possibly you'd achieve some...depending upon the layout possibly you could achieve airflow/draw through to the lower level by having south west windows open on upper but keeping upper north east windows shut, then opening the lower windows & all doors etc...this would theoretically encourage cross ventilation through.....but there would be dead(er) pockets in the south/west lower area in this regard....

Hi Kristin, Unfortunately there's not a simple answer for this one way or the other. Generally 2 storey will cost more, but the cost of a simple two storey design compared to a complex/high quality single storey of similar floor area could be less. It really depends upon the design and level of finish/detail. Cost/m2 rationalising really only works for volume industry where there is relatively quantifiable correlation in this regard. As soon as you get into custom territory things change and can vary dramatically. Good luck! PD www.pauldistefanodesign.com

The approx 60sqm space doesn't include the stairs and is only one bedroom. I haven't decided on laundry as it could be possible to share the existing one which opens off the existing garage. The external stairs would be adjacent to the side door off the garage which is next to the laundry. I don't already have plans but have been playing around with a floor plan myself. That is why I'd like a little input on the design possibilities. Using the upstairs area myself might be possible one day, but not for the foreseeable future as I have two dogs and need the yard. I also have a number of interests for which I need my existing space. Additionally I don't want a whole houseful of tenants with which I would have to cohabit. Ideally it will just be one person. Thank you for your suggestions re the MyAgedCare Program, but I have just had the experience of that process with my own mother. The waiting lists for care are very long and even just getting assessed takes a long time. Last time I heard there were 90,000 people on the waiting list and some 16,000 died in 2018/19 while waiting. Additionally, you only get a few hours assistance a week, there is no live in or on call help and a lot of the money gets eaten up in admin costs. It doesn't hold a lot of appeal for me in it's current form. Hopefully the Royal Commission will result in some improvements and it may provide a better service by the time I might be in need of it. I have considered buying another house on a bigger block where I could put a granny flat , but haven't found anything suitable. Most houses which offer this possibility are unrenovated so I would have to do a full reno on the house as well as build the granny flat. When you consider the costs and disruption involved in that, plus the costs of selling and buying and moving, it just seems all too hard. That's why I've come back to this option.

now that we have the dimensions of the block you can see how much land is available and you will need to decide how to place the house on the block?? the best location would take advantage of passive solar design for which we need to know the direction of north and the local climate and how you want to use the gardens but something like this might work? and kitchens with living areas upstairs could make sense if the block was suitable eg land slope down from the street with views to the rear.... without more information about the block and who will live in the house no one will be able to answer all your questions but, if this is a flat block in an average new subdivision with new homes surrounding then it's usually better to build what most people would have with kitchen and living areas downstairs (you could also add a kitchenette to the upstairs living area for drinks and snacks) with most daytime living connection to outdoors especially if there will be children living in the house