In this tutorial, we'll show you how to:
Create a house with a partially underground garage.
Build raised ground around the basement.
Add a sloped driveway leading to the garage.
Create stairs connecting the garden to the main entrance.
Design a circular outdoor lounge with a central fireplace.
Finish the house with a roof, landscaping, and decorations.
We have prepared a short video for you. If you prefer written instructions, those are available below as well.
Step 1. Create the basement garage
First, let's build the lower level of your house.
Open your Planner 5D project and switch to 2D mode.
Go to Build → Rooms and add a rectangular room.
Adjust its dimensions to match your planned house.
For example, you can start with a room measuring approximately 800 × 900 cm.
Select the room and set its wall Height to 270 cm.
Open the construction catalog and find Garage Doors.
Place a garage door in the front wall.
Add any additional windows you want on the basement level.
Switch to 3D mode and check that the garage door is correctly positioned.
You can apply a stone or masonry material to the lower exterior walls to give the basement a distinct appearance.
Tip: At this stage, the basement will look like a regular ground floor. We'll create the partially underground effect by adding raised landscape surfaces around it.
For more information about changing wall heights, see Adjusting Ceiling Height on Web.
Step 2. Add the main house floor
Now let's add the main living level above the basement.
Switch to 2D mode.
Open the Floor Menu.
Select Add New Floor.
Create a room that follows the footprint of the basement below.
Align the exterior walls of both floors.
Set the wall height of the main level to approximately 270 cm.
Add windows and a front entrance door to the main house.
For this design, the main entrance will be above the future raised garden, so we'll add exterior stairs later.
Switch to 3D mode and make sure the upper floor sits directly above the basement.
For more information, check out How to Create a New Floor.
Step 3. Create an opening for the internal stairs
If you want to connect the garage or basement to the main living area, you can create an opening between the two floors.
Switch to the basement level.
Create a separate small room where you want the staircase.
Select this room and hide its ceiling.
Switch to the main floor.
Create a matching room directly above the staircase area.
Select the upper room and hide its floor.
Add a staircase on the basement level.
Adjust its dimensions and position so the stairs connect both floors.
If necessary, hide the interior wall sections that block the staircase opening.
For a detailed explanation, see How to Place Stairs Between Two Floors.
Tip: To create a clear opening, hide the ceiling of the lower room and the floor of the room directly above it. This prevents the floor slab from blocking the staircase.
Step 4. Create raised ground around the basement
Now let's make the basement appear partially underground!
Instead of changing the existing house floors, we'll create raised landscape surfaces using Magic Cubes.
Create the first ground section
Switch to the lowest house level.
Open Build → Forms.
Select the Magic Cube.
Place it beside the house.
Resize it into a wide, rectangular ground section.
For example, you can start with:
Height: 150 cm
Levitation: 0 cm
Adjust the Width and Depth to cover the desired garden area.
Open the Materials menu using the paint roller icon.
Apply a grass texture to the upper surface.
The top of this landscape block will now sit 150 cm above the basement floor.
Extend the garden
Select the ground section and click Duplicate.
Move the copy to another side of the house.
Resize it to match your planned landscape.
Continue adding sections around the basement.
Leave an open space in front of the garage door for the driveway.
You should now have a house where the basement is partly concealed by the surrounding ground.
Important: Use several separate Magic Cubes instead of one large block. This allows you to leave openings for the garage driveway, paths, and lower-level doors.
For more details about custom shapes, see How to Use the Magic Cube and Forms on Web.
Step 5. Create the sloped garage driveway
Because the garage is lower than the garden, we'll need a sloped driveway to connect both levels.
Create the driveway surface
Switch to 2D mode.
Add a new Magic Cube.
Resize it into a long, thin rectangular slab.
Position it in front of the garage door.
For example, you can start with:
Width: 350 cm
Length: approximately 619 cm
Height: a small slab thickness suitable for your design
These are example dimensions for a driveway connecting a garage at ground level to a garden approximately 150 cm higher over a 600 cm horizontal distance.
Tilt the driveway
Switch to 3D mode.
Select the driveway slab.
Enable 3-Axis Rotation.
Adjust the appropriate rotation axis to tilt the slab downward toward the garage.
Use Levitation to adjust its position.
Make sure the lower end meets the garage entrance and the upper end connects to the raised garden surface.
For the example above, you can start with a slope of approximately 14 degrees and adjust it to fit your layout.
To learn more about tilting objects, see How to Use 3-Axis Rotation.
Finish the driveway
Apply a concrete, paving, or stone material to the slab.
You can also add low retaining walls along both sides using additional Magic Cubes.
Switch to 3D mode and check that the driveway connects both levels without visible gaps.
Tip: If the driveway tilts sideways rather than toward the garage, reset the rotation and try a different axis. Adjust one axis at a time.
Step 6. Create the entrance stairs
Now let's connect the raised garden to the main entrance of your house.
You can use a staircase from the catalog or create individual steps using Magic Cubes.
Build the steps
Switch to 2D mode.
Add a Magic Cube.
Resize it into a rectangular step.
Position it near the front entrance.
Duplicate the step to create additional levels.
For example, if the garden surface is at 150 cm and the main entrance is at 270 cm, you'll need to bridge a difference of 120 cm.
You could create eight steps, each rising 15 cm.
A sample arrangement would be:
Step | Bottom elevation | Top elevation |
1 | 150 cm | 165 cm |
2 | 165 cm | 180 cm |
3 | 180 cm | 195 cm |
4 | 195 cm | 210 cm |
5 | 210 cm | 225 cm |
6 | 225 cm | 240 cm |
7 | 240 cm | 255 cm |
8 | 255 cm | 270 cm |
For this example, each step can be approximately 160 cm wide and 30 cm deep.
Keep the steps aligned and move each successive one closer to the entrance.
Add a landing and decorations
Once the steps are complete:
Add a landing outside the entrance door if needed.
Apply the same stone or concrete material to all the steps.
Add low side walls, planters, or railings.
Make sure the entrance remains accessible.
Switch to 3D mode and check that the stairs connect smoothly to the landing.
Tip: These measurements are examples for creating the visual design. Adjust the number and height of steps to match your actual project.
Step 7. Create a circular outdoor lounge
Let's add a cozy garden lounge with curved seating and a fireplace in the middle.
We'll use Magic Cubes to create individual bench sections arranged in a circle.
Create the lounge base
Switch to 2D mode.
Choose an open area of your garden.
Add a Magic Cube and resize it into a wide, shallow platform.
For example:
Width: 600 cm
Depth: 600 cm
Height: 10 cm
Levitation: 140 cm
This places the top of the platform at the same 150 cm height as the surrounding garden.
Apply a stone or paving material to the platform.
Create the first bench section
Add another Magic Cube.
Resize it into a rectangular seating block.
For example:
Width: 60 cm
Depth: 80 cm
Height: 45 cm
Levitation: 150 cm
Place the bench section near the edge of the lounge.
Rotate it so it faces toward the center.
Duplicate the seating sections
Now we'll create the circular shape.
Select the bench section and click Duplicate.
Move the copy slightly around the center of the lounge.
Adjust its Angle so it follows the circular arrangement.
Continue duplicating and positioning the sections along the same curved path.
Leave an opening for access to the seating area.
For a similar design, you can use approximately 16 bench sections to create a three-quarter circle.
Add cushions and a fireplace
Once the seating structure is ready:
Apply a stone or masonry material to the bench sections.
Add cushions from the furniture catalog, or use thin Magic Cubes for simple custom cushions.
Adjust their elevation so they rest on the bench surfaces.
Find a suitable outdoor fireplace or fire pit in the catalog.
Place it in the center of the lounge.
Switch to 3D mode and check that the seating sections form a consistent curve and the fireplace is centered.
You can also add low backrests behind the benches using additional Magic Cubes.
Step 8. Add garden paths and rear stairs
Now let's connect the outdoor areas.
Create garden paths
Add a Magic Cube.
Resize it into a long, thin path section.
Position it between the entrance stairs, lounge, and other garden areas.
Adjust its elevation so the path's top matches the garden surface.
Apply a paving or stone material.
For example, with a 10 cm thick path and the garden at 150 cm, set Levitation to 140 cm.
Duplicate the path sections as needed.
Add rear stairs
If your house has a rear entrance:
Add a door to the rear wall on the main floor.
Return to the basement level.
Add a staircase or duplicate your existing exterior steps.
Position them to connect the rear entrance to the garden.
Adjust their heights and direction as needed.
Check the result in 3D to make sure no ground sections or walls block the staircase.
Step 9. Add the roof
Let's finish the main structure of your house.
Switch to the main house floor.
Open Build → Roofs.
Choose a pitched roof.
Place it over the house.
Adjust its width and depth to match the building footprint.
Use Levitation to position it above the main floor walls.
For walls approximately 270 cm high, you can start with a roof Levitation near 270 cm relative to the main floor.
Switch to 3D mode and adjust the roof until its lower edges connect to the walls.
You can also add a smaller roof above the main entrance and support it with decorative columns.
Apply your preferred roof material.
Step 10. Finish the garden and exterior
Now it's time to add the finishing touches!
Switch to the lowest house level.
Open Build → Fences and gates.
Add fences around the garden.
Adjust their dimensions and elevation to match the raised ground.
Open Exterior → Trees and plants.
Add trees, shrubs, flowers, and decorative plants.
Place outdoor lighting and furniture where needed.
If you're placing objects on the raised garden while working on the lowest level, use Levitation to raise them to the garden height.
For example, a tree placed on a garden surface at 150 cm may need its Levitation adjusted to approximately 150 cm.
Switch to 3D mode and check that everything rests correctly on the intended surface.
Tip: If plants, fences, or furniture appear partially buried in the garden, adjust their elevation rather than changing the height of the ground blocks.
Step 11. Check your finished house in 3D
Your house with a basement garage and outdoor lounge is almost ready!
Switch to 3D mode and inspect the design from different angles.
Make sure that:
The basement is partially concealed by the raised ground.
The garage entrance remains open.
The driveway connects the lower and upper levels.
The main house is aligned with the basement.
The entrance stairs reach the main floor.
The circular lounge has evenly positioned seating sections.
The fireplace and cushions are correctly placed.
The roof meets the exterior walls.
Plants, fences, and paths sit at the correct elevation.
If any object appears to float, overlap, or disappear into another surface, select it and adjust its dimensions, rotation, or Levitation.
Once everything looks right, you can create a realistic render of your project.
For detailed instructions, see How to Create Renders on Web.