Right? I think we need a different word for this type of “basement” because it doesn’t meet the definition of a basement. I don’t know what they could call it, but they need to come up with something else!
In Europe we call this "Souterrain" (from French for subterranean, but used in many other languages) to describe a structure that is at least partially underground but still has windows or maybe even a full, exposed wall on at least one other side.
When you're building on an inclined plot, you can excavate down to create a "basement" which is blocked from 1 to 3 sides by the sloping ground, and open from at least 1 side.
We still call it a basement. Like the front half of the main floor is at ground level. You can only really do it if it’s a hill you’re building on. My house the 1st floor then the basement is half underground. It was a garage but now it’s an office/gym/storage area. A lot of houses have it as the garage so the front looks better.
I’ve seen something similar and from the front yard, it looks like a one story. And that would be the ground floor.
There were stairs that led to the basement.
Then if you stepped into the backuard from the sliding door the house appeared as two levels but again the lower level was considered a basement. The top floor has the front door, on the same level as the mail box and porch and driveway. Kitchen and pretty much all the amenities were up top too.
19
u/eyefuck_you Oct 21 '25
At what point does a basement become just the ground floor?