Hello,
My wife and I visited a model home park for prefabricated houses yesterday, and we noticed that each house offered various features and floor plans whose practical benefits I don’t quite understand. That’s why I’m starting this thread, hoping you can explain the advantages of these choices or point out what I might be missing and why it still makes sense to design a house that way:
1. Almost every house had floor-to-ceiling windows installed. What’s the purpose of these? I imagine they would be terrible both in summer and winter. Wouldn’t it get extremely hot in summer? And in winter, don’t you constantly have to lower the blinds so that anyone passing by can’t look directly into the living room or inside the house? Also, isn’t the effort to clean those windows huge? Am I missing something? Do they have advantages that I don’t see?
2. There wasn’t a single house where the kitchen and dining area were separated from the living space; at best, the kitchen was separated from the dining area. I understand that having everything open makes the space appear larger and is better for hosting many people, but isn’t it very impractical? If I’m frying or cooking something in the kitchen, doesn’t the whole living room end up smelling like food? It would also bother me that as soon as my wife or I have guests over, the other person couldn’t sit in the living room and watch TV quietly, for example. This might sound a bit picky, but for me, it’s important that everyone can invite their friends without the other person always being within earshot or needing to get out of the way somehow. Why are open-plan ground floors so common? What are the real advantages?
3. The balconies on the upper floor are always accessible from one of the children’s bedrooms and the parents’ bedroom. Doesn’t that significantly affect privacy? I can’t imagine it’s great if my child can constantly knock on our bedroom door via the balcony, for example. Also, if you have two children, wouldn’t the one without a balcony be at a disadvantage?
I don’t want to bias you with my opinions here—I’m completely open to your views because I’d like to be convinced of the benefits. So I would like to know your reasons for including such features in your plans. Alternatively, has anyone built in a more “traditional” way and can speak to the practicality of these layout choices?
Best regards
My wife and I visited a model home park for prefabricated houses yesterday, and we noticed that each house offered various features and floor plans whose practical benefits I don’t quite understand. That’s why I’m starting this thread, hoping you can explain the advantages of these choices or point out what I might be missing and why it still makes sense to design a house that way:
1. Almost every house had floor-to-ceiling windows installed. What’s the purpose of these? I imagine they would be terrible both in summer and winter. Wouldn’t it get extremely hot in summer? And in winter, don’t you constantly have to lower the blinds so that anyone passing by can’t look directly into the living room or inside the house? Also, isn’t the effort to clean those windows huge? Am I missing something? Do they have advantages that I don’t see?
2. There wasn’t a single house where the kitchen and dining area were separated from the living space; at best, the kitchen was separated from the dining area. I understand that having everything open makes the space appear larger and is better for hosting many people, but isn’t it very impractical? If I’m frying or cooking something in the kitchen, doesn’t the whole living room end up smelling like food? It would also bother me that as soon as my wife or I have guests over, the other person couldn’t sit in the living room and watch TV quietly, for example. This might sound a bit picky, but for me, it’s important that everyone can invite their friends without the other person always being within earshot or needing to get out of the way somehow. Why are open-plan ground floors so common? What are the real advantages?
3. The balconies on the upper floor are always accessible from one of the children’s bedrooms and the parents’ bedroom. Doesn’t that significantly affect privacy? I can’t imagine it’s great if my child can constantly knock on our bedroom door via the balcony, for example. Also, if you have two children, wouldn’t the one without a balcony be at a disadvantage?
I don’t want to bias you with my opinions here—I’m completely open to your views because I’d like to be convinced of the benefits. So I would like to know your reasons for including such features in your plans. Alternatively, has anyone built in a more “traditional” way and can speak to the practicality of these layout choices?
Best regards
readytorumble schrieb:
Proper recirculating range hood and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (2x exhaust vents in the kitchen).
In my parents’ house (closed-off kitchen, obviously no ventilation), the odors were much worse even if the kitchen door was only briefly opened.
So, for me, that argument doesn’t hold. I find that interesting. So you’ve planned the open kitchen with 2x exhaust vents right away. I can well imagine that it’s manageable odor-wise.
I’d also like to add that we have the closed option with a double sliding door—quite traditional. When you fully open it, the passageway is also very wide. That makes things more relative again. Still, having it completely open definitely creates a larger sense of space, no question.
I would never serve takeout to my guests (who are mostly also our friends). It is a last resort for both of us when we are too stressed to cook but very hungry.
We often cook together with friends or guests (our pizza sessions are legendary!), and I admit I am a passionate (and good) cook when I have the time. They are always happy when we invite them for a meal.
Sometimes it’s a big menu, or just a quick pasta after a tough hike for everyone, a spontaneous barbecue evening where we quickly put together salads, dips, vegetables for grilling, etc., or the pizza session that can last for hours (and is always a fun evening). Everyone makes “their” pizza, while eating and baking new ones, trying out new creations. This only works with an open-plan concept... or an outdoor pizza oven in the garden during summer.
For me, cooking is not something I exclude from life but an integral and IMPORTANT part that I sometimes enjoy as a special event. The spatial concept reflects this.
If you view it merely as a quick, efficient, and low-effort way to get required nutrients, then you really don’t need a kitchen at all, just a refrigerator and a microwave nook.
We often cook together with friends or guests (our pizza sessions are legendary!), and I admit I am a passionate (and good) cook when I have the time. They are always happy when we invite them for a meal.
Sometimes it’s a big menu, or just a quick pasta after a tough hike for everyone, a spontaneous barbecue evening where we quickly put together salads, dips, vegetables for grilling, etc., or the pizza session that can last for hours (and is always a fun evening). Everyone makes “their” pizza, while eating and baking new ones, trying out new creations. This only works with an open-plan concept... or an outdoor pizza oven in the garden during summer.
For me, cooking is not something I exclude from life but an integral and IMPORTANT part that I sometimes enjoy as a special event. The spatial concept reflects this.
If you view it merely as a quick, efficient, and low-effort way to get required nutrients, then you really don’t need a kitchen at all, just a refrigerator and a microwave nook.
I find the topic of "hypes" incredibly interesting and would also like to share my opinion on the other points.
However, one has to ask whether there is difficulty adapting to new forms or developments if one always wants to stick to the "old ways." And: where does the hype begin, and where does the old end?
It’s not about other people staring (I find this choice of words somewhat negative – my neighbors stare as little as I do), but about being able to enjoy the nicely designed garden from inside. It gives the house a sense of spaciousness and creates the illusion of living in nature, even though you’re indoors.
Furthermore, if these doors are not fixed, you can step outside. So, you have the option to enter your beloved property directly.
In our open living area, we have patio doors measuring 2 x 2 meters and 2 x 1 meter (approximately 6.5 x 6.5 feet and 6.5 x 3.3 feet). All other ground-level rooms have patio doors as well. We don’t use curtains. Privacy is provided by a hedge or clever planting around the terrace.
A wider window lets in more light than a simple patio door, illuminating the room more evenly rather than just the floor and ceiling. The parapet itself provides protection. This is more suitable for bedrooms in upper-floor rooms.
This topic has been thoroughly discussed. By the way, we have an affordable recirculating hood above the kitchen island, with controlled mechanical ventilation for exhaust air in front of it. Cooking smells are noticeable, which is acceptable. Fried fish, fondue, raclette, kale, and bratwurst (all rare dishes for us) do have odors… Yes! But they don’t stink. However, no door could completely seal off these smells in just one room. You just open a window for a quick airing, and everything is fine again. Since this happens very rarely and we also use a fireplace during the cold season, this situation is manageable. The advantages outweigh this.
… Yes, you’re somewhat right. If you don’t build with a basement, where a lounge or guest room could serve for men’s nights or women’s gatherings, you do have to juggle things a bit.
We have an office/guest room with a TV. So when one of us has personal visitors, the other gladly retreats there.
Parallel and separate social gatherings for men and women do not happen. Usually, friends just share the chairs and sofas together.
Poorly planned.
And yes, a balcony is totally unnecessary when you have a garden.
However, I have to admit that I’ve sometimes wished for a balcony: at night, when it gets too warm, I would like to step out directly from the bedroom. Or to hang laundry there out of sight. But that is a luxury problem.
Further, I would like to neutrally discuss other "hypes" that I recall from show homes. These would be
- walk-in closets
- separate master/children’s bathrooms
However, one has to ask whether there is difficulty adapting to new forms or developments if one always wants to stick to the "old ways." And: where does the hype begin, and where does the old end?
blablub1234 schrieb:
1. Actually, almost every house had floor-to-ceiling windows installed,
blablub1234 schrieb:
people staring into my living room or my house?
It’s not about other people staring (I find this choice of words somewhat negative – my neighbors stare as little as I do), but about being able to enjoy the nicely designed garden from inside. It gives the house a sense of spaciousness and creates the illusion of living in nature, even though you’re indoors.
Furthermore, if these doors are not fixed, you can step outside. So, you have the option to enter your beloved property directly.
In our open living area, we have patio doors measuring 2 x 2 meters and 2 x 1 meter (approximately 6.5 x 6.5 feet and 6.5 x 3.3 feet). All other ground-level rooms have patio doors as well. We don’t use curtains. Privacy is provided by a hedge or clever planting around the terrace.
A wider window lets in more light than a simple patio door, illuminating the room more evenly rather than just the floor and ceiling. The parapet itself provides protection. This is more suitable for bedrooms in upper-floor rooms.
blablub1234 schrieb:
2. There was no house where the kitchen and dining area were separated from the living area,
This topic has been thoroughly discussed. By the way, we have an affordable recirculating hood above the kitchen island, with controlled mechanical ventilation for exhaust air in front of it. Cooking smells are noticeable, which is acceptable. Fried fish, fondue, raclette, kale, and bratwurst (all rare dishes for us) do have odors… Yes! But they don’t stink. However, no door could completely seal off these smells in just one room. You just open a window for a quick airing, and everything is fine again. Since this happens very rarely and we also use a fireplace during the cold season, this situation is manageable. The advantages outweigh this.
blablub1234 schrieb:
everyone can invite their friends over
… Yes, you’re somewhat right. If you don’t build with a basement, where a lounge or guest room could serve for men’s nights or women’s gatherings, you do have to juggle things a bit.
We have an office/guest room with a TV. So when one of us has personal visitors, the other gladly retreats there.
Parallel and separate social gatherings for men and women do not happen. Usually, friends just share the chairs and sofas together.
blablub1234 schrieb:
3. The balconies on the upper floor are always accessible from a child’s bedroom and the parents’ bedroom,
Poorly planned.
And yes, a balcony is totally unnecessary when you have a garden.
However, I have to admit that I’ve sometimes wished for a balcony: at night, when it gets too warm, I would like to step out directly from the bedroom. Or to hang laundry there out of sight. But that is a luxury problem.
Further, I would like to neutrally discuss other "hypes" that I recall from show homes. These would be
- walk-in closets
- separate master/children’s bathrooms
Nordlys schrieb:
Fried fish, fondue, raclette, kale, and sausage (all rare dishes for us) do smell... Yes! It doesn’t stink. But no door could keep these smells out or contain them to one room. I’m reading this for the second time now. That’s really not the case for us. When we close the doors, the smell is hardly noticeable in the living room.
B
blablub123418 Jul 2017 11:35Wow, I’m impressed by the great discussion my initial post has sparked. It was really nice to read every single response, and it’s very commendable how respectful and empathetic the conversation has been! It was definitely very helpful!
Regarding walk-in closets, in my opinion, it depends on how large the house is built. I can’t understand it if, for example, the kids’ rooms are 8–10m² (86–108 sq ft) in size, but the parents have a separate walk-in closet. For us (my wife and me), it wouldn’t be an option anyway, since getting dressed in the morning only takes a few seconds, and I don’t need an extra room for that. And when you want to get dressed up nicely for a big event, that can be done without a separate room too.
I also don’t quite understand why children and parents would need separate bathrooms; this wouldn’t be an option for us either. But I want to emphasize again that we are trying to plan as cost-effectively as possible. We don’t want to build “cheap,” but we really try to include only the most necessary luxury.
ypg schrieb:
Furthermore, I would like to neutrally discuss other "hypes" that I recall from model homes. These would be
- the walk-in closet
- separate master/kids’ bathrooms
Regarding walk-in closets, in my opinion, it depends on how large the house is built. I can’t understand it if, for example, the kids’ rooms are 8–10m² (86–108 sq ft) in size, but the parents have a separate walk-in closet. For us (my wife and me), it wouldn’t be an option anyway, since getting dressed in the morning only takes a few seconds, and I don’t need an extra room for that. And when you want to get dressed up nicely for a big event, that can be done without a separate room too.
I also don’t quite understand why children and parents would need separate bathrooms; this wouldn’t be an option for us either. But I want to emphasize again that we are trying to plan as cost-effectively as possible. We don’t want to build “cheap,” but we really try to include only the most necessary luxury.
ypg schrieb:
- the walk-in closet
- separate master/kids bathroom I’d really like to weigh in on this. I can’t understand the hype around walk-in closets at all. People carve out and divide rooms just to create a walk-in closet wherever possible. This often results in terrible tiny rooms with awkward partitions and wall protrusions that you frequently bump into. Of course, where space allows, it’s a luxury and not unpleasant at all. Some floor plans even naturally lend themselves to including a walk-in closet. But please, not in 120m² (1300 sq ft) houses with two kids.
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