Why are many houses built with a basement garage in flood zones?

Given the recent flooding I thought I’d finally ask this question I’ve been wondering about for years. I see a lot of houses built with underground garages and living space in commonly flooded areas. Why do this? For example this under construction house I saw today right next to the Alzette has a deep and very flooded garage. Why not just build the garage at road level, skip the basement, and make the house 3 meters taller? Are there height limits on residential construction?

I also see 1 story houses with deep basements in flood zones. Why? If height restrictions are in place they wouldn’t affect a 2 story building. Is it cost?

by jredland

10 comments

  2. They built whole industrial zones into flooding area. They dry out the water bed, make canals, etc.
    Water gives not a single fuck.

  6. Close to where I live there’s a big field that floods badly at least once a year. And it’s a good thing because it takes the biggest part of the flooding of the area, protecting adjacent houses. This field is protected under some “floodable area” law I don’t remember the name.
    Somehow, now a promoter got the permit to build on that land, despite every single inhabitant of the commune complaining it’s a bad idea. So basically those new buildings will be flooded regularly, and the adjacent ones who were previously protected will now be flooded too.
    Money and corruption buy everything. The construction sector is a mafia.

  8. Where is this ? The basement insulation panels look interesting 🧐

  9. Getting regularly flooded and being in a flood zone are two different things. Some areas (like parts of rollingergrund) have flooding issues as there is building up the hill which is taking away their natural flood barrier. I have a friend in another village that has an “indoor swimming pool/River” in the basement of her 19th century farmhouse now due to construction in the village up the hill from her causing a shift in the groundwater. Another friend lives in a “certified flood zone.” She is not considered “flooded” until water has entered the “zero floor” as her garage and basement are at ground (-1) level. She also has certain restrictions on her house in regards to electrical boxes and other utility’s.

    As for height restrictions. Many communes do have max height restrictions.

  10. Thanks all for the help. To clarify my question is not “why build in a flood zone?” but rather “why build a house in a flood zone with a below ground garage and basement (cave)?” According to geoportail, this house is located in an “Extreme HQ (low probability)” zone. Other new construction is too, but all those buildings are elevated and some have basements (caves).

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