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Building a Home Design Dilemma

What is the ratio of width to height of a two-story residential tower?

Elaine & Glen Hester

last month

We are in the design phase of a Tuscan style house that will contain a tower entrance. We hope to be able to have a small apartment inside the tower and trying to figure out what dimension will work for this idea. Per our County requirements, we cannot go higher than 35 feet, so essentially I'm asking what the width should be for a tower that is 35 feet tall.

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Comments (5)

PRO
PPF.
last month
We are in the design phase of a Tuscan style house

Who is doing the design?

We hope to be able to have a small apartment inside the tower

Then the apartment size will influence the dimensions, don't you think?

we cannot go higher than 35 feet

You could fit 3 floors in 35 feet. Does the designer understand construction?

Why do you want a 35' tower? Are you able to visualize this height?

I'm asking what the width should be for a tower that is 35 feet tall

Depends on what the tower looks like, what is inside it, and what's around it.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last month
Gosh I don't know maybe 20' there is no way to answer this question you need an architect and they should advise . I have no idea what an apartment will look llike in a tower entry .
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bpath
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The tower also has to be in proportion to the rest of the house. So, maybe not this. (Although in general, I really like David Adler’s designs)

But, the tower does contain a couple of bedroom-sitting room-ensuites and a ”den”:
PRO
Linda@icookinmykitchen.com
last month
last modified: last month
A ”tower” by definition is narrow. With the limitation of 30’, you are talking maybe a 15’ square room, with a big chunk of that taken away for stairs on both floors. You perhaps can fit a small bedroom on the top floor, but in no way will it be large enough for an apartment. If youbexpend the width, it will no longer be a tower. It will be just another addition jog.
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
last month
How large is a "small apartment"? Typically studio apartments in the U.S. may range from 200-500 SF, or larger. Scissor stairs will add another approx 128 SF or so. If my quick calcs are close, you are looking at a tower that is approximately 328-628 SF or so, depending on studio size. You can't minimize the stairs by much and still meet code. That's a comparatively large tower I think...how large will the rest of your house be?

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