A farmhouse on Bedian Road, Barki Road or in a farmhouse scheme is a very different brief from a city house. You have more land, but also more decisions: where the house sits, how cars and guests arrive, where the lawn, pool and trees go, and how water, drainage and security work across a large plot. Good farmhouse design treats the site as one plan.
What's included
| Item | What it is | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Site survey | Boundaries, levels, existing trees, access | Drives building placement and drainage |
| Master plan | Zoning of house, lawns, parking, services, staff areas | Keeps future additions orderly |
| Main house design | Floor plans and elevation | The core building |
| Outbuildings | Staff quarters, guard room, garages, stores, animal sheds | Often forgotten until late |
| Landscape plan | Lawns, trees, hardscape, water features | Shapes the experience |
| Services plan | Water source, tanks, septic or sewerage, power, lighting | Large sites need planned infrastructure |
| Approval drawings | Where required by the scheme or authority | Avoids violations |
When you need it
- You have bought farmland or a plot in a farmhouse scheme
- You want to phase construction over several years
- You are upgrading an existing farmhouse with new rooms or a pool
Step-by-step process
- Check the land and rules – confirm title and whether the scheme or authority permits a farmhouse and what it requires.
- Survey – levels matter a lot for drainage on large plots.
- Brief – family use, entertaining, weekend or permanent living, guests, staff.
- Master plan – place the house, entrance, driveway and lawns.
- House design – plans and elevation.
- Landscape and services – water, drainage, power and lighting.
- Approvals – submit where required.
- Phased construction – boundary and services first, then main house.
Approvals and documents
Rules for farmhouses depend on where the land is. LDA's regulations require a landscape plan showing hard and soft landscape elements and tree planting for properties of 4 kanals and above, with a proposal to extend this to all properties (LDA Building and Zoning Regulations). Housing schemes, including DHA, set their own rules for plots they control. For land outside a scheme, ask your architect which authority covers it and check title records before you design. Get the current requirements in writing from the relevant office.
What affects the cost
Farmhouse design fees are typically a lump sum or per square foot of the main house, with landscape and outbuildings added. Factors:
- Size of the main house and number of outbuildings
- Master planning and landscape design scope
- Site survey and levelling design
- Pool, water features or special structures
- Approval work, if any
- Number of site visits, given travel time
Questions to ask
- Have you designed farmhouses in this area before?
- Will you prepare a full site master plan, not just the house?
- How will rainwater drain off the site?
- Where will water come from and how will wastewater be handled?
- Can construction be phased without redesign later?
- Is landscape design included or separate?
Red flags
- Designing the house before anyone has checked land title or permission
- No drainage plan on a flat or low-lying plot
- Ignoring orientation: large glass facing west with no shade
- A city-house design simply stretched onto a big plot
- No plan for staff, security and services
FAQs
Do I need approval to build a farmhouse near Lahore? It depends on the scheme and the authority covering the land. Check with them before design starts.
Should I build the boundary wall first? Often yes, along with access and services, but follow the master plan so gates and driveways are in the right place.
Is landscape design worth it? On large plots, landscape and drainage planning often affects daily use as much as the house does.
Can I add a pool later? Yes, if the master plan reserves the space and services for it.
This page is general information; confirm with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before you act.