Once you have
located a promising building site for your new home, spend some time on the
building site. Walk the full length of the building site at different times
of the day. If you are a follower of feng
shui, you may want to think about the land in terms of its ch'i,
or energy. If you prefer a more down-to-earth evaluation, think about ways the
building site will influence the shape and style of your home. Ask yourself:
What are the general characteristics
of the land? Is it green and woodsy? Rocky and gray? Or, is it a vast open
stretch with a golden hue? Will the prevailing colors of the landscape change
with the seasons? Will the home you imagine blend with the landscape? Does
the landscape suggest particular colors or materials you might include in
the design of your home?
Can other structures be
clearly seen from the building lot? What is the prevailing architectural style?
Will your proposed home fit the overall context of the neighborhood?
Will the size of your proposed
house be proportionate to the size of the lot? (You don't want to squeeze
a mansion onto a postage stamp!)
Is there a street or road?
Should the house face toward or away from the road?
Where should the driveway
be located? Will there be enough room for cars and delivery trucks to turn
around?
Where are the most pleasing
views? Where does the sun rise and set? Which views would you like to see
from the living areas? From the kitchen? From the bedrooms? Where should windows
and doors be placed?
If you are in a northern
climate, how important is it to face the south? Will a southern exposure help
you save on heating costs?
Is the site flat? Are there
hills or streams? Are there any other geological conditions that might affect
the design or placement of your home?
How much landscaping will
be required? Will preparing the land for building and planting trees and shrubbery
add to your final costs?
The waterfall views at Fallingwater
may look idyllic, but for most of us, building on a rocky hillside is not practical.
You want the site of your new home to be beautiful, but it must also be safe...
and affordable. Before you make a final decision, you'll need to consider a
boggling list of technical details.
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