When you imagine the layout of a home what do you picture? It is probably living space on the ground floor and bedrooms on the upper ones. Instead you could create an upside down house and enjoy some great benefits.
What is an upside down house?
Don't let the name fool you, it does not mean buildings in the shape of downward pointing arrows. From the outside the properties look the same. The difference is in the internal layout. Here you have bedrooms on the ground floor with living and communal space above. Some properties will then have a third storey for more bedrooms. This type of design is quite rare in the UK. You can find some homes with the layout by the coast or in the countryside. In these locations the idea is to take advantage of the beautiful views. However, you are less likely to see the designs in urban areas.
Why choose the design?
As we said above, often the main reason to choose the layout is because there are views. It makes sense here to have the living spaces on the first floor instead of the ground. What it does is allow people to see further and enjoy the backdrop more. It could be a great option for residential architecture, especially greener areas or riverside spots. There can also be a number of practical reasons to create an upside down house. For one thing, heat rises. So, if you build living rooms on the first floor it can help to reduce heating costs. It can also save cooling costs for the bedrooms as they won't be as warm on the ground floor. Another practical reason is to overcome challenges on the specific site. You may have a plot on a steep slope or with physical features that block light from entering the ground floor. The last thing you want is dim living rooms. However, that is exactly what most people want for bedrooms. So, it makes sense to switch them to make living spaces brighter and keep bedrooms darker.
Some potential drawbacks
If you are considering an upside down house design, whether for residential architecture, you do need to consider the flip side of the coin. Firstly, there can be additional costs. The main thing here is you will need more complex plumbing, gas and wiring to have the kitchen upstairs. You may also need different access solutions, maybe even a lift. Secondly, you need to think about privacy. If you have them on the ground floor, it can raise some concerns about overlooking directly into your bedroom. Finally, you also need to think about security with upside down house designs. Most people with standard home layouts feel comfortable leaving windows open on the upper storeys. It would take a lot of effort for burglars to reach them. However, you need to be more cautious if bedrooms are on the ground floor.