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Foundations and Basements - Version 7 vs Version 8
Sep 21, 2026, 11:04 AM
Basements shipped in v0.10.0 on September 3, 2026; replaced the pre-release basement sections with the shipped feature and its history, refreshed the description
Oct 29, 2026, 02:02 AM
Add released basement-wall editing and free object placement controls.
11Overview22Foundations and basements are two related Build Mode features in inZOI. Foundations (raised floor levels that elevate a building above the ground) are available in the current Early Access build, though the process is less intuitive than in some other life simulation games. Basements (underground rooms below ground level) arrived in the v0.10.0 update of September 3, 2026, ahead of the Q4 2026 window the "Fundamentals First" roadmap had given them, and private residential properties can now go up to three floors below ground.44Foundations66A foundation raises the base floor of a building above ground level, creating a visible gap between the ground and the house. Foundations add a sense of elevation and allow for front porches with steps, raised decks, and split-level designs. In inZOI, foundations are not a standalone tool. Instead, they are created by building a room or platform and then adjusting its height.88How to Build a Foundation1111There are two methods for creating an elevated foundation in Build Mode:1313Method 1: Room Floor Elevation1515Open Build Mode (press I).Place walls to define a room, or use a room preset from the Structure tab.Switch to the Room Selection tool by pressing R (the cursor icon with a square).Click on the room. Yellow markers appear at the corners of the room.Click the markers near the bottom of the wall to create a floor surface.Use the movement controller to raise the floor height. The entire room elevates above ground level.Place stairs outside the room to connect the elevated entrance to the ground.1717Method 2: Platform Elevation1919In Build Mode, navigate to the Structure tab.Scroll down past the main building sections to find the Platforms section.Place a platform on the lot.Select the platform. The piece selector shows options; the first option (movement controller) adjusts size and height.Raise the platform to the desired foundation height.Build walls on top of the raised platform to create rooms.Add stairs for ground-level access.2121Method 2 is generally simpler because the platform is a visible, separate object that clearly shows its elevation. Method 1 ties the foundation directly to the room, which some players find less intuitive since the height controls are part of the room editing tools rather than a dedicated foundation interface.2323Foundation Height2525The movement controller allows fine-grained height adjustment. There is no fixed set of foundation heights; you can raise the floor or platform to any level within the allowed range. However, keep the following rules in mind:2727Single-stage height: Platforms raised one stage above ground allow Zois to step up without stairs. This creates a subtle foundation that looks like a low porch or step.Multi-stage height: Any height above one stage requires stairs. Without stairs, Zois cannot reach the elevated area and will be unable to enter the building.Stair alignment: Stairs must connect directly to the elevated surface. If there is a gap between the top of the stairs and the foundation edge, Zois will not be able to use them.2929Adding Stairs to Foundations3131Stairs are essential for any foundation above a single stage. Place stairs from the Structure tab in Build Mode. Multiple staircase styles are available, from straight flights to spiral designs.3333Click the slanted arrow option on a placed staircase to bend or corner the stairs. This allows L-shaped and U-shaped staircases.Ensure the building has a ceiling on the floor above before placing stairs to upper levels. The game requires a ceiling for stair connections, though this is not clearly communicated in the UI.Leave at least one unobstructed corner of a room for staircase placement. Tight rooms may not have enough space for functional stairs.3535Known Issues3737The foundation system has several reported issues in the current build:3939IssueDescriptionWorkaroundDoor disappearancePlacing a door on a wall attached to a raised platform can cause the door to vanish. If the platform is raised first, the door may refuse to install.Place the door before raising the platform height. Alternatively, place the door after elevation but experiment with positioning.Stair pathfindingZois sometimes cannot walk stairs built on a raised platform, standing at the base without climbing.Delete and replace the stairs. Ensure the stair top aligns flush with the platform edge.Foundation tool visibilityThe platform tool is buried in a scrollable section of the Structure tab, below windows and doors. New players often miss it entirely.Scroll down in the Structure tab past the house image to find the Platforms section.Non-resizable shapesOctagon and hexagon room presets cannot be resized, limiting their use with foundations.Use manual wall placement for custom-sized rooms instead of presets.Collision detectionObjects placed near the edge of a raised platform may trigger "Cannot place" errors even when space appears available.Use Alt (free placement) to bypass some collision restrictions.4141Foundation Design Tips4242Use a raised platform of 5 units to create a standard foundation height with a front stairway. This matches the proportions seen on pre-built premade family homes.Paint the exposed foundation sides with stone or brick textures using the Customize Paint system for a finished look.Combine a raised foundation with an outdoor deck by extending the platform beyond the house walls and adding railing furniture.Check neighboring pre-built properties for reference. Many premade homes in both cities use elevated foundations with staircases, demonstrating that the system works when sequenced correctly.4444Basements4646Basement construction was added in the v0.10.0 update of September 3, 2026. Private residential properties support up to three basement floors, reached with the floor navigation tool in the top toolbar, which now steps below ground level as well as above it. The same update raised the floor cap on public properties to 29 and moved the furniture categories to the right of the item list. See Basements for the dedicated article.4848v0.11.0 enabled editing walls on basement floors. It also added EnableFreeEditMode (True/False) for free positioning and scaling of objects. This object-editing cheat is separate from terrain sculpting and does not by itself verify a new floor cap, apartment basement eligibility or every staircase-pathfinding workaround in this guide.50+What Shipped5052ElementDetailAvailabilityPrivate residential properties only; up to three basement floorsShipped propertiesThree pre-built homes with basement floors: Mugunghwa Villa (Dowon), 1011 Willowtree Lane (Bliss Bay), and Bumi Indah House (Cahaya)Object classification fixv0.10.2 (September 9, 2026) fixed outdoor surface objects being treated as indoor objects when an underground room is larger than the room above itNot includedTerrain sculpting; the roadmap still lists full terrain editing as a later item5254Development History5355Before release, placeholder basement layouts and a non-functional basement level button were visible in Build Mode, and the 2026 roadmap listed basement construction under Q4 2026 alongside terrain editing. The May 29, 2026 weekly video then previewed underground building in the development build, and the feature arrived with the September update rather than in the fourth quarter. Terrain editing did not ship with it.5557Multi-Story Building5759Basements now extend a home downward, and building upward with multiple floors is fully supported as well. Understanding multi-story construction helps with foundation work since the same floor and stair tools are used.5961Building Upper Floors6163Complete the ground floor with walls, a floor, and a ceiling. The ceiling is required before upper-floor construction can begin.Use Page Up to navigate to the next floor level.Draw walls for the second floor. They can match or differ from the ground floor layout.Add a staircase connecting the ground floor to the second floor. Leave a gap in the ceiling where the stairs pass through.Repeat for additional floors. Apartment buildings can reach up to 30 floors.6365Wall Heights6567Three standard wall heights are available for each floor:6769HeightUse Case3mStandard single-story rooms. The default choice for most homes.4.8mTaller rooms with a more spacious feel. Suitable for living rooms and open-plan areas.5.7mDouble-height spaces. Used for grand entryways or loft-style designs.6971Wall height is selected when first drawing walls. Different rooms on the same floor can have different wall heights, allowing split-level interiors within a single story.7072Related Build Mode Features7274Build Mode provides the full interface for all construction tools.Terrain Editing covers ground tiles, outdoor surfaces, platform elevation, and landscaping.Pools and Water Features explains the pool building system, which uses a similar outline-and-adjust workflow.Lot Types covers residential and community lot categories, sizes, and editing rules.7476Tips7678Always place doors before raising a platform to avoid the door disappearance bug.Use Alt (free placement) when positioning stairs near raised platforms to bypass overly strict collision detection.Build a ceiling on each floor before adding stairs to the next level. Without a ceiling, the game may not allow stair placement.Paint exposed foundation walls using the Customize Paint system. Stone and brick textures give foundations a polished, finished appearance.Test your foundation by unpausing the game briefly. Watch whether Zois can navigate the stairs and enter the building. Fix pathfinding issues before furnishing the interior.Save your build as a preset before making major changes. If elevation adjustments break door or stair placement, you can revert to the saved version.