Construction of lakefront houses is very popular but it can also become very challenging for the designer. There is a lot that can go wrong while designing a residence close to the lake and therefore the architect needs to be extra careful while planning it.
Here is some tip for designing a beautiful lakefront house without going through a whole lot of trouble.
Lakefront properties have an idyllic charm to it, the views are marvelous, and the atmosphere is filled with serenity and tranquillity. There is nothing more peaceful than the sound and sight of water. Construction of lakefront houses is very popular but it can also become very challenging for the designer. There is a lot that can go wrong while designing a residence close to the lake and therefore the architect needs to be extra careful while planning it.
Here is some tip for designing a beautiful lakefront house without going through a whole lot of trouble
1. Check the soil drainage capacity
During the planning stage, it is advisable to have a survey of the property to know the soil retention capacity. It helps in determining the type of foundation that needs to be considered. Foundation in flood borne areas such as lakefronts should be stronger, better planned, and more solidly constructed than inland foundations. A closed foundation like a crawlspace foundation, a stem wall foundation, or a slab-on-grade foundation is commonly used as it does not allow water to pass easily through a foundation. Keeping water away from the foundation can also be facilitated by including French drains, gutters, and even landscaping and vegetation.
2. Setback
A setback for a waterfront house varies according to the location, country or city, and the depth of the lake. It is usually more than in city setbacks for residential plots and it is extremely important to follow it to avoid flooding of the structure during the rainy seasons.
3. Stick to the single storey
Most of the lakefront houses have spread out floor plans making them single storey structures. This creates a beautiful skyline around the lake without daunting it. In the case of a narrow plot provides creative designs to maximize space without compromising functionality or versatility. One of the ways of doing this is by the addition of lofts. Lofts are designed to utilize every square inch of space within the home without adding the height of another floor to it .lofts make the facade of the house interesting and give a rhythm to it. It is an innovative design choice when challenged with the odds of limited amounts of space due to property restrictions.
4. Add porch
The house must have a porch – it may be a front porch, wraparound porch, multi-level porch, or even a back deck. This feature encourages homeowners and visitors to spend as much time as possible outdoors appreciating the scenery and making the most of waterfront living.
5. Open floor plans
Seamless Open plan allows residents to connect with nature in a better way. Such planning gives rise to large gathering spaces easily flowing to the outside area. In an open layout, there is easy access to the outdoors where decks and porches are a natural expansion of the house, it is only logical to create spaces that capture the scenic beauty of the lake.
6. Privacy and noise control
Although waterfront living lends itself well to the peace of nature as opposed to the hustle and bustle of everyday life, some lakes can become very busy at times with lots of locals and tourists coming in, therefore efficient noise screening is mandatory. Meticulously planned landscape and innovative fencing can increase solitude and reduce the outside disturbances.
7. How deep is the water table?
This is the first question that should pop up in your head when thinking of designing a basement. The depth of the water table helps in determining whether a full basement or a crawl space has to be designed. It also helps in establishing a well-defined septic system preventing the groundwater and lake from getting contaminated. Factors like the slope of the site distance from the lake, even the size of the house come into play while designing a properly functional home septic system.
8. Know the slope of your site
The slope of the site helps in determining the drainage lines and allows efficient collection of rainwater and discharge into the lake.
9. Blend in nature
The type of material used for building the house creates a significant impact on the surrounding. The tone of the material should be earthly. The use of natural materials like dressed stones, timber, wood, or low maintenance material that looks like wood preserves the beauty of the lakefront, puts the residents in the laps of nature without concretizing the environment.
10. Views are the key
The main reason behind buying a house near the lake is the extraordinary view that comes along with it. Living amidst nature one wants to experience it throughout the day whether it is watching the first light of dawn breaking the water, sipping coffee to magical sunsets, or to fall asleep stargazing with the cool breeze filling your hair. The type and the location of the window play an important role in creating such miraculous experiences. Windows provide both aesthetic beauty and serve functional purposes, the master bedroom, kitchen, dining area, and family rooms should be planned to take advantage of the waterfront views. Ideally, a house near the lake has large window facades to make the most of the surrounding but if designed properly it is possible to experience unique framed views from each window.
