ᐅ Single-family home with 190 sqm – What do you think of the design? Any feedback?
Created on: 21 Aug 2018 07:37
H
HausBWHello, we would appreciate some suggestions and tips. This is the first draft, so there is certainly room for improvement. Thank you.
Attached are the details:
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size approx. 600 sqm (6,458 sq ft)
Slope - 10% incline
Site coverage ratio 0.35
Floor area ratio 0.5
Building envelope, setback, and boundary 15 x 15 m (49 x 49 ft)
Number of parking spaces 2
Number of stories 2
Roof type FD
Maximum height 6.30 m (20.7 ft)
Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type
Basement, number of floors: rather no
Number of occupants, age: 2, approx. 35 years
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor
Office: family use or home office? Home office
Overnight guests per year: no idea
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: rather yes
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: possibly
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: both
House design
Planner: DIY
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: 450,000 euros (house including ancillary costs)
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating
Why is the design the way it is now? Previously lived in an old building with 3.5 m (11.5 ft) ceiling height and very large rooms; tried to replicate the room sizes at least partially; bedroom is deliberately located on the south side for a better view
Attached are the details:
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size approx. 600 sqm (6,458 sq ft)
Slope - 10% incline
Site coverage ratio 0.35
Floor area ratio 0.5
Building envelope, setback, and boundary 15 x 15 m (49 x 49 ft)
Number of parking spaces 2
Number of stories 2
Roof type FD
Maximum height 6.30 m (20.7 ft)
Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type
Basement, number of floors: rather no
Number of occupants, age: 2, approx. 35 years
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor
Office: family use or home office? Home office
Overnight guests per year: no idea
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: rather yes
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: possibly
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: both
House design
Planner: DIY
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: 450,000 euros (house including ancillary costs)
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating
Why is the design the way it is now? Previously lived in an old building with 3.5 m (11.5 ft) ceiling height and very large rooms; tried to replicate the room sizes at least partially; bedroom is deliberately located on the south side for a better view
Are children planned? I’m not sure; even though there are two rooms upstairs, I can't tell from the suggested furnishing if they are intended as children's rooms.
If children are planned, here’s a quick question to consider: how often do you look out from your bed to enjoy the view? How much time do you actually spend in the bedroom during the day? And how often would the planned children use their rooms?
If no children are planned, I would also take advantage of the nice location for the bedroom, but then the rest of the room layout doesn’t make much sense to me. It would be helpful to know what the other rooms are supposed to be used for. Additionally, I would opt for a slightly more luxurious bathroom.
Guest room upstairs, guest bathroom downstairs—I find that inconvenient. I would prefer to plan the office upstairs and have the guest room downstairs. Otherwise, guests will end up using your bathroom.
Is the garage accessed through the carport?
If two parking spaces are required, that wouldn’t be allowed in our area because each parking space must be freely accessible. However, I know that in some other municipalities this is acceptable. But check locally!
Also consider: does this make sense? How is the site layout? It is generally more practical if each parking spot can be used without having to first move another car.
The terrace is enclosed by the greenhouse and conservatory. That might be nice when it’s cold, but for example, during a summer like this one, the terrace will feel stifling because there is no breeze.
And if it’s too cold for normal terrace use, you also have the conservatory.
Is the conservatory intended to be a living area connected to the main house or a cold conservatory?
Overall, for 190sqm (2045 sq ft), I don’t really like the floor plan. I would expect a bit more spaciousness and a sense of openness.
You should plan differently depending on whether the house will remain child-free (in that case, I would probably include an open atrium or a void here) or if kids are planned. But even then, it just feels like boxes placed next to each other.
If children are planned, here’s a quick question to consider: how often do you look out from your bed to enjoy the view? How much time do you actually spend in the bedroom during the day? And how often would the planned children use their rooms?
If no children are planned, I would also take advantage of the nice location for the bedroom, but then the rest of the room layout doesn’t make much sense to me. It would be helpful to know what the other rooms are supposed to be used for. Additionally, I would opt for a slightly more luxurious bathroom.
Guest room upstairs, guest bathroom downstairs—I find that inconvenient. I would prefer to plan the office upstairs and have the guest room downstairs. Otherwise, guests will end up using your bathroom.
Is the garage accessed through the carport?
If two parking spaces are required, that wouldn’t be allowed in our area because each parking space must be freely accessible. However, I know that in some other municipalities this is acceptable. But check locally!
Also consider: does this make sense? How is the site layout? It is generally more practical if each parking spot can be used without having to first move another car.
The terrace is enclosed by the greenhouse and conservatory. That might be nice when it’s cold, but for example, during a summer like this one, the terrace will feel stifling because there is no breeze.
And if it’s too cold for normal terrace use, you also have the conservatory.
Is the conservatory intended to be a living area connected to the main house or a cold conservatory?
Overall, for 190sqm (2045 sq ft), I don’t really like the floor plan. I would expect a bit more spaciousness and a sense of openness.
You should plan differently depending on whether the house will remain child-free (in that case, I would probably include an open atrium or a void here) or if kids are planned. But even then, it just feels like boxes placed next to each other.
The guest room is actually the home office; the label is incorrect. Parking space is a good point; we have never had more than one car, so this hasn’t been an issue, and a double garage would be that wide. Children’s room—no idea, it’s not currently planned, but it can’t be ruled out either. The problem is that we have a fully furnished apartment of that size, but with a completely different layout, which can no longer be implemented today (essentially like a J bungalow).
You have a sloped site. Where is that planned here?
Designing a sloped lot yourself as a layperson is the nonsense of the century. Take your land and go to an architect with it. I don’t see the 190m² (2,045 sq ft) costing anywhere near 450K, because you will need to reserve a substantial amount for earthworks.
Designing a sloped lot yourself as a layperson is the nonsense of the century. Take your land and go to an architect with it. I don’t see the 190m² (2,045 sq ft) costing anywhere near 450K, because you will need to reserve a substantial amount for earthworks.
Furniture can be rearranged and gradually replaced.
Don’t make the mistake of designing your house around your current furniture. Plan your home the way you want it, and you can usually find a way to fit most furniture in—some pieces will be replaced immediately, others over time. I believe that copying the apartment you currently live in is the worst way to plan your dream home.
If children are not really planned but also not completely ruled out, I would consider a flexible floor plan: an office on the ground floor, and on the upper floor a separate area with one or two rooms and a smaller bathroom. This space could first be used as a guest area and later, if needed, become the children’s area while the guest room becomes the office, where a sofa bed can be used; it seems you don’t have many guests anyway.
You could also think about building a large gallery (mezzanine) and initially having a bedroom for just one child, but with the option to convert part of the gallery into a second child’s room. This way, you would first enjoy a beautiful, spacious feel, which 190 m² (2,045 sq ft) would offer for two people, while keeping the option to shift to a family home later on.
In my opinion, the worst approach is to plan two fixed children’s bedrooms now that will likely never be used, thereby losing the chance to create a truly dream living space for two people.
By the way, with a budget of 450,000 euros, you realistically won’t get 190 m² (2,045 sq ft). You also have a slope to consider, which will increase costs even more. But there are other planning options and opportunities.
Think about a room concept and then see an architect!
Don’t make the mistake of designing your house around your current furniture. Plan your home the way you want it, and you can usually find a way to fit most furniture in—some pieces will be replaced immediately, others over time. I believe that copying the apartment you currently live in is the worst way to plan your dream home.
If children are not really planned but also not completely ruled out, I would consider a flexible floor plan: an office on the ground floor, and on the upper floor a separate area with one or two rooms and a smaller bathroom. This space could first be used as a guest area and later, if needed, become the children’s area while the guest room becomes the office, where a sofa bed can be used; it seems you don’t have many guests anyway.
You could also think about building a large gallery (mezzanine) and initially having a bedroom for just one child, but with the option to convert part of the gallery into a second child’s room. This way, you would first enjoy a beautiful, spacious feel, which 190 m² (2,045 sq ft) would offer for two people, while keeping the option to shift to a family home later on.
In my opinion, the worst approach is to plan two fixed children’s bedrooms now that will likely never be used, thereby losing the chance to create a truly dream living space for two people.
By the way, with a budget of 450,000 euros, you realistically won’t get 190 m² (2,045 sq ft). You also have a slope to consider, which will increase costs even more. But there are other planning options and opportunities.
Think about a room concept and then see an architect!
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