ᐅ 10x10 m urban villa (approximately 1,670 sq ft, 6 rooms), fine-tuning welcome
Created on: 20 Aug 2017 14:34
C
Changeling
Ground Floor:
Upper Floor:
Outdoor Areas:
Positioned on the Plot:
Development Plan / Restrictions:
The plot may only be built on the southern half; otherwise, there are no particular restrictions.
Plot size: 900 square meters (approx. 30 x 30 meters / 98 x 98 feet)
Slope: No, only on the west side does the land slope down 3 meters (10 feet) toward the street at the end of the plot. On the north side, there is a retaining wall because the plot is about 2 meters (7 feet) above street level there. Therefore, access by vehicle is only possible from the south.
Clients’ Requirements
Style, Roof Shape, Building Type: A two-story urban villa with a pyramid hip roof (square hipped roof), since the upper floor has no sloped ceilings.
Basement: No basement, as it is too expensive, impractical, and involves additional construction risks.
Number of Occupants, Age: 2 adults (30 years old), 1 child (3 years old), with 1-2 more children planned.
Living Room: A large, open living area was important to us as this is where life happens. A computer corner is planned in the lower right corner since we spend more time at the computer than watching TV. We also work a lot from home and do not want to be confined to a separate room.
Fireplace: Yes.
Guest Room: Also used as storage space, which is especially useful since there is no basement.
Kitchen: The stove and sink are not in their final positions yet – a cooking island is undesirable because of the extractor hood and impractical due to splashing.
Technical / Utility Room: Also serves as a pantry and should be filled with shelves up to the ceiling.
Children’s Rooms: Size should be adequate.
Bedroom: Almost too large, but necessary due to the large wardrobe and double bed.
Bathroom: The design is still at an early stage; for example, the shower is planned as a built-in enclosure without a cabin.
Terrace: Important to us, along with a covered area so we can leave items outside occasionally.
Garage, Carport: As large as possible! It should be a wooden carport, fully closed at the front with sectional doors, and open or closed at the rear as needed. We currently use our garage as a "second living room" and for storing garden tools and similar items. Due to the long car, space will be tight; likely the terrace will be slightly smaller and the carport deeper (or the roof overhang on the left extended). The additions on the far left are planned later as a garden shed or similar and are therefore not a fixed part of the house. The covered connection to the house is a must, so we can enter without getting wet. The lower part facing the street is purely for privacy and is not a solid wall.
Garden: We will build our greenhouse ourselves as we have it now.
House Design:
Planning by: Planner from a construction company; outdoor areas added by us.
What do you particularly like? Why?: The numerous outbuildings and large carport for space, the large living room with open kitchen (also for space). Also, the level access to the terrace (which we don’t have currently).
What do you dislike? Why?: The basement level feels a bit cramped (utility room/kitchen small), while the upper floor is very spacious, but so far this is the best solution.
Cost Estimate by Architect/Planner: $290,000 USD with a maximum of +10% overrun.
Insulation / Construction: Unfortunately, it is built only to the 2016 Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) standards; I would have preferred better insulation, but it is likely too expensive. The masonry consists of calcium silicate blocks (20 cm / 8 inches outside + 16 cm / 6 inches EPS (polystyrene) insulation boards).
Heating System: Ground-source heat pump (brine-water) with earth probe; gas connection would be too expensive and we do not want oil heating.
If you had to give up features / expansions
- Could you do without: At most one fewer children’s room; the rest should stay as is...
- Could you not do without: Everything? That would be difficult.
Why did the design turn out the way it is?
We reviewed suggestions from the planner, spent a weekend designing alternatives ourselves, and ultimately found the current compromise. It includes essentially all our wishes.
The design could have been better if the house orientation had been different; otherwise, the kitchen/terrace/dining area wouldn’t all have to be squeezed next to the carport. However, since the street is on the south side and the northern half of the plot cannot be built on, the house must be positioned as it is and the terrace on the south side to catch the sun. We do not want the carport on the east side, as that would place the house further toward the center of the plot and make the terrace fully visible from the neighboring house to the south.
A similar-sized building plot on the east side will be developed with another single-family urban villa.
What is the most important / fundamental question regarding the floor plan in 130 characters?
What do you think? What could be improved or is missing? Any concerns?
Upper Floor:
Outdoor Areas:
Positioned on the Plot:
Development Plan / Restrictions:
The plot may only be built on the southern half; otherwise, there are no particular restrictions.
Plot size: 900 square meters (approx. 30 x 30 meters / 98 x 98 feet)
Slope: No, only on the west side does the land slope down 3 meters (10 feet) toward the street at the end of the plot. On the north side, there is a retaining wall because the plot is about 2 meters (7 feet) above street level there. Therefore, access by vehicle is only possible from the south.
Clients’ Requirements
Style, Roof Shape, Building Type: A two-story urban villa with a pyramid hip roof (square hipped roof), since the upper floor has no sloped ceilings.
Basement: No basement, as it is too expensive, impractical, and involves additional construction risks.
Number of Occupants, Age: 2 adults (30 years old), 1 child (3 years old), with 1-2 more children planned.
Living Room: A large, open living area was important to us as this is where life happens. A computer corner is planned in the lower right corner since we spend more time at the computer than watching TV. We also work a lot from home and do not want to be confined to a separate room.
Fireplace: Yes.
Guest Room: Also used as storage space, which is especially useful since there is no basement.
Kitchen: The stove and sink are not in their final positions yet – a cooking island is undesirable because of the extractor hood and impractical due to splashing.
Technical / Utility Room: Also serves as a pantry and should be filled with shelves up to the ceiling.
Children’s Rooms: Size should be adequate.
Bedroom: Almost too large, but necessary due to the large wardrobe and double bed.
Bathroom: The design is still at an early stage; for example, the shower is planned as a built-in enclosure without a cabin.
Terrace: Important to us, along with a covered area so we can leave items outside occasionally.
Garage, Carport: As large as possible! It should be a wooden carport, fully closed at the front with sectional doors, and open or closed at the rear as needed. We currently use our garage as a "second living room" and for storing garden tools and similar items. Due to the long car, space will be tight; likely the terrace will be slightly smaller and the carport deeper (or the roof overhang on the left extended). The additions on the far left are planned later as a garden shed or similar and are therefore not a fixed part of the house. The covered connection to the house is a must, so we can enter without getting wet. The lower part facing the street is purely for privacy and is not a solid wall.
Garden: We will build our greenhouse ourselves as we have it now.
House Design:
Planning by: Planner from a construction company; outdoor areas added by us.
What do you particularly like? Why?: The numerous outbuildings and large carport for space, the large living room with open kitchen (also for space). Also, the level access to the terrace (which we don’t have currently).
What do you dislike? Why?: The basement level feels a bit cramped (utility room/kitchen small), while the upper floor is very spacious, but so far this is the best solution.
Cost Estimate by Architect/Planner: $290,000 USD with a maximum of +10% overrun.
Insulation / Construction: Unfortunately, it is built only to the 2016 Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) standards; I would have preferred better insulation, but it is likely too expensive. The masonry consists of calcium silicate blocks (20 cm / 8 inches outside + 16 cm / 6 inches EPS (polystyrene) insulation boards).
Heating System: Ground-source heat pump (brine-water) with earth probe; gas connection would be too expensive and we do not want oil heating.
If you had to give up features / expansions
- Could you do without: At most one fewer children’s room; the rest should stay as is...
- Could you not do without: Everything? That would be difficult.
Why did the design turn out the way it is?
We reviewed suggestions from the planner, spent a weekend designing alternatives ourselves, and ultimately found the current compromise. It includes essentially all our wishes.
The design could have been better if the house orientation had been different; otherwise, the kitchen/terrace/dining area wouldn’t all have to be squeezed next to the carport. However, since the street is on the south side and the northern half of the plot cannot be built on, the house must be positioned as it is and the terrace on the south side to catch the sun. We do not want the carport on the east side, as that would place the house further toward the center of the plot and make the terrace fully visible from the neighboring house to the south.
A similar-sized building plot on the east side will be developed with another single-family urban villa.
What is the most important / fundamental question regarding the floor plan in 130 characters?
What do you think? What could be improved or is missing? Any concerns?
ypg schrieb:
Somehow I don’t understand this – isn’t this unchanged?!Then I’ll join Kaho674 and look forward to your sketch.
When it comes to the rough layout of the room arrangements I already described, here:
While drawing, I was reminded again why I don’t like square urban villas: usually, a regular staircase doesn’t fit without losing living space due to too large a hallway.
For this “shoes in the carport” idea, a connecting section between the house and carport could work well, where the technical equipment can also be housed. You just have to make sure the thermal envelope doesn’t become too large (costs). .....I’ll make a second sketch...
Here there would be a patio door to the north terrace; if you didn’t need large windows facing the street, you could work with skylights here.
Personally, I would probably avoid an urban villa here (the plot determines the house style) and plan a staggered shed roof, which allows a lot of sunlight into the north rooms on the upper floor and prevents views into the house from the south, even through the roof area. Skylights don’t even need privacy screens (only thermal insulation).
However, designing a house is not something done on the spot; that should be clear to everyone.
Before investing 50,000 in foundations and concrete for auxiliary structures, I would plan a few thousand more so that shoes can be stored inside the house. Because shoes can also get dirty.
While drawing, I was reminded again why I don’t like square urban villas: usually, a regular staircase doesn’t fit without losing living space due to too large a hallway.
For this “shoes in the carport” idea, a connecting section between the house and carport could work well, where the technical equipment can also be housed. You just have to make sure the thermal envelope doesn’t become too large (costs). .....I’ll make a second sketch...
Here there would be a patio door to the north terrace; if you didn’t need large windows facing the street, you could work with skylights here.
Personally, I would probably avoid an urban villa here (the plot determines the house style) and plan a staggered shed roof, which allows a lot of sunlight into the north rooms on the upper floor and prevents views into the house from the south, even through the roof area. Skylights don’t even need privacy screens (only thermal insulation).
However, designing a house is not something done on the spot; that should be clear to everyone.
Before investing 50,000 in foundations and concrete for auxiliary structures, I would plan a few thousand more so that shoes can be stored inside the house. Because shoes can also get dirty.
C
Changeling21 Aug 2017 20:43ypg schrieb:
Good! So there are no balconies. That means the living areas are, as expected, on the south side, and the utility rooms are to the north.I'm not so sure about that. The house is huge, and I hardly believe the apartment extends all the way to the south. I’ve “photographed” it here from a different perspective and marked our building plot and driveway:
We will probably have to consider a redesign...
Invi85 schrieb:
I just played around a bit with the rooms and tried to fit everything together somehow. But since I’m a layperson, it could all be wrong...Wow, thank you very much for the draft and the effort!! May I ask which software you used and whether it is freely available? I’m currently struggling with an outdated version of MS Visio...It somehow looks more spacious than our previous floor plan, even though the dimensions are the same...
I would swap the guest room and utility room because my wife wants direct access from the kitchen to the pantry. That could even be done.
However, there are still a few issues I forgot to mention. For example, the kitchen should, if possible, face the garden and not the neighbour’s wall. And if you mirror the layout just for that, it’s a design we’ve seen before. Hmm. And the criticized lack of sunlight exposure would still remain.
Now I’ll take a look at Yvonne’s sketch.
C
Changeling21 Aug 2017 21:41@ypg, thank you as well for your time and the designs!
- Am I correct in understanding that you would set the house further back? That seems like a waste of space to me, as I wouldn’t be able to use a 6m (20 ft) wide strip in front of the house as effectively as a 3m (10 ft) one...
- Carport on the right... sigh. Well, okay
- We definitely want the entrance at least covered towards the carport.
- Isn’t the staircase a bit short? I had shown the planner designs with a hallway under the stairs. That option was rejected because it wasn’t possible to walk underneath.
- The trees will probably cast even more shade than a 3m (10 ft) high carport. Right?
- We really like this design! With an extra pantry next to the kitchen, separate from the utility room.
- I would extend the wall in the living room up to the middle of the stairs (more space, for example for our wood-burning stove).
- The area between the door and the carport needs to be covered
But:
- 12 meters (39 ft) wide → extra costs, might become too expensive?
- I absolutely cannot get my wife to agree to a shed roof.
And to clarify all the questions about the carport and the shoes, here’s a photo of our current "carport":
The house entrance is at the back right, next to it the shoe cabinet. No wetness, no dirt, no drafts. At the back left is the access down to the garden. The alternative pedestrian entrance with garden gate is at the front right, and all the way to the right is the sectional door – so it’s fully closed off towards the street. The famous outdoor shoe cabinet stands next to the door on the wall.
And as you can see from all the clutter, we use it as a kind of living space extension and party room as I mentioned.
We definitely don’t want to give that up anymore.
ypg schrieb:My questions/comments on this:
- Am I correct in understanding that you would set the house further back? That seems like a waste of space to me, as I wouldn’t be able to use a 6m (20 ft) wide strip in front of the house as effectively as a 3m (10 ft) one...
- Carport on the right... sigh. Well, okay
- We definitely want the entrance at least covered towards the carport.
- Isn’t the staircase a bit short? I had shown the planner designs with a hallway under the stairs. That option was rejected because it wasn’t possible to walk underneath.
- The trees will probably cast even more shade than a 3m (10 ft) high carport. Right?
ypg schrieb:Questions/comments:
- We really like this design! With an extra pantry next to the kitchen, separate from the utility room.
- I would extend the wall in the living room up to the middle of the stairs (more space, for example for our wood-burning stove).
- The area between the door and the carport needs to be covered
But:
- 12 meters (39 ft) wide → extra costs, might become too expensive?
- I absolutely cannot get my wife to agree to a shed roof.
And to clarify all the questions about the carport and the shoes, here’s a photo of our current "carport":
The house entrance is at the back right, next to it the shoe cabinet. No wetness, no dirt, no drafts. At the back left is the access down to the garden. The alternative pedestrian entrance with garden gate is at the front right, and all the way to the right is the sectional door – so it’s fully closed off towards the street. The famous outdoor shoe cabinet stands next to the door on the wall.
And as you can see from all the clutter, we use it as a kind of living space extension and party room as I mentioned.
We definitely don’t want to give that up anymore.
C
Changeling21 Aug 2017 22:51I tried to implement @ypg’s 10x10 (meters) suggestion. The living room still feels quite cramped with furniture, and the fireplace doesn’t really have a proper place. The staircase is without windows, and the dining table feels more like an obstacle than part of the layout. Hmm.
Otherwise, we could manage with a 7x7 meter (23x23 feet) carport on the east side...
Otherwise, we could manage with a 7x7 meter (23x23 feet) carport on the east side...
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