Frame chalet houses have not yet become a completely familiar type of dwelling. However, quite good projects of chalet-type houses for year-round living have already been worked out. To use them properly, you need to thoroughly study the features of the style.
Distinctive features of the style
Modern frame chalet houses have certainly gone a long way from their old-fashioned counterparts. But the basic spirit and mood that was typical for the dwellings of medieval Alpine shepherds remains in them to this day. The use of only stone and coniferous wood for the construction of capital walls, which was necessary out of necessity, since there were no other materials, today has become a kind of highlight. Most often, the time-tested gable roof is used, which is also appropriate in the Russian climate.
A fireplace, though decorative rather than intended for heating, is another fundamental feature.
The stone plinth is very resistant to fire, and is little susceptible to moisture (of course, this does not mean that drainage and waterproofing work can be ignored). The second tier is mainly made of wood. In places with intense rainfall, serious canopies are made. Plaster beams are used to decorate the interior space. Synthetic materials in decoration - both inside and outside - are undesirable to use.
The roof is certainly made at a significant acute angle. This moment turned out to be suddenly relevant not only in the highlands, but also in the Russian open spaces. Be sure to use large windows to improve insolation. A second light is also provided.
Almost always, a chalet house includes 2 floors, which is convenient and saves valuable space on the site; the whole composition as a whole is created so that it is comfortable and cozy.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main characteristics of such buildings:
- long time of operation;
- high speed of construction (under favorable conditions, you can keep within 2 months);
- no risk of shrinkage;
- environmental and sanitary safety;
-
ease of disguising engineering communications and infrastructure;
- serious restrictions on the design of premises;
- high cost of building materials and finishing works;
- fire hazard of wood;
- different repair times for wooden and stone floors.
Layout options
To make a frame chalet house suitable for year-round living, it is not enough just to pick up good materials and competently carry out construction work. If the task is to squeeze the maximum out of the limited space, then you will have to:
- ensure the versatility of the premises;
- minimize corridors;
- abandon empty niches and corners, occupy all these structures completely;
- use to store the area under the stairs, near the slopes of the attic.
Curiously, the type of material used has almost no effect on the layout. Regardless of all the nuances, it should provide a complete set of necessary household and living quarters. A radical way to save usable space is an open planning scheme.
Important: even in the middle lane, it is better to insulate the vestibule and hallway. Freeing up additional space when connecting them is not justified due to the growing costs of heating.
You should not save space on the bedroom; in the bedroom itself, his savings due to the bed are also contraindicated. In case of an acute lack of space, it is better to abandon other pieces of furniture. It is desirable to combine the kitchen with the guest area. In the smallest houses, a dining room is also attached to them, and without any divisions with a bar counter and other items. The largest windows are installed in the living room.
A very important point in planning is the choice of a one-story or two-story scheme. The first type is more economical in construction, the second allows you to get more space on the same site. However, in reality, the border between such options is fairly weakened due to the presence of many layouts with attic and basement residential tiers. Attic rooms are most often set aside for children's rooms or bedrooms. The plinths are more of a utilitarian purpose.
In the residential area, day and evening subzones are clearly distinguished. There should be separate rooms for adults and children.
When designing, one should remember not only about convenience, but also about the rates of air exchange and insolation. Make a bathroom less than 2 sq. m even in a limited area is unreasonable. The height of any floor, including the attic, cannot be less than 230 cm.
The easiest way is to prepare a house plan in the form of a regular square or rectangle. But if you wish, you can draw up a more sophisticated scheme, including various geometric shapes.
In two-storey buildings, bathrooms should be equipped at each level. It is extremely important: if some project and layout have already been taken as a basis, they cannot be changed during construction. All the nuances must be negotiated “on the shore”.
Examples of projects
A very good impression is made by the "Austrian" project, which provided for a porch with an area of about 4 square meters. m and a bathroom of 7.65 m2.
This distribution of premises has proven its practicality many times over.
Alternatively, you can consider a solution with:
- an office of 7.56 sq. m;
- 15-meter bedroom;
- 7-meter corridor;
- an additional bedroom of approximately 14.6 sq. m.