SPLIT LEVEL HOUSE

SPLIT LEVEL HOUSE
I. Introduction:
Simply put, a split-level house is one with staggered levels and an entryway or front door that
opens in the center of the two levels. Typically, this means that, upon entering through the front door,
you’ll be greeted by a staircase that goes up to the bedroom level and another that will take you to the
basement area. The basement area is almost always finished, as well, so it can serve multiple purposes.
For example, it will usually include at least one bedroom and a laundry room. Many split-level
homeowners will also use the basement’s main space as a living room or their primary room for
entertaining.
Another easy way to think about split-level homes is that there’s no one floor that covers the
house’s entire footprint. Some may have large main floors that include the kitchen and dining room, but it
eventually gives way to the staircases which lead to the two other floors. Whereas a craftsman house and
other popular designs have floors that overlap each other perfectly, the floors of a split-level home are
staggered.
As their name implies, split-level homes have more than one floor, but not all run the full length
of the house. Instead, they’re characterized by several staggered levels, each linked by a separate
staircase. “There are generally two sets of stairs off the home’s main story, leading upstairs to bedrooms
and downstairs to the basement,” explains Marina Vaamonde, owner and founder of HouseCashin, a
platform that connects home sellers and real estate investors.
II. Characteristics:
Some styles of split-levels have a garage on the lower level, with a half-basement leading into it,
and bedrooms located above it. This is not to be confused with a split-foyer or split-entry house, which
requires you to walk up or down the stairs as soon as you enter through the front door to get to the various
rooms. With a split-level house, you generally enter on the ground floor, which contains much of the
major living space (kitchen, living room, etc.). On one side, there is a half-flight of stairs leading up or
down to the next level.
Split-level homes are also often referred to as tri-levels, three being the standard number of floors
they contained — though some had four or even five.
III. External Features:
While they can be built in different architectural styles, split-level homes generally share certain
salient characteristics. On the outside, they typically feature:
 Asymmetrical silhouettes (rectangular main level, squarer or protruding section containing the
upper level)
 Double-hung windows
 Large picture windows on the main level
 Low-pitched roofs
 Mixed-material facades (especially brick and wood)
 Two to eight exterior steps leading to the front door
IV. Internal Features:
The interior design of split-level houses can vary considerably. But — in addition to their mini-
stairways — they frequently feature:
 Vaulted ceilings (top story)

 Separate living, dining and kitchen rooms on the main floor; bedrooms on upper floor
 Finished basements
 Attached or built-in garages
 Multiple attic spaces and storage areas
 Minimal ornamental features (moldings, cornices, etc.)
 Large patio doors/sliders leading off the main living area
V. Types of split-level houses:
There are several types of split-level homes available. The key difference is often their exterior
appearance — that is, how obvious the staggered levels are from a curbside view.
1. Standard split
A standard split-level home typically has a ground level entrance door leading into the main floor. A short
set of stairs divides the other levels. The bottom level features a playroom, den, family room or garage,
while the upper floor has bedrooms and bathrooms. “This type generally contains open floor plans,
covering a fairly small footprint,” says Vaamonde.
2. Side split
Perhaps the most popular variety is the side split (it’s the one featured in The Brady Bunch). It showcases
all three levels from the front, with the bedrooms stacked on top of the basement floor on one side and the
main floor on the other side.
3. Back split
“The layout of a back-split ranch is almost identical to that of a side split, with one significant exception:
it has been rotated 90 degrees,” says Mike Gregor, a Realtor with Cohen Agency SiM in New Hartford,
Connecticut. “A back-split level home will appear to have a single story when viewed from the curb,
similar to a ranch-style home.”
4. Stacked split
The stacked split-level house has at least four floors, with the additional floor over top the main living
area. There are several flights of stairs connecting each level from the main staircase. The upper floor
typically has accessory rooms like an informal living area, with a garage on the bottom floor.
VI. Example:
House M / FUJIWALABO / Teppei Fujiwara Architects Labo
EXTERIOR INTERIOR
PLANS
SECTION
VII. References:
SimpleShowing. (2023, February 24). What Is a Split-Level House? simpleshowing.
https://www.simpleshowing.com/blog/what-is-a-split-level-house
Sleight, M. (2022, August 8). What is a split-level house? Bankrate. https://www.bankrate.com/real-
estate/what-is-a-split-level-house/#cost
Valenzuela, K. (2021, July 15). House M / FUJIWALABO / Teppei Fujiwara Architects Labo. ArchDaily.
https://www.archdaily.com/480705/house-m-teppei-fujiwara-architects-labo

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 Vaulted ceilings (top story)

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