Basement design in Europe is commonplace; in Germany 98% of all housing stock includes basements. During the Regency Period of the 1820’s, Britain’s town houses were often populated by domestic servants who occupied ancillary spaces and living quarters referred to as ‘below stairs’. In the industrial era, cellars played a utilitarian role in housing stock serving as coal storage for home heating or natural cool storage areas for food. As these roles and ancillary functions have diminished and become obsolete they have left behind spaces which are often forgotten or underused.
Design and construction
When we approach the design of a basement, it is key to perceive the space as an extension of the home and not solely the preserve of storage, utility areas and plant. In so doing, aspects of natural daylight, access to the outside, room sizes, ceiling heights and access between floors can lead to creative solutions and habitable spaces to occupy and enjoy.
As sizes of households increase so has the demand for space, making clients think creatively about home renovation. By converting basements that have become redundant below ground or incorporating a new-build basement, homes can be transformed and enhanced with valuable new accommodation.
Possible use of this new space could include:
- Kitchen & dining area
- Home Cinema room
- Home gym & sauna
- Utility room
- Guest bedroom
- Home office
There are three distinct methods to waterproofing of basements depending upon ground conditions and whether the construction of the basement is new, existing, or a combination of the two.
- Barrier Protection
- Structural Integral Protection
- Drained Protection
Barrier Protection
When refurbishing an existing basement or cellar the two main construction factors influencing the design are lowering the floor level to increase the floor to ceiling heights and locating the waterproofing internally. By rendering all the exposed surfaces internally a protective barrier is formed and special fixings to attach items to walls must be used to maintain the integrity of the barrier.
Structural Integral Protection
This alternative to the barrier protection above involves the use of waterproof concrete. Although concrete is inherently waterproof, the use of admixtures provide increased resistance by blocking up the tiny pores that draw up water by capillary action. This method can only be applied to new-build basements where access is practical and unrestricted e.g. garden basements.
Drained Protection
This method incorporates a cavity and proprietary membrane whereby any moisture ingress is drained and channelled to a sump and pumped away over time. This type of construction requires an inner skin, which can be either solid or a stud partitioning system.
The majority of domestic basements incorporate either the first or third method however care must be taken when selecting the barrier protection particularly in older properties where excessive structural movement can be experienced. The drained cavity on the other hand has the advantage that both an existing and new-build basement can be formed whilst keeping the drained cavity and membrane continuous. This became the preferred approach on the project at Werter road.
Project case Study 01 – Werter Road, London SW15
Project case Study 02 – Endlesham Road, London SW12