House types

Knowing the various kinds of houses that are out there can help you make a lot of decisions when you start the process of building or renovating a home. Every type of house has unique characteristics, a different architectural style, and a suitability for different lifestyles. Your living experience can be greatly impacted by the type of home you choose, whether you’re thinking about a modern townhouse or a cozy cottage.

The traditional single-family home is one of the most popular types of homes. Compared to other types, these houses are standalone and usually provide greater privacy and outdoor space. They are available in a variety of styles, from Victorian to contemporary, to suit diverse architectural and aesthetic tastes.

Townhouses offer a modest yet fashionable alternative for individuals looking for a more communal living environment. These residences are typically multi-story buildings that are wall-to-wall with nearby homes. Townhouses typically have a small footprint, utilizing urban or suburban land effectively and providing a harmonious blend of seclusion and communal living.

Condos are a great option if you want a sense of community and space efficiency combined with more flexibility. Condos are privately owned apartments housed in bigger buildings or complexes. They appeal to people who value convenience and low maintenance because they frequently have shared amenities like gyms or pools.

Cottages and cabins provide a comfortable haven for individuals seeking a more natural atmosphere and intimate connection to the outdoors. These smaller homes emphasize simplicity and frequently have traditional architectural features like exposed beams or stone fireplaces. They are typically found in rural or picturesque settings.

Last but not least, contemporary architectural breakthroughs have spawned novel home designs like tiny or eco-friendly homes. These choices are intended for people who care about the environment or who want to leave as little of an imprint as possible. These homes provide distinctive answers to the problems of modern living, whether through the use of sustainable materials or compact designs.

House Type	Description
Colonial	Traditional American style characterized by symmetry, rectangular shape, and two to three stories.
Ranch	Single-story with a long, low profile, typically with an open layout and attached garage.

What types of buildings are there in Russia in which people live??

Numerous typical projects that are actively carried out in the middle zone’s temperate climate can be found when examining the Russian real estate market:

• Multi-storey apartment buildings residential buildings consisting of one or several sections. The number of floors can be from 6 to 25 in a standard design and above 25, if special requirements are required.
• Low-rise apartment buildings houses – up to 5 floors inclusive. Such buildings do not require elevators, and also eliminate the need for most fire protection systems.
• Blocked city buildings – townhouses – maximum number of floors – 3 (including attic). They are distinguished by the presence of their own entrance, as well as by the fact that an entire block section with several levels belongs to one family.
• Detached private residential buildings – built on their own plot of land, taking into account current planning restrictions. Equipped with centralized or autonomous and engineering communications. Individual buildings intended for single-family residence eliminate the need to undergo a project examination, provided that the total area of ​​​​the premises does not exceed 1.5 thousand. m 2, and the number of full floors is no more than 2.

The capital structures described above are limited to those with a foundation that cannot be removed without causing significant harm to the entire structure. In reality, there are mobile homes that are truck-transportable from one location to another. These structures aren’t regarded as real estate.

Types of private residential buildings

Depending on their style, all residential buildings are constructed using various materials, have unique structural designs, and have different engineering tools and technical and financial metrics.

By purpose

All residential buildings are categorized into the following types based on their intended use.

Multi-storey and apartment buildings

They are divided into multiple sections, and in a typical design, there are no more stories than the 25th floor, or 75 meters from the ground to the last residential building’s window sill. A section can only contain up to 500 square meters of residential space (apartments).

No lifting transport is necessary for buildings up to five stories. One elevator is permitted for floors five to nine; for floors nine and up, two or three elevators are permitted (one elevator is required for the movement of fire crews). constructed from panels, a monolithic reinforced concrete frame, or brick.

Private

Detached buildings meant for a single family that are situated on the same piece of land. There are no particular legal requirements for space-planning solutions when the premises are less than 1500 m2 and have no more than two floors. separated into the subsequent groups:

1. 1-storey – consist of one operable level. Can be equipped with an unused attic space under a pitched roof and a technical underground with a height of up to 1.8 m. Equipped with a foundation, depending on the chosen design scheme and type of soil foundation.
2. 2-storey. They are structures with 2 usable levels and vertical communication between them. The set of premises is determined by the working design; they can additionally be equipped with a cold attic or basement to accommodate engineering equipment.
3. 3-storey. As a rule, such private buildings do not appear in documents, since this contradicts current regulations. Such houses have basements, 2 full floors and a heated attic space.

Comparison of one-story and two-story

One-story homes are the most costly when it comes to unit cost per square meter. Even though they only have one usable level, buildings still need a complete roof and foundation. Two-story buildings are small, with two residential floors on one foundation and one roof over them.

By construction technology

Different building materials are used to construct private residential homes; these features are covered in more detail below.

• Frame. Are the most affordable types of houses. As a rule, they are assembled from lightweight wooden structures and are intended for seasonal living in the warm season. Are in high demand among owners of summer cottages. The design is based on a frame-panel system, delivered to the site in the form of enlarged elements and assembled within a few days.
• Block and brick. Small-piece materials are popular in the construction of individual residential houses for permanent residence. The structural scheme and composition of load-bearing, enclosing walls are determined according to the project and technical specifications from the customer. Brick houses are erected by installing stone masonry with a thickness of 120, 250, 380 or 510 mm. The most economical are considered to be combined buildings made of aerated concrete blocks and facing bricks, which meet the requirements for load-bearing capacity and thermal characteristics for low-rise construction.
• Monolithic. There are 2 types of design of such houses – with monolithic walls and frame structures designed with load-bearing columns, pylons and monolithic reinforced concrete floor discs. In both cases, it should be taken into account that concrete has low thermal characteristics and requires additional insulation, as well as cladding. Thus, when constructing an object, the cost of such structures often exceeds the average price per 1 m2 for low-rise buildings.
• Panel. Prefabricated private houses are distinguished by their decent appearance and high quality. The panels are produced in a factory and undergo increased quality control. The disadvantage of such buildings is significant planning restrictions, the need to adhere to a modular sizing system. In the case of manufacturing panels according to an individual project, their cost increases significantly.
• Modular. Prefabricated residential buildings from volumetric elements are being built as part of the implementation of a standard project for 1-story buildings. In a factory, a finished element with walls, floors and ceilings is manufactured, which is delivered to the site for assembly of the finished building. In practice they are rarely used due to significant architectural limitations, complexity of delivery and installation.

Private residential building construction costs typically range from 8–10 thousand rubles per square meter for frame-panel designs to 30–35 thousand rubles per square meter for brick buildings built without the use of blocks. The price does not include the finishing of the premises or the engineering equipment.

According to wall material

Different building materials with varying mechanical, thermal, and physical properties are used to construct homes in the Russian Federation. These materials also differ in terms of their degree of dependability. robustness and reasonable price.

Tree

The material is highly sought after by homeowners of cottages meant for permanent residence as well as summer residents building summer structures.

• Pine – The cheapest and most practical variety of wood, which is characterized by increased thermal properties, the level of environmental friendliness. Frame-chips are being built from pine boards, and log houses and facilities from the beam have been in high demand for many centuries. Over time, pine materials crack, lose their original appearance, are rotten without proper processing.
• Larch. Building materials with an increased strength index and density. The structure has a small porosity coefficient, which contributes to a low water absorption and increase in service life. The downside of the material is an increased thermal conductivity coefficient.
• Cedar. It is considered a noble tree. It is distinguished by a uniform pattern, fibrous structure, pleasant smell of pine needles, as well as increased durability. Used for the construction of premium houses from logs or profiled timber.

Go here to learn more about wooden homes.

Brick

Most eco-friendly type of stone. It is created from natural clay through multiple firing stages, depending on production technology. There is a large selection of common, porous, and facing bricks on the market.

Standard dimensions are 250 x 120 x 65 mm, but one-and-a-half products with a height of 88 mm are available for purchase. used to install interior and exterior walls in low-rise structures.

Here are some descriptions of brick wall features.

Blocks

One of the least expensive and most energy-efficient building materials for low-rise and multi-story buildings’ exterior walls. Because of their higher porosity, blocks can’t support as much weight, but when building with masonry, extra wall insulation is unnecessary.

Go here to learn more about blocks.

Monolithic concrete

The material is highly sought after for use in constructing multistory building frames.

The performance of the structural scheme is greatly enhanced by rigid junction points of vertical and horizontal load-bearing structures, as they redistribute stress in accordance with the elastoplastic scheme.

In cottage buildings, monolith is also frequently utilized to create floor slabs with irregular configurations.

Visit the link for more details about monolithic walls.

Panels

Large-panel home building technology has been evolving in our nation since the end of World War II. Every year, design institutes add reuse projects to their serial albums. Numerous two to twenty-five story residential buildings are constructed using panels. In specialized factories, every component made of reinforced concrete is produced.

Panels may be:

1. internal and external;
2. with cladding and insulation;
3. load-bearing, hanging or partition.

The designer creates a layout, façade solutions, assembles a design diagram, and performs thermal engineering calculations prior to selecting a design scheme or material. The client’s desires and the project’s agreed-upon budget play a significant role in the building of a private residence.

This article has even more details on panel walls.

Type

Here are the names of the various types of private residential buildings, which can vary depending on the architect’s design, the owner’s preferences, and the land plot’s planning restrictions.

Hangar

At the end of the 20th century, summer residents were in high demand for such auxiliary structures. Typically, they are constructed with an arched roof and a one-story layout. The house is a segment of a radius outline or a geometrically regular semicircle in cross-section. The lack of side walls is a design element; instead, the roof serves as a vertical and horizontal enclosure at the same time. Usually, the entrance is at the very end, either in a passageway or a dead end.

Atrium

Similar private residential building projects originated in the Western countries with predominantly warm climates. These are structures with extended plans that are U- or O-shaped. There is a courtyard inside the buildings that can be partially filled with translucent materials or roofs with light structures covering it.

Townhouses

Are low-rise, multi-section structures where each entrance is part of a single family. The homes are divided into groups of five to thirty, share walls with nearby structures, and have identical entrances.

Read more here about townhomes.

Cottages

Detached structures with one to three stories that are meant to be the owner’s and his family’s permanent home. Each house is situated on a separate plot and is constructed on a stone or wood foundation.

Every building has autonomous heating, water supply, and sewage systems, as well as electrical power assigned to the location for the convenience of the occupants.

The house may be meant to be a permanent or vacation home, depending on the engineering, materials, and design.

By direction and style of architecture

Due to the nation’s building materials market’s rapid development over the past few decades, owners of rural real estate can practically implement any architectural solution. Customers are most drawn to the following design trends in private home construction:

American or country

A popular take on the traditional wooden house. In construction, frame-panel or timber technologies are employed. The following highlights the building’s style:

1. color solutions;
2. roof shape and material;
3. doors and windows;
4. open terraces;
5. some options for external decor.

The cost of country-style homes can be relatively low, and their layout provides for the essential number of livable spaces.

Chalet

Large, rectangular building plans and a sloping roof are characteristics of the traditional Alpine architectural style. Materials made of stone and wood are combined to construct the object.

The external walls have a significant amount of glazing. These homes are typically one or two stories. There must be a lot of open space on the website to add flair.

Go here to learn more about chalet homes.

German

Traditional Bavarian homes have a lot in common with Russian design. The structure’s plan is rectangular:

1. equipped with hip roofs;
2. the façade is covered with plaster,
3. decorative elements are inclined beams painted dark.

The structures have a wet facade and are constructed of block materials.

English

Symmetrical forms in castle architecture are accomplished by employing:

• multi-pitched roofs;
• massive central entrance;
• the presence of a large number of protruding bay windows;
• windows with internal decorative layout.

Vibropressed cladding systems with ripped surfaces are used for cladding structures.

Classic Russian style

Country homes constructed of wood with a gable or sloping roof and clapboard siding were very popular in the 1990s. Nowadays, a lot of businesses offer this style. homes with 6 x 6 or 6 x 9 m floor plans that are constructed as one-story homes with usable attics.

Customers sometimes turn to custom design solutions to fulfill their own dreams and maintain the standards of a comfortable living environment. These homes may have unique designs and a variety of stylistic approaches.

By season

There are two kinds of design for residential properties, depending on its intended use:

• For winter/permanent residence. Capital buildings with a full range of living quarters for your family. Such houses must have a bathroom and a kitchen to ensure comfortable living all year round. The residential building is equipped with the necessary engineering networks, including a boiler room with a circulation circuit and radiators for heating the premises, hot and cold water supply, as well as an autonomous sewage system.
• Country/summer house and its varieties. There are fewer requirements for such houses, since living is possible only in the warm season. The main advantage of summer cottages is the presence of natural materials in all structural elements, as well as the prevalence of open spaces for the whole family to relax. Some buildings are economy class and do not have heating or an equipped bathroom.

Summer cottages can be used as permanent residences by installing the required communications and insulation over time.

What are the unusual ones?

Landowners in our country rarely use non-standard residential building arrangements due to the harsh climate, as compactness and energy efficiency are prioritized.

Simultaneously, some clients turn to unconventional solutions for the temperate zone if money is tight:

• The device of panoramic glazing "to the floor". This solution makes it possible to improve the visual characteristics of the object, but obliges the owner to use complex in-floor radiators, as well as energy-efficient double-glazed windows. Panoramic windows are also in demand among developers of business and premium class apartment buildings.
• Flat roofs for private houses with internal drainage. Such architecture is also often used in tropical latitudes, or when constructing houses in the high-tech style. The owner has difficulties with the installation of high-quality waterproofing, but the exploited roof increases the comfort of living.
• Multi-storey houses. A stepped configuration is necessary for the exploitation of neighboring roofs, or to give the facade an original appearance.

Houses with varying levels are frequently built on sloping terrain. When you can access the second floor directly from the top of the site and the first floor is only partially covered by the residential building.

Apart from the buildings that are listed, there are unique structures constructed within the borders of our nation that have unique structural designs or unique forms for the load-bearing frame.

Expert advice: which building to choose and why?

Experts in real estate and design frequently provide advice to suburban area owners in online forums, assisting prospective homeowners in making an informed decision.

Thus, the following considerations should be made when selecting the style of home for your own piece of land:

• The total area of ​​buildings should not occupy more than 30% of the land area.
• When constructing a foundation, it is necessary to take into account the potential danger of flooding of the area and carry out the necessary water reduction measures.
• When choosing materials, you should pay special attention to environmental friendliness.
• The roof of the building should be kept as simple as possible to avoid leaks over time.
• The orientation of the building should be chosen in such a way that each room is isolated for at least 2 – 4 hours a day.
• It is worth making a vestibule in front of the front door, which significantly increases energy efficiency.
• When heating heating, the building should be equipped with a backup source of energy on alternative fuel.
• The bathrooms should be placed under each other to exclude difficulties with laying a sewer riser.
• Before connecting the electricity, the required power should be carefully calculated.
• Given the shrinkage of the house during the first year after construction, the finishing work should begin after several months, in order to avoid the appearance of cracks and local collapse.

The cost of utility bills will be impacted by the need to serve and heat additional rooms that will not be used more frequently than once a year, so when designing the building, only the essential set of spaces should be considered.

More details on the subject can be found here.

It is imperative that anyone interested in construction or renovation projects understand the various types of houses. To accommodate a range of lifestyles and tastes, each type of house has special features and advantages.

One common style is the stand-alone, single-family home, which is usually built to house a nuclear family. These houses offer seclusion and room, and they frequently have gardens or yards. For homeowners looking for independence and a sense of belonging, they are perfect.

Townhouses, on the other hand, combine communal space with individual freedom. These apartments frequently have shared walls with nearby units and are set up in rows. Townhouses, which frequently have shared amenities like parks or recreation areas, are attractive to people who value community but still want their own property.

Condos (condos) are a practical and frequently opulent living option for city people. Condos are apartments housed in larger buildings with features like pools, gyms, and concierge services. They are well-liked by single people or couples seeking easy access to city amenities and low-maintenance living.

Farmhouses are common in rural areas; they are distinguished by their roomy interiors and classic design. Traditionally inhabited by farming families, these mansions are renowned for their spacious kitchens, encircling porches, and ample land. Farmhouses are still in demand because of their allure and link to rural settings.

And last, apartments are a flexible kind of housing that can be found in cities all over the world. These apartments, which range in size from studio apartments to penthouses, accommodate a variety of lifestyles and price points. Apartments are perfect for single people, young professionals, and families because they are close to city centers and other amenities.

Comprehending the various categories of homes is essential for individuals engaged in building or remodeling endeavors. Every style of home, including eco-friendly tiny houses, contemporary townhouses, and traditional single-family homes, has advantages and disadvantages of its own. This article examines several house styles, going over their architectural characteristics, lifestyle compatibility, and helpful advice on selecting the best one for you. Knowing these differences will assist you in making well-informed decisions and building homes that satisfy both functional and aesthetic tastes, whether you’re planning a new construction or remodeling an existing property.

Video on the topic

Names of the series of houses of the USSR – where do these letters and numbers come from?

The best ideas for home for a penny

House 2024. Residential architecture trends . What kind of house to build ?

TYPES of construction, pros and cons: BRICK, MONOLITH or PANEL

Low-rise brick Stalin buildings 1-204. How to live in them?

Types of houses: panel, brick-monolithic, monolithic, brick.

Monolith or panel? Soundproofing. Which type of house is the quietest?