ᐅ Floor plan of a 160 sqm urban villa, without a basement – what are your thoughts?
Created on: 10 May 2018 02:46
P
Patkia
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 626 sqm (6730 sq ft)
Slope: none
Site coverage ratio: 0.35 + 50% for ancillary structures
Floor area ratio:
Building window, building line, and boundary: 3 m (10 ft), no special requirements
Edge development: permitted
Number of parking spaces: no requirement
Number of floors: 3
Roof type: -
Architectural style: -
Orientation: -
Maximum heights / limits: 12 m (39 ft)
Additional requirements: 1 tree per every 300 sqm (3200 sq ft) started
Homeowners’ Requirements
City villa style, hip / pyramid roof
2 full stories
Residents: 2 adults, around 30 years old, 1-2 children planned
Room requirements:
Ground floor: kitchen / dining / living / pantry / guest room (office) / utility room / guest WC
Upper floor: 3 bedrooms / walk-in closet / storage / bathroom
Office: on ground floor, also to be used as guest room
Occasional overnight guests
Open or closed layout: partly open / partly closed
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island, possibly a small pantry
Minimum seating at dining table: 6
Fireplace: yes
Music / stereo wall: home cinema area
Roof terrace: possibly planned later on garage
Garage: yes, double garage with workshop / storage area: 9 m × 6.5 m (30 ft × 21 ft) with access to the house, planned as self-built, driveway large enough for 2 cars
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why certain things are preferred or avoided:
Primarily for aesthetic reasons, a small bay window should be included. Not deeper than 50 cm (20 inches) due to roof overhang. There will be a canopy over the front door as a visual relief, so the bay window should face the garden.
Ground Floor (GF):
Bright hallway,
Large kitchen with island (including seating, e.g., stools) and preferably a small pantry (possibly accessible via a "fake" kitchen cabinet), plus a small “bench” made from low cabinets by the window, double-leaf sliding door guided inside the wall to separate dining / living area,
Bright dining area,
Spacious living area, preferably with a panoramic fireplace as a room divider (not next to the TV),
Guest room / office,
Generous utility room with space for possibly two electrical panels, softener system, ground source heat pump, washing machine (possibly dryer), and drying rack,
Guest WC with shower.
Upper Floor (UF): at least 2 children’s rooms, 1 storage room, bedroom can be fairly small. Instead, a spacious bathroom with 2 washbasins (or 1 long basin with 2 faucets), bathtub up to 2 m (6.5 ft), and shower. WC with privacy screen, e.g., with door T-shaped.
Walk-through dressing room between bedroom and bathroom. Sliding door on the wall between bedroom and dressing room and regular door between dressing room and bathroom. Bathroom should also be accessible from the hallway.
General:
Many windows (included in house price without limitation on number or size), some floor-to-ceiling. Possibly preparation in the bedroom for access to the (planned) roof terrace on the garage,
Lifting sliding door system between living / dining area and terrace,
Doors at least 1 m (39 inches) wide on the ground floor,
Terrace on the left side of the house, i.e., facing south. Depending on kitchen location, possibly also a narrower terrace around the corner at the top.
Ultimately, we think it would almost be nicer if the kitchen were on the left so you can look into the garden from there and have direct access to the large terrace. But this criterion changes with every revision of the floor plan :|
House Design
Who designed the plan:
The house plans mainly come from us with some inspiration from the internet.
So far, there has been no truly professional involvement. The upper floor plan was found directly online. However, there the house width is only 10 m (33 ft) instead of 10.5 m (34 ft). Also, the bay window on the left is obviously not included. It would be great to add a small storage room here.
What do you particularly like? Why?
What do you dislike? Why?
The two above points are not fully answered yet. We have often moved the kitchen from right to left and back without finding an ideal solution.
Similarly, we are not sure whether the garage should be placed far forward with some space behind for storage out of garden view, or moved about 2 m (6.5 ft) further back (3 m / 10 ft from boundary) to gain some visual privacy from the diagonal neighbor. We are open to innovative ideas about garage placement. It must definitely have access to the house.
Estimated cost according to architect / planner: 230,000
Personal budget limit for house including features: 240,000 (excluding garage, but including foundation slab)
Preferred heating technology: ground source heat pump
If you have to give up some features / extensions:
- What can you do without: hard to say, maybe the pantry? Though supplies would then have to be stored in expensive kitchen cabinets that offer less space.
- What can’t you do without: guest room on the ground floor, space for drying rack in the utility room (never want one of those racks visible in a living area again!).
Why is the design the way it is now?
The design came about through lots of freehand drawing on paper and tinkering on computer to get the best results. Unfortunately, we are stuck now.
Which of your wishes have been implemented by the architect?
A mixture of many examples from various magazines...
What do you think works well or poorly?
Poor: the downstairs and upstairs layouts are hard to coordinate, especially because of the staircase.
Pretty good: the upper floor layout, except that fitting a second door into the bathroom will be difficult.
Downstairs we have been constantly swapping kitchen front left and guest room top right or vice versa. We haven’t agreed on what would be easier to furnish.
What is your key fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
How can we fit all our wishes in the best mix of space, appearance, and usability in the floor plan?
Note: The plan might receive harsh criticism from forum users. Feedback is usually unfiltered—please be prepared. Nobody means to offend; it’s their perspective to help or open your eyes.
Thanks in advance for your help
Plot size: 626 sqm (6730 sq ft)
Slope: none
Site coverage ratio: 0.35 + 50% for ancillary structures
Floor area ratio:
Building window, building line, and boundary: 3 m (10 ft), no special requirements
Edge development: permitted
Number of parking spaces: no requirement
Number of floors: 3
Roof type: -
Architectural style: -
Orientation: -
Maximum heights / limits: 12 m (39 ft)
Additional requirements: 1 tree per every 300 sqm (3200 sq ft) started
Homeowners’ Requirements
City villa style, hip / pyramid roof
2 full stories
Residents: 2 adults, around 30 years old, 1-2 children planned
Room requirements:
Ground floor: kitchen / dining / living / pantry / guest room (office) / utility room / guest WC
Upper floor: 3 bedrooms / walk-in closet / storage / bathroom
Office: on ground floor, also to be used as guest room
Occasional overnight guests
Open or closed layout: partly open / partly closed
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island, possibly a small pantry
Minimum seating at dining table: 6
Fireplace: yes
Music / stereo wall: home cinema area
Roof terrace: possibly planned later on garage
Garage: yes, double garage with workshop / storage area: 9 m × 6.5 m (30 ft × 21 ft) with access to the house, planned as self-built, driveway large enough for 2 cars
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why certain things are preferred or avoided:
Primarily for aesthetic reasons, a small bay window should be included. Not deeper than 50 cm (20 inches) due to roof overhang. There will be a canopy over the front door as a visual relief, so the bay window should face the garden.
Ground Floor (GF):
Bright hallway,
Large kitchen with island (including seating, e.g., stools) and preferably a small pantry (possibly accessible via a "fake" kitchen cabinet), plus a small “bench” made from low cabinets by the window, double-leaf sliding door guided inside the wall to separate dining / living area,
Bright dining area,
Spacious living area, preferably with a panoramic fireplace as a room divider (not next to the TV),
Guest room / office,
Generous utility room with space for possibly two electrical panels, softener system, ground source heat pump, washing machine (possibly dryer), and drying rack,
Guest WC with shower.
Upper Floor (UF): at least 2 children’s rooms, 1 storage room, bedroom can be fairly small. Instead, a spacious bathroom with 2 washbasins (or 1 long basin with 2 faucets), bathtub up to 2 m (6.5 ft), and shower. WC with privacy screen, e.g., with door T-shaped.
Walk-through dressing room between bedroom and bathroom. Sliding door on the wall between bedroom and dressing room and regular door between dressing room and bathroom. Bathroom should also be accessible from the hallway.
General:
Many windows (included in house price without limitation on number or size), some floor-to-ceiling. Possibly preparation in the bedroom for access to the (planned) roof terrace on the garage,
Lifting sliding door system between living / dining area and terrace,
Doors at least 1 m (39 inches) wide on the ground floor,
Terrace on the left side of the house, i.e., facing south. Depending on kitchen location, possibly also a narrower terrace around the corner at the top.
Ultimately, we think it would almost be nicer if the kitchen were on the left so you can look into the garden from there and have direct access to the large terrace. But this criterion changes with every revision of the floor plan :|
House Design
Who designed the plan:
The house plans mainly come from us with some inspiration from the internet.
So far, there has been no truly professional involvement. The upper floor plan was found directly online. However, there the house width is only 10 m (33 ft) instead of 10.5 m (34 ft). Also, the bay window on the left is obviously not included. It would be great to add a small storage room here.
What do you particularly like? Why?
What do you dislike? Why?
The two above points are not fully answered yet. We have often moved the kitchen from right to left and back without finding an ideal solution.
Similarly, we are not sure whether the garage should be placed far forward with some space behind for storage out of garden view, or moved about 2 m (6.5 ft) further back (3 m / 10 ft from boundary) to gain some visual privacy from the diagonal neighbor. We are open to innovative ideas about garage placement. It must definitely have access to the house.
Estimated cost according to architect / planner: 230,000
Personal budget limit for house including features: 240,000 (excluding garage, but including foundation slab)
Preferred heating technology: ground source heat pump
If you have to give up some features / extensions:
- What can you do without: hard to say, maybe the pantry? Though supplies would then have to be stored in expensive kitchen cabinets that offer less space.
- What can’t you do without: guest room on the ground floor, space for drying rack in the utility room (never want one of those racks visible in a living area again!).
Why is the design the way it is now?
The design came about through lots of freehand drawing on paper and tinkering on computer to get the best results. Unfortunately, we are stuck now.
Which of your wishes have been implemented by the architect?
A mixture of many examples from various magazines...
What do you think works well or poorly?
Poor: the downstairs and upstairs layouts are hard to coordinate, especially because of the staircase.
Pretty good: the upper floor layout, except that fitting a second door into the bathroom will be difficult.
Downstairs we have been constantly swapping kitchen front left and guest room top right or vice versa. We haven’t agreed on what would be easier to furnish.
What is your key fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
How can we fit all our wishes in the best mix of space, appearance, and usability in the floor plan?
Note: The plan might receive harsh criticism from forum users. Feedback is usually unfiltered—please be prepared. Nobody means to offend; it’s their perspective to help or open your eyes.
Thanks in advance for your help
@Patkia … it would make sense to always link a floor plan with the site layout. It’s frustrating to have to gather everything again for each view of a floor plan.
By the way, this completely undermines Kaho’s floor plan approach. Kaho considered sunlight, ventilation, and natural light for daily living, but you only allow that for your guest. In your open-plan living area, the sun is only visible starting in the afternoon during winter.
Regarding the stairs… are you familiar with these basic dimensions for comfortable stair design?
By the way, this completely undermines Kaho’s floor plan approach. Kaho considered sunlight, ventilation, and natural light for daily living, but you only allow that for your guest. In your open-plan living area, the sun is only visible starting in the afternoon during winter.
Regarding the stairs… are you familiar with these basic dimensions for comfortable stair design?
Patkia schrieb:
Believe it or not, the floor plan from @kaho674 was used as a starting point. Almost an insult considering the result.
No, seriously, you need to start over if you want to rotate everything and then move the entrance. The entrance probably can't be on the left side next to the garage, right? Or where exactly should it be centered?
The ceiling height should be around 2.75 meters (9 feet).
Yes, unfortunately, we have different approaches. I prefer to draw everything on the computer right away to have all the measurements, etc. My girlfriend works more with pencil.
Yesterday, we found another option that we wanted to adjust once more. I probably won’t manage it tonight, but hopefully tomorrow.
@kbt09
Okay, sorry, it would have made sense to illustrate that again with reference to the plot. When we discussed this in May, my post with reference to the plot was only a few days old. That looks different now. But at least I included the north arrow.
But why do I only give the guest room light?
Actually, it should be planned so that from 11 a.m. the sun comes around and then the guest room, kitchen, and dining/living area are illuminated by the sun until the evening.
I had basically looked at the staircase dimensions but had intended to follow @kaho674’s design and adopt that staircase accordingly.
Please excuse me if I have sullied your skills with my changes
So far, the plan is that the driveway should be 7 meters (23 feet) long, and the garage 9 meters (30 feet). Depending on whether we build the house 3 meters (10 feet) or 4 meters (13 feet) from the front plot boundary, there will be 3 or 4 meters (10 or 13 feet) of house wall on the side. Since we will probably have a step and a hip roof canopy in front of the entrance, this affects the look, which might be disrupted by a side entrance, and also the roof and step would be over the driveway out of the garage.
I made a sketch (not to scale) to show the position of the sun relative to the plot/house. The sun position in the image is at 12 noon.
Black: plot
Blue: garage
Red: house
Purple: terrace (possible)
Yes, unfortunately, we have different approaches. I prefer to draw everything on the computer right away to have all the measurements, etc. My girlfriend works more with pencil.
Yesterday, we found another option that we wanted to adjust once more. I probably won’t manage it tonight, but hopefully tomorrow.
@kbt09
Okay, sorry, it would have made sense to illustrate that again with reference to the plot. When we discussed this in May, my post with reference to the plot was only a few days old. That looks different now. But at least I included the north arrow.
But why do I only give the guest room light?
Actually, it should be planned so that from 11 a.m. the sun comes around and then the guest room, kitchen, and dining/living area are illuminated by the sun until the evening.
I had basically looked at the staircase dimensions but had intended to follow @kaho674’s design and adopt that staircase accordingly.
Please excuse me if I have sullied your skills with my changes
So far, the plan is that the driveway should be 7 meters (23 feet) long, and the garage 9 meters (30 feet). Depending on whether we build the house 3 meters (10 feet) or 4 meters (13 feet) from the front plot boundary, there will be 3 or 4 meters (10 or 13 feet) of house wall on the side. Since we will probably have a step and a hip roof canopy in front of the entrance, this affects the look, which might be disrupted by a side entrance, and also the roof and step would be over the driveway out of the garage.
I made a sketch (not to scale) to show the position of the sun relative to the plot/house. The sun position in the image is at 12 noon.
Black: plot
Blue: garage
Red: house
Purple: terrace (possible)
Patkia schrieb:
Since we will probably have a step and a hipped canopy in front of the entrance, on one hand it’s the appearance that might be disrupted by a side entrance, and on the other hand, the roof and step would be in the driveway from the garage.You probably mean you would like a small platform in front of the entrance? Otherwise, a step would definitely have enough space.The summer sun position .. compare it with autumn/winter.
And compare it with Kaho’s plan, where there is already morning sun in the kitchen.
If it is going to be a single garage, it would actually be quite practical to plan a passage of about 120 cm (48 inches) between the garage and the house. This way, the rear part of the garage can be used more easily for bicycles, etc., since you don’t have to move past the car inside the garage.
And compare it with Kaho’s plan, where there is already morning sun in the kitchen.
If it is going to be a single garage, it would actually be quite practical to plan a passage of about 120 cm (48 inches) between the garage and the house. This way, the rear part of the garage can be used more easily for bicycles, etc., since you don’t have to move past the car inside the garage.
Exactly, I meant a platform. Although the porch roof (included in the house price) also takes up some space. That’s why I see it as unfavorably positioned on the garage side.
Yes, wow, you’re right @kbt09. My goodness, there’s so much to think about. The sun’s position is of course quite different at other times of the year. Looking again at the design from @kaho674, the orientation wouldn’t actually be bad. The entrance would just have to be placed somehow at the front between the kitchen and the utility room. I don’t think it works in the middle, and if it’s only slightly offset… it looks strange.
I need to discuss this again with my wife tonight. So far, after several back-and-forths, we had settled on this layout because of the expected natural light. But having breakfast in the kitchen with the sun already in at 9 a.m. in April is definitely not a bad thing.
Yes, wow, you’re right @kbt09. My goodness, there’s so much to think about. The sun’s position is of course quite different at other times of the year. Looking again at the design from @kaho674, the orientation wouldn’t actually be bad. The entrance would just have to be placed somehow at the front between the kitchen and the utility room. I don’t think it works in the middle, and if it’s only slightly offset… it looks strange.
I need to discuss this again with my wife tonight. So far, after several back-and-forths, we had settled on this layout because of the expected natural light. But having breakfast in the kitchen with the sun already in at 9 a.m. in April is definitely not a bad thing.
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