My Grand Design: Some Questions

[phatmanace]

I'm a big fan of grand designs, people seem to think about their dream homes for about 10 years before building them

so, true to what happens on the programme most of the time, I've been thinking about what my grand design might look like! I had a couple of questions on features that I've been thinking about - if I'm thinking about something now thats a) impossible from an engineering perspective, b) economically dumb - that would be useful to know, and I'll come up with a new plan

• Underground bit

One of the things that I'd really like is a portion of the house underground (probably too much time watching batman as a kid). To be provocative, why is more complicated than digging a big hole in the ground and sinking a steel or concrete frame into it? I'm thinking:

- Damp/water table: going to be a PITA to ensire that damp doesn't get in
- running up against buried services like sewers and gas mains

are there any other obstacles to doing this?

• Car Lift: I work in london, and have walked past tons of office blocks being built - most of them have car lifts built in to an underground car park - does anyone know how much these cost? (millions/tens or hundereds of thouands?) - I have seen things like 'phantom park' - which is the sort of thing, but failed to find any idea of how much they might cost

-Ace

[BoRED S2upid]

Lots of GD builds have underground bits utility rooms, grages etc... and yes it can be as simple as digging a massive hole and some decent concrete and damn proofing up to ground level and is a must have for a pistonhead grand design.

As for the lift again a superb idea £00,000 rather than hundreds id imagine.