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Looking at a house, the ground floor is actually above ground and there is a lower ground floor. In the lower ground floor, the ground level is about mid height of the floor.
How do you extend the ground floor?
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Expensively
Pretty easily. You need to speak to someone competent.
Being fuilly STW qualified and having absolutely NO building knowledge i would guess at digging down to below lower ground level and laying new foundations then building up from there.
But I think IHN's explanation my be more accurate 😉
Depends on a number of factors really e.g. the ground conditions / soil type, size of extension, type of construction. You may be able to use normal strip founds & trench fill, alternatively, a ground bearing floor slab or even mini piles. Best really to speak to a structural engineer.
EDIT - just re-read your post. A ground bearing slab probably not an option due to the existing ground level.
Sorry, this being STW I only wanted responses from people with absolutely no building/architecture experience (like me).
My solution was to do it on stilts.
Just wanted all options in my head so I can appear clever when I meet architect tomorrow.
You could have a lightweight timber frame on columns. Tell your architect you want pilotis.
Hang it off skyhooks. Its a new technology but very effective, your architect may not have herd of them so you may have to press the matter.
Sorry, this being STW I only wanted responses from people with absolutely no building/architecture experience (like me).
Fine, be like that if you want 😉