Practical Tips for Designing Buildings on Hilly Terrain

Building in hilly terrain can be a challenging task for architects and engineers. Due to the steep slopes, the construction of buildings in such topography requires special attention and careful planning. It is important to consider factors such as site context, site contours, and climate to ensure that the structure is safe and secure.

Here are various ways of designing buildings in hilly terrain, including the use of retaining walls, different forms & foundations, terracing, and other building techniques!

Orientation of the building

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Placement of the building

Buildings tucked into the hillside without harming it.
The location of the building minimizes grading.
Preserve natural drainage courses and existing trees.
Less distance from the main road to minimize footprint.

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Types of forms

To ensure the safety of the structure, it is important to choose the right kind of form for the building. There are various types of forms that can be used for building on sloping terrain, depending upon the site conditions & building requirements.

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Cutting & Filling of Site

Cut and fill is a process that involves cutting into the ground to create a level surface for construction, as well as filling in areas with soil or other materials to bring the desired height of the building up. This process is often used in construction projects where there are large differences in ground levels, such as when constructing roads or houses on hillsides. Cut and fill is an important step in creating a safe and structurally sound building, and it requires careful planning and execution.

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Types of Sloping Sites

It is important to understand the different types of slopes and how they impact the construction process. Depending on the type of slope, different approaches may be required when building on them. Retaining walls may need to be built in order to stabilize the soil, and foundations may also need to be adjusted in order to accommodate for any changes in elevation.

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Retaining walls

Retaining walls are structures that are used to hold the slope of a hill or mountain in place. They are built in different forms in both uphill and downhill scenarios, depending on the grade of the hill.

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Foundation & Drainage

Strong foundation & efficient drainage is necessary in case of sloping sites to tackle sedimentation and surface water runoff. It varies according to the grade of the slope and the form of the building.

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Here are a few important points to remember according to the building codes:

Any face of the hill (except hard stable rock outcrops) shall not be used as a building wall.
Minimum clearance of 1m, preferably 1.5m should be given between the retaining wall face & building wall for proper ventilation, lighting & minimum dampness.
The height of hill cutting for stepped-story buildings for any step shall not be more than 4m.
The kitchen, lavatory, water closets, etc, shall be located & oriented as far as possible from the hill face so as to avoid dampness due to seepage of water.
The upper stories should be as light as possible.

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