What are the Advantages and Considerations of a Single-story House?

What are the Advantages and Considerations of a Single-story House? What kind of Family is it Suitable for?

With the advent of an aging society, single-story houses that create a flat space with no steps are gaining attention. This section introduces the features of single-story houses, which are not often seen in urban areas, as well as the advantages and points to keep in mind.

A Single-story House is a One-story House

A single-story house is a one-story house. If you live in a major metropolitan area such as Tokyo, most single-family homes are two or three stories high, and there are few opportunities to see a single-story house.
On the other hand, in Karuizawa and other vacation home areas, you can often see single-story houses. A one-story house creates beautiful scenery in harmony with the surrounding forests and woods. Single-story houses are often built on large lots, not only in vacation home sites. The reason is that in order to get the same number of rooms and living space as a two- or three-storey house, a single-storey house requires a large lot size.

The Advantage of a Single-story Home is that the Floor is Flat.

Next, let's take a look at some of the features and advantages of a single-story home.
The advantage of a single-story house is that it is a flat house with no upper and lower floor movement, making it easy to move around the residence. The absence of steps in the house makes it easier for the elderly with limited mobility and children to live comfortably. For example, even if you are in a wheelchair, you can make your life easier by widening the corridor and making other planning adjustments.
Another feature of a single-story house is good ventilation. Since there is no vertical movement of air, air circulation is easy if openings are made in all four directions.
In addition, because there is no second floor, the building is structurally strong and is superior in terms of disaster prevention in the event of earthquakes and typhoons. Furthermore, repairs to the exterior walls and roof are easier to perform than in a two- or three-story building, and one of the features of a single-story house is that it is easy to maintain.

Location is Important for Single-story Homes. Suitable for Three Generations Living Together

One thing to keep in mind about single-story homes is that, as mentioned earlier, the size of the lot is necessary and the comfort of living in the location depends on the surrounding environment of the location.
Since the building is only built on the first floor, it is important that there is space around the building and that it is in a location where there are no tall buildings around it to get light from the windows. It can be said that a residential area such as a first-class low-rise residential zone is suitable for a single-story house.
Also, it is possible to take in the light by planning such as providing a courtyard. Since there are no stairs, you can reduce the dead space and increase the storage space. Also, since the structure is simple, it will be easy to remodel in the future.

Easy to Live in for Seniors and Children, and Suitable for Three Families to Live Together.

Having the family living on the same floor also makes it easier to communicate with them, as they feel close to each other. Because the house is child and elderly-friendly, it is also recommended for large families, such as three-generation families. Flat lines of flow are not only easy to live with, but also encourage interaction and communication across generations. From this point of view, it is a sustainable home that is easy to live in for the long term.