ARCHITECT’S VIEW
Designing an effective upsidedown layout
Director of Erbar Mattes Architects Demian Erbar explores the benefits of a reversed floorplan, and how to create comfortable and functional spaces
What is a reversed layout, and what types of projects are best suited to this kind of design?
An upside-down layout involves inverting the traditional floorplan. Bedrooms are placed at arrival level, usually the ground floor, with your living spaces, such as lounge and kitchen, on the first storey.
When designing a new home, it’s useful to avoid pre-conceived ideas of how it should be structured and organised, to allow the brief to develop organically from your own preferences, as well as the requirements of your site. Consider what your unique plot offers and how to make the most of your space, while designing a home and layout that makes sense for your lifestyle.
Although the majority of homes are built with a standard floorplan (bedrooms above the living spaces), reversing this default setup can reveal surprising views, emphasise proximity to trees and other site-specific opportunities, to improve the living spaces where we spend most of our time. This can often be the case on sites with sloping terrain, particularly in lower density urban or rural areas.