Dear Jonno
Some time ago, you described the cost savings in building a cottage with a roof attic, as opposed to a single-storey building.
We have a smallholding in Stellenbosch, and often receive requests for accommodation. We would like a cottage (possibly a two-bedroom unit) that’s affordable to build and could be let out to up to four students. It should be a shared, self-catering unit. The site will be close to our home and on level ground.
We will leave it to your imagination to come up with something practical for us.
Kind regards
Jess and Lee
Dear Jess and Lee
With university dormitories often fully booked, there is a growing need for off-campus student accommodation.The dormer room style is certainly a cost-effective way of building; you save on half a roof and half a foundation/floor slab.
In Europe and the US, the savings of building ‘attic-area’ homes have long been appreciated. And of course, steep-pitched roofs are also an answer to heavy snowfalls.
The sketch shows two options: the one on the left is the ‘Mansard’ roof typical of Europe and US homes. The other is a high-pitched thatch roof typical of African and some European homes.
The house is a comfortable size for students or any other tenants.
The styles shown are just a couple of many more roofing options, but these two are practical and cost-effective.
Please give me a call to discuss requirements for local authority plan approval.
Kind regards
Jonno
Jonno Smith is a registered architect. He can be contacted at Hillbilly Homes: tel 036 352 3178, fax 088 036 352 3178, cell 082 412 4459 or email [email protected]. Please provide details of the proposed development. Visit hillbillyhomes.co.za.
