ᐅ Corner bungalow: should the terrace be fully or partially covered?

Hello,

I would like to ask for your help and opinions.
We are building a bungalow with 115 sqm (1236 sq ft) of living space.
It will be an L-shaped bungalow.
Our plan was to fully cover the terrace with the bungalow’s hip roof.
This would create a terrace measuring 5.00 by 4.60 meters (16.4 by 15.1 feet).
The terrace faces southwest.
The living and dining area, about 35 sqm (377 sq ft), faces the terrace.
This room has one window or door opening onto the terrace measuring 1.80 by 2.13 meters (5.9 by 7.0 feet) and another door opening about 0.80 by 2.13 meters (2.6 by 7.0 feet).
In addition, there are two windows facing west, each measuring 1.00 by 1.26 meters (3.3 by 4.1 feet).

The architect has now suggested in the preliminary design to make the roof a Dutch hip roof (gablet roof) for aesthetic reasons.

This would reduce the covered terrace area to 2.75 by 4.60 meters (9.0 by 15.1 feet).

To me, that seems almost too small, and I thought our original idea was more practical for usability during events and gatherings.

My partner suddenly worries that the original design might result in too little natural light entering the room.
Is that really the case? I would appreciate your help with this.
All the people we know so far have recommended choosing the larger terrace.
It’s difficult — after all, this is meant to last forever.

Best regards,
Daniel

winnetou78 schrieb:
My partner suddenly worries that the first design might let too little light into the room.

Unless the floor plan clearly suggests otherwise, I agree with that assessment.

winnetou78 schrieb:
The architect now proposed in the preliminary planning to shape the roof as a hip-gable roof for aesthetic reasons.

I would generally agree with that too, as the visual impression can still influence the decision. If I understand correctly, the terrace area is supposed to measure 5.00 x 4.60 m (16.4 x 15.1 ft), making the floor plan roughly rectangular; and if only 2.75 m (9 ft) of depth is roofed over, then the roof would also follow the angled shape of the main part of the house.

I see no issue with temporarily covering the remaining 2.25 m (7.4 ft) with an awning – or even permanently with a glass roof.

That way, the angled bungalow also gets an angled bungalow hip-gable roof, the living-dining area won’t be darkened, and a larger group around the table still stays dry. Sounds good, right?

winnetou78 schrieb:
Everyone I know has said so far to choose the larger terrace. It’s difficult, it’s supposed to last forever.

For forever, the bride is more important to me than the wedding guests anyway.

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Well written, that alone made the registration worthwhile.

But is it really so that it becomes too dark? Isn’t the south side generally quite bright, so that light still reaches under the terrace and into the two large floor-to-ceiling windows?

The exterior appearance of the roof is nice but not the top priority.

winnetou78 schrieb:
But is it really going to be too dark?
Isn't the south side generally quite bright anyway, so that light still shines under the terrace and through the two large floor-to-ceiling windows?

The appearance of the roof from the outside is nice but not the top priority.

No, it can never be bright enough. A 5 m (16 ft) shade roof is as dark as a bear’s behind...

I’m starting to believe that myself.

But if I imagine a 25 sqm (270 sq ft) room—like my terrace—with half of it being a glass wall, then the room would be bright all day, and that wouldn’t shine into the other room, right?

Just an example, of course, nothing to do with reality.

I just want to be one hundred percent sure for peace of mind, so I don’t regret it later.