Recently, it is the projects of one-story houses, the area of which does not exceed 100 square meters, have gained wide popularity. Such houses, having also additional outbuildings or auxiliary buildings on the site, become an ideal place for a full-fledged family living. And in terms of cost, such projects are quite comparable to the cost of the most ordinary apartment in a typical multi-storey building.
In the article, we will try to understand the main advantages of the projects, we will deal with the layout options, as well as design directions that can be safely used when designing your own house for the individual construction of such an area.
general information
Construction of a one-story house up to 100 sq. m can become a financially feasible option for many families, since cottage construction, as well as the construction of houses of a larger area, is associated with serious monetary costs. And in terms of the level of comfort, such a house is in no way inferior, and in some moments even surpasses those same city apartments.
Recently, due to the abundance of proposed projects, as well as numerous firms specializing in the construction of houses of this type, the need for the development and approval of individual projects has almost completely disappeared. The existing catalogs, as well as the flexibility and versatility of the existing models, allow us to satisfy the needs of almost every customer.
The main task that architects who undertake work with such types of houses set themselves is to try to expand the living area, while ensuring that the quality of non-residential premises does not suffer. It is because of this that one-story houses with an attic have gained particular popularity, on which at least two additional rooms can always be placed.
If it is possible to insulate the roof, you can arrange a bedroom or even a nursery in the attic.
House layout options
A house with an area of 100 square meters is probably one of the best options for the implementation of bold and best architectural solutions among all house projects, the area of which does not exceed 150 square meters. Both bricks and glued beams can act as decoration materials, as well as the construction of additional premises, and terraces, garages and verandas can be erected from foam blocks, aerated concrete or from SIP panels, or be brick, like good old times. It is advisable to initially take into account all these additional premises in the architectural plan, created on the basis of the standard one. As a rule, all those elements, which will soon be discussed, are a logical continuation of the 1st floor and increase its functionality.
With terrace
Terrace flooring, starting right from the threshold of the house, will allow, in addition to visually increasing the area of the house, to create additional space for family evenings and just get-togethers on summer evenings. The terrace in no case should be out of the general style of the house, therefore during construction, at least theoretically, imagine how the terrace will fit into the overall ensemble and how it might look. The terrace can be covered, which will allow you to use it fully not only on sunny and warm days, but also during bad weather. The very idea of a terrace does not imply its insulation and glazing. This space can be decorated with small architectural forms and decor items. Plants, especially vines, will add additional details to the terrace and make it stand out from the rest.
With attic
The appearance of an attic in the house can be a salvation if your family is large and guests often come to you, so the presence of additional premises is vital. Some style trends suggest the location of residential premises on the attic floor. If you decide to do this, it is also recommended to install a panoramic window to the floor, then there will be no problems with light penetration and, perhaps, you will not have to think about conducting electricity. It is better to finish the attic rooms themselves in wood or in materials stylized as boards and timber logs. This will give your attic extra comfort and once again emphasize its naturalness.
Sleep, and just being in such a room, adds strength many times over!
With veranda
A veranda is a great opportunity to expand the area of a room without losing the house itself in aesthetics. Moreover, it will fit perfectly into the overall composition of a one-story house. Again, the veranda can be glazed and insulated, and you get a decent room, if not for a full-fledged living, then at least for holding some holidays. In summer, guests can be sent to sleep on the veranda. Ventilation of the veranda can be carried out by simply opening the windows, or you can lay small, narrow, but very effective and functional windows in the project itself.
Plant maiden grapes at the base of the veranda, and in a couple of years it will surround this entire structure, giving it a truly unique and natural look that will surely become your pride.
With garage
Projects of small houses with garages have recently gained immense popularity. In the conditions of dense low-rise buildings, as well as in a suburban area, the presence of a garage becomes a prerequisite not only for storing a car, but also for some things necessary for a household. It is only important to remember that it is by no means worth littering the garage. Modern technologies make it possible to build garages from any material, as well as adapt them to a variety of natural conditions and characteristics of each region.
With bay window
As you know, the bay window is a small ledge in the wall. If we take the general construction rules, then the bay window can be placed on a floor of any level. However, in our case, it will be located on the first and only floor of the house. Also, due to the bay window, you can slightly expand the area of the room and place something small, but very functional there. In this place, you can arrange a children's area or a small reading room. Again, if the owner of the house is a creative person, then a protruding bay window, especially if a garden is laid out close to the house, can be an art workshop.
In addition, it can become a progressive solution for lighting a dark room: the appearance of a bay window allows sunlight to penetrate into a not very bright room on a permanent basis.
Design options
Taking into account the fact that houses of this size and layout are typical for many firms, there are a great many design options that you can choose exclusively for your home. Here we will consider only the main, the most beautiful, and most popular with buyers.
Wright's style. The style direction got its name from the name of the American designer Frank Lloyd Wright, who was the first to propose the construction of cottages in such a way that they not only ideally fit into the environment, but also practically merge with it. Therefore, these houses are otherwise called "prairie cottages." First of all, this style is distinguished from others by the presence of flat roofs, a large number of windows, which sometimes merge into a real gallery. When decorating houses in this style, preference is given to natural colors such as brown or gray. Some see the similarities between Wright-style houses and real and traditional Japanese buildings or Chinese pagodas
Finnish style, like other popular Scandinavian directions, first of all, it implies the construction of massive wooden logs. Such houses, as a rule, are erected in a short time, and when they are erected, preference is given to natural materials. Finnish houses fit organically into the surrounding landscape, especially if there is a coniferous forest near your site. In general, the Finnish style is suitable for those for whom rustic romance and moments of unity with nature are not empty sounds
Classic style. There is no way to get around the most ordinary, classical trend in the architecture of individual houses. The general geometry and axial symmetry of the building are inherent in the classical style. The décor of the house is restrained, the colors are usually moderate
The presence of arched openings is also characteristic.
English style. Considering the centuries-old development of the ideas of English architects, the well-known "English style" is subdivided into three sub-styles with their own unique characteristics. Therefore, if you want your house to be executed in the English style, then it is advisable to decide on the period that is close to you. For example, for a Tudor house, execution in brick will be characteristic. The roof will be multi-pitched, angled and covered with tiles. The basement of the house is faced with stone. The windows are arched with rather frequent deflections. When you create a home in a Georgian sub-style, you get a rectangular structure with no decorated walls. The roof will be the most ordinary and unremarkable. The Victorian house stands out from the others for its mixture of all kinds of architectural trends. Turrets will appear on the roof, and the roof itself will acquire a very complex shape. This style assumes the presence of verandas, terraces and bay windows. The walls are decorated with facing stone
Provence. A house made in this style is characterized by an abundance of large accessories, a play of light and shadow, as well as the obligatory presence of heavy furniture in the premises, which in the complex creates an analogue of a South French villa or a mansion. On a personal plot, it is advisable to plant flowers and shrubs that are not too pretentious, but not lost against the general background. If it is lavender, then the resemblance to the original can turn out to be almost one hundred percent
Mediterranean style unlike all others, it involves the widespread use of metallic materials. For example, a fence can be made of forged elements. The roof of the house must almost without fail have tiles of red or red color. The front porch also has a roof supported by decorative columns. Particular emphasis is placed on windows, large, sometimes even on the floor, and located at a short distance from each other
This allows you to enjoy the abundance of natural light entering the rooms of the house almost at any time of the day.
American style combines solidity and versatility. When choosing this direction, you will get decent housing. On the ground floor, there is a living room, a kitchen, as well as exits to the garage and other utility rooms. In the attic, which is not very characteristic of this style, there are living quarters. Projects assume a backyard, as well as an almost complete absence of high fences. In Russian realities, the frame is made of aerated concrete, and not of wood, since one should in no way forget about the warmth of the future house
High tech characterizes the widespread use of panoramic windows, through which sunlight penetrates into all corners of the house throughout the day. Exterior decoration is carried out using timber. The roof in such houses, as a rule, is gable and covered with metal tiles. In general, the combination of metal, as well as comfort and functionality is the key and fundamental feature of this style direction. Also, great importance is given to the terrace, which, if desired, also becomes a natural continuation of the house
Gothic style, which originated in the early Middle Ages, has not yet lost its relevance and is actively used in the construction of country houses. Gothic is, first of all, characterized by severity and simplicity. The windows in the Gothic house are rectangular, you can decorate them with fancy stained-glass windows. It is advisable to decorate the roof with forged elements, for example, animal figurines. There will also be a number of spiers on the roof, which can be beautifully decorated, for example, with weather vane or accessories similar to them. In interior decoration, preference is given to materials such as stone, in particular, marble, as well as wood and metal. The color scheme used in interior design is very diverse, ranging from gray to cherry or scarlet shades. Thus, choosing the Gothic style, the owner of the house has the opportunity to join the architecture of many generations, to something ancient and truly aristocratic
It is for these reasons that in recent years it is the Gothic style that has become increasingly popular among the owners of country and small houses.
Italian style although it belongs to the group of Mediterranean architectural trends, it still has a number of distinctive features. It is distinguished by the presence of a low roof, as well as small and cozy balconies. In addition, houses built in this style tend to be yellow, blue, or other pastel shades in their design. Windows are usually rectangular or arched. The Italian style fills the entire surrounding space with coziness, sun and light, which are so lacking in northern latitudes
Examples of projects
Having familiarized yourself with the projects, as well as style directions, you can understand for yourself that the project of a one-story house, the area of which does not exceed one hundred square meters, is able to satisfy the desires of almost any customer. Almost any style and design solutions are available for such houses. Such houses by themselves are quickly being built, almost always organically fit into the surrounding landscape: it does not matter whether it is a street with dense low-rise buildings or a full-fledged and individually standing house on a large plot.
A house with a flat roof looks best. This is a stylish and modern option that will appeal to all family members.
Owners of one or more cars will like the house, from which you can get to the garage in a minute.
Romantic and dreamy personalities will love a house with panoramic windows, especially if the windows will overlook not the gray streets, but the nature: for example, the courtyard planted with trees.