Matakuliah
Tahun
: Konstruksi Bangunan II
: 2008/2009
Pemahaman Teori Dasar
Konstruksi Bangunan Bertingkat Rendah
Pertemuan 3
Elemen-elemen Konstruksi Bangunan Bertingkat Rendah:
Split Level
Teori split level dan teknik penggambarannya
Kita akan menggunakan kata "Split Level" sebagai cara yang mudah
untuk mencakup semua jenis rumah. Sedangkan Split Level adalah
jenis tertentu, adalah sebuah istilah umum dan tentu lebih menarik
daripada “divided entry“. Jadi untuk menghindari kebingungan,
berikut adalah spesifik jenis desain rumah yang dianggap "Splits"
untuk penjelasan ini ...
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Bi-level
Two sets of short stairs, two levels. Entry between floors. The front
door opens to a landing. One short flight of stairs leads up to the top
floor; another short flight of stairs leads down. The top floor tends to
be full height ceilings with living areas: LR (living room), DR (dining
room), K (kitchen) and BRs (bedroom). Lower floor often has lower
ceilings and is partially below ground.
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4
The Bi-Level Neighborhood...
It may have been called a "junior colonial" or perhaps a "colonial
split." It may have been "modular," or "stick built" on site.
Regardless of what you prefer to call it, if you open the front door
to a dedicated landing halfway between two floors, you've stepped
into a bi-level. Some bi-levels built today are luxurious
monstrosities, but the majority are the smaller, 1000 to 1500
square foot models constructed during the 1970s and 1980s. And
although the concepts that follow have some ramifications for the
larger set, it is the owner of the 1300 sq. ft. average that this page
is designed to help the most. We begin with the yard, then the
exterior, and then discuss the interior.
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5
The Exterior, Also Landscaping & Hardscaping
Most people will say that the point of landscaping is to "beautify"
your yard. It's one of the benefits, but not the prime reason for
landscaping. The most basic, underlying reason for
landscaping a home is to create a smooth transition from the
outdoors to the indoors. Landscaping (growing stuff) and
hardscaping (stuff like steps, decks, walkways) combine to create
this transition. When it's done right, the transition is beautiful.
Done wrong, it is unappealling at best.
Bi-levels built properly, compensating for the surrounding terrain,
are relatively easy to landscape. Hopefully some part of the
building is below grade, or at least the grade has been back-filled
to cover a portion of the first floor. Ideally, the lower floor windows
are at hip-level when viewed from the exterior.
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Unlike the "true" three-level split, the average 20 year-old bi-level
seldom has intrinsic charm. Unfortunately the older bi-level tends
to present a rather humdrum, boxy appearance that generally
goes nowhere. While landscaping the three level split is mainly
about enhancing the triangulation of the exterior, landscaping the
bi-level is more frequently about drawing away from the exterior.
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7
This photo clearly shows the repetitive, unimaginative rectangular
design that typifies the average American bi-level circa 1975. While
there is very little that could help the exterior short of wholesale
remodeling, a more effective use of landscaping will minimize the
dullness.
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8
The challenge in a three-level split is to "tie down" the large picture
window usually found on the middle level, to anchor the house
more closely to the ground and surrounding environment. The bilevel exterior has a lot of the same requirements, except that it is
much more complicated. By "tying" the largest top-floor window to
the ground, your house blends more fluidly to the surrounding
landscape. Unfortunately, most bi-levels tend to have windows
below the main living room window, and it is almost criminal to
cover those windows. Or is it...do they have to be completely
visible? Can they be partially obscured to lend harmony to the
exterior? Are they even attractive to begin with?
Bina Nusantara University
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In some cases -- very rarely -- the lower windows are positioned such that they
should actually be accentuated. But this is usually not the case; the photo at left
illustrates one of those rare homes where it does work. Notice that you are looking
"up" at this house...if you look "down" from the street it is highly unlikely that the
lower windows would have the same appeal. This clearly illustrates how fickle the
bi-level exterior is, and how so much depends on the topography of the lot.
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Note that the bi-level at right is identical
to the one above -- same windows,
same type of terrain. It's the exact
same house except that it is in a
different location. Notice here that
some landscaping has been used to
make the bottom windows less
prominent. Both approaches work
well...it's really a matter of personal
preference in this case.
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11
Prominent lower windows generally only work well when they are
the same size as the upper windows, as shown by the two examples
above. More commonly, bi-levels present a large picture window
above two bottom floor windows. Note in the sketch below how the
landscape planner uses varying heights to "draw down" the
windows.
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12
Same drill for your walkway. (Now we're discussing hardscaping) A
few bi-levels have a doorway right at ground level, but the majority of
divided entry houses have some sort of front stoop and/or staircase
leading up to the front door. On many older splits these are hideous
concrete creations. Brick or wood look more appealing, but don't rush
out with a sledgehammer if you have concrete. You can often
revitalize the look of concrete by adding slate to the top, bricks on the
sides, even using concrete stain, etc. But whatever your walkway, it is
terribly important to "connect" it to the surroundings just as your
picture window needs to be connected.
The walkway and front stoop are the "transition" from the world
outdoors to the world indoors. It should be a smooth transition,
softened by plantings, gardens, or whatever...not a harsh, sudden
change. Even stones can do the trick.
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If you need an example, take a look at the one or two bi-levels in your
neighborhood that have the most curb appeal, and you'll see these
concepts first hand. Another resource I recommend is The Complete
Idiot's Guide to Landscaping by Joel Lerner. I don't usually care for the
titles of these "Idiot" books; in fact I don't like them at all. But the content
of this book really clarifies a lot of landscaping techniques. (If you click
the link, you'll be at Amazon.com, which I recommend for two reasons.
First, you can return anything, and they ask no questions. Secondly, you
can often find used versions at a fraction of the new book price, and you
can even return those if the book doesn't do it for you.)
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14
Here's a bi-level that really does it right. The roofline is unusual -- at first
glance it even makes the house look like a split. Most importantly, it
eliminates the "boxiness" typical to most old bi-levels. Second thing is the
landscaping. It is creative, varied, but not overdone. Finally, it is clean and
cared for. There is nothing otherwise spectacular or outstanding about this
exterior, it is not showy or new, yet you cannot help but be captivated by
the overall appeal this home presents.
Bina Nusantara University
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