6 Types of Elevations You Can Have In A Triplex House

Every Indian dreams of owning a house, a residential property. Very few, however, choose to get involved in the designing and construction of the property. This may be a mistake since your house is the fulfilmet of your dreams and must reflect your personality and aesthetic sensibilities. 

What is a house elevation? 

It is quite common to hear architects, home contractors, and designers refer to "house elevation". What they mean is the exterior of the house. So you can speak of the front elevation, which is the exterior of the house that faces the road that connects to the building; the sides are referred to as the side elevations and the back exterior of the house is referred to as the back elevation.

Your house elevation will lend your house beauty, curb appeal, value, and functionality. If you are involved in designing the triplex house elevations, here is what you should know.

Designing a triplex house

Coming up with the design for a triplex or a multi-storey apartment can be very different from that of a single-storied or duplex house. The house's functional needs are different, making it important to design the front, back, and side elevations to provide each floor with both aesthetic appeal and functionality. For example, in a triplex house, each floor may be designed to include a fully-functional and independent apartment. This means that the elevation should factor in the need for a separate balcony on at least one side, open windows, cross ventilation etc., without affecting the beauty of the exteriors.

Types of triplex house elevations you want

• Stone elevation with central vestibule – Using stone or stone cladding makes for a stunning visual but can become difficult to incorporate in a triplex design. One way of doing this is by picking neutral colour stone cladding for the central vestibule and letting the residential features, such as balconies, wing out on both sides.
• Tiered glass elevation – A tiered glass elevation for a triplex apartment works best when it is an independent house. The ground floor is usually designed with a façade of toughened glass, while the middle and top floors are smaller in space, with the balcony or deck giving it a tiered look.
• Modern reflective glass straight elevation – Reflective glass façade triplex houses are very trendy. This elevation is modern, albeit more expensive than others in this list. However, the use of reflective glass requires a bit of caution as its effect on the neighbourhood may be a matter of contention.
• Wood and granite asymmetric elevation – Wood and granite slabs are a powerful combination. Using these in your house elevation gives it a chic, modern look. The use of wood, however, requires treatment to make this weather resistant and last longer. Natural stone cladding also keeps the home cool and conserves energy.
• Exposed brick elevation – Exposed brick elevations offer a low-cost but retro vibe. What's more, is that the exposed brick façade that you design may not require brick at all but can be replaced with brick-lookalike weather-resistant tiles. These are available in several colours and textures, giving your home a beautiful look.

Protecting your house façade and elevation

• Waterproofing solutions - In low-lying areas, architects and designers prefer to raise the level of the triplex house to help protect the exterior from flood damage. Your triplex house elevations can be protected with some innovative rain and water damage solutions like rain-proof coating or the addition of chemicals to the paint.
• Protecting from heat damage – In India, damage from the harsh rays of the sun is something architects and builders have to contend with. Using natural stone, engineered wood, or toughened glass is something that must be considered to combat this challenge. Sun-protection films and weather-resistant paint are also good options.
• Mould protection – Most of India faces a pronounced monsoon season. Coastal cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Vishakhapatnam tend to have high humidity levels that can cause mould and damage the exteriors. Mould protective treatments can be added to the paint, and regular maintenance is vital in keeping the exteriors strong.
• Resistant glass – Glass is becoming increasingly popular for its use in the front elevations of houses. Here, we have an incredible variety to work with. From toughened glass to sound-proof glass, from heat-control glass to stain glass – your choices depend on your budget and the functionality you seek from your glass exteriors.  

Working closely with the designer, architect, and contractor is a good idea when building your triplex house. This will create the perfect balance of affordability, beauty, availability, and functionality in house elevation design. You may also want to incorporate local resources which are easy to source and are suited to the weather conditions.