroom homes, or vice versa, you won’t be able to get a resale as quick or profitable as if you build a home that “fit in” with the rest of its neighbors.

Once you’ve thoroughly looked at all of the factors mentioned above, and considered how they may affect the enjoyability of the layout you have in mind, you’ll be better able to modify your home style and design plans so that they become a perfect fit for your lot, neighborhood, and family.

If you are interested in working with me to design a new home or renovate an older home, give my office a call at 225-924-7450 or head over to KevinHarrisArchitect.com and request a design consultation. Or, to learn more about the process of designing and building a home, you can check out my Amazon #1 Best Seller, The Forever Home: How to work with an architect to design the home of your dreams. A free sample chapter from the book is available for download at DesignYourForeverHome.com.