[mooza]

My independent house was built several years ago, when I had just one car.
The Architect assigned a huge parking space of 800 square feet, with the tyical long driveway ending in a garage. This design is proving to be hellish for us now, as we have added 2 more cars (Wifey's and Dad's). Now there are 3 cars lined up in a straight line one behind the other, because of which it is very difficult to take the cars in and out, as our schedules keep changing throughout the day.
As a result, many a time, 2 of our cars end up getting parked on the road, clogging up traffic.
Dear prospective builders of independent houses, please do not repeat my mistake. With the same 800 square feet, a parallel parking system should be designed, with a large double gate, so that life becomes easy for all!
Cheers

[ampere]

I have seen this so many times ! You hit the nail on the head.
In fact some folks have started following this now. Only problem, efficiency goes for a toss,
as one has to compromise on the width of the plot.

There may exist an intelligent design though !

[deep_bang]

thanks for the advice!
i am in the process of planning my house right now...

[Samurai]

Thankfully this was designed properly in my 10 year old home. I can park 3 cars without blocking each other. But I can imagine the horror if it wasn't so.

[bblost]

If the owners are ok with sharing each others car, they can simply take the first car out irrespective of whom it belongs to.

I have lived with a similar problem long back when I had 2 cars.
Since I was the only one driving them, did not even have anyone to complain on.

[absynthguzzler]

And when your providing for side by side parking , also keep in mind the wingspan of open doors ( at-least one side ). I've seen a lot of people miss out on this simple calculation . In addition , park the 2nd car in reverse direction to the first one parked so its easier entry and exit for both.This way the drivers get to park closer to the other if the allotted width is a constraint.

[xingamazon]

Going by the way the real estate prices are soaring, dont think anyone off late would be going for independant houses at all.
Atlest none of friends nor I have been able to afford one.

[subscrive]

didnt you have any say in the design?
If its independant house, the owners give their inputs to the archie.

The Floor-Area Ratio [FAR], the set-backs to be left out, etc., as per rules governing sanctioning of building plans prevailing at that time [BDA/BCC] resulted in that type of arrangement, including my home constructed in 1991. Now, BBMP has revised the norms including increase in FAR, reduction in set-backs, etc., thereby parallel-parking in the front could be provided squeezing the side/rear set-backs. In fact, for 40'x60' residential site, front parallel parking for minimum two cars are to be provided for mandatorily.

[techfreak]

I am also in the process of building a home, sure this is a point to br kept in mind for all "petrolheads" like us.

Thanks I shall tell the designer when he plans.

[ph03n!x]

Umm.. why not the first to go out take the car that is the easiest to take out? After all its your own family

Ofcourse got your point, and will make sure something is done for it when I get to building my abode!

[mooza]

Originally Posted by bblost

If the owners are ok with sharing each others car, they can simply take the first car out irrespective of whom it belongs to.

This is how we are being forced to manage, at present.

We are now thinking of breaking our compound wall, re-locating the obstructing spiral staircase, re-building new gates, and asphalting the area (which is now our lawn), in the near future. Even with this, it is going to be congested on account of the insufficient front setback. We may have to make our gates stick out beyond the boundaries by a foot, which is not going to look good, and is not officially allowed, I think.

All this is sure going to cost us, at least around 50 to 60k, I guess!

It was a bad slip on our part when the architect submitted the plans to us, as we were busy concentrating on the layout of the rooms and so on, during those days !

[Live To Jive]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Thankfully this was designed properly in my 10 year old home. I can park 3 cars without blocking each other. But I can imagine the horror if it wasn't so.

Same here. No problem in a 100 year old house.

Originally Posted by mooza

My independent house was built several years ago, when I had just one car.
The Architect assigned a huge parking space of 800 square feet, with the tyical long driveway ending in a garage. This design is proving to be hellish for us now, as we have added 2 more cars (Wifey's and Dad's). Now there are 3 cars lined up in a straight line one behind the other, because of which it is very difficult to take the cars in and out, as our schedules keep changing throughout the day.

Can you post a rough plan of the house and plot. 800 sq. ft is about the size of a flat. Maybe someone can suggest something. Have you considered shifting the gate or swapping the garden and parking lot?

Originally Posted by bblost

If the owners are ok with sharing each others car, they can simply take the first car out irrespective of whom it belongs to.

Say you own a Civic and your wife owns an 800. Let me see if you can happily implement your plan.

[mooza]

Originally Posted by Live To Jive

Can you post a rough plan of the house and plot. 800 sq. ft is about the size of a flat. Maybe someone can suggest something. Have you considered shifting the gate or swapping the garden and parking lot?

Thanks, Live To Jive. My house is built on a 50 ft x 85 ft plot. A site of this size was affordable, when we bought it way back in 1980 (I guess I can forget about buying a similar sized site in Bangalore now )

The house plan is simple, really (I will try to post it shortly). The driveway, placed at the left portion of the plot, measures about 9 ft width by 84 ft length, including the garage, which is located at the end of the driveway.

The problem is, the width of the driveway is 9 ft all through till the very end, making parallel parking impossible (I used to squeeze my bike through somehow, irritating my Dad no end, with scratches on the Ford Escort !)

There is hardly any space on the other end (right side of the plot), so a separate gate at this end is not going to help.

I have a front setback of about 15 feet, which is a clear space (garden) from the front compound wall till the building front face. I am now thinking of including a portion of the garden in my parking lot, by breaking the front compound wall and widening the gate.

[srishiva]

I guess parking the other two cars outside early morning is the only solution. For a site of those dimensions, did you ever think about basement parking?
We always like our house to be un-obstructed by garage and its a difficult situation. Abroad, they build garages as part of the front of house unlike us where we always want them to one corner.