ᐅ Single-family house with large open space – Requesting opinions
Created on: 28 Oct 2018 17:46
L
ltenzer
Hello everyone,
We are building a new house in a rather rural area of North Rhine-Westphalia, on an old but large vacant plot within a village setting. The attached floor plans were created based on a "rough draft" by myself and refined after several consultations with a local architect. Before we move forward decisively, I would appreciate hearing other opinions and welcome constructive criticism.
One change not yet included in the plan is a vestibule, which we want to add to prevent drafts caused by the open staircase access to the upper floor through the atrium. To keep the hallway feeling spacious, we plan to install the front door flush with the façade and add a canopy above the entrance.
Because of the generous basement, we will probably forgo an attic. We generally like exposed roof trusses and the resulting ceiling height. However, there might be an attic above the children's rooms.
The roof section above the atrium is flat. We want to keep the option open to create a rooftop terrace here later. Access would be via an external staircase between the garage roof and the upper floor; from the upper floor, this area would be accessible.
Since we have already posted in a smaller forum, we have already received two valuable tips:
- The kitchen window will be shifted slightly toward the dining table, as it currently takes up space needed for wall cabinets.
- The roof structure will be challenging due to the open atrium and walls that are not aligned vertically. A 12 m (39 ft) long steel beam as a purlin will likely need to be installed above the gallery railing.
We would like to ask for opinions, especially regarding the following: The best view is actually facing west, toward the sunset. The western corner of the living room is currently reserved for the TV, so we initially removed the window there. We are now considering expanding the window front so that a window is placed in the corner with a wider wall section in between, where the TV would be centered in the living room. This would provide a "west view" from the sofa as well. The original corner placement of the TV was intended to allow it to be positioned so it could be viewed from the dining table as well. How would you arrange it?
Checklist:
Development plan / restrictions
Lot size including rear land / former agricultural area overall 2800 sqm (30,139 sq ft)
Slope: street at front is nearly level with garage floor, right side is 1 m (3.3 ft) lower, land levels out toward the back but drops off again at the end, so that the neighbor about 80 m (262 ft) away is around one floor lower
Floor space ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary: marked on ground floor plan at left
Surrounding buildings: bungalow on left, 1.5 storeys on right
Number of storeys: 2 full storeys
Roof style: any
Architectural style: any
Garden orientation: northwest
Owners’ requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: preferably classic "old-fashioned"; we love old castles but unfortunately that’s no longer how people build today
Number of people, ages: 41 + 42 + 1.5 years (possible 2nd child / foster child)
Office: for family use or home office including storage for private documents, books, etc.
Guests staying overnight per year: up to about 10 nights per year so far
Open or closed architecture: preferably open
Traditional or modern construction: both have pros and cons; a mix is welcome
Open kitchen, kitchen island: preferably open with option to close it later; kitchen island not required
Number of dining seats: usually 4, but up to 12-18 for guests
Fireplace: not required
Music/speaker wall: not required
Balcony, rooftop terrace: rooftop terrace as a possible addition later
Garage, carport: at least one double garage
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why certain things are or are not wanted: -
House design
Planner: Architect based on a DIY rough draft
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: approximately 620,000 € including additional costs
Personal budget for the house including fittings: preferably less; we have some saving potentials through professional contacts in the construction industry / partial DIY and friends who are tradespeople
Preferred heating system: ground source heat pump, deep drilling
We are building a new house in a rather rural area of North Rhine-Westphalia, on an old but large vacant plot within a village setting. The attached floor plans were created based on a "rough draft" by myself and refined after several consultations with a local architect. Before we move forward decisively, I would appreciate hearing other opinions and welcome constructive criticism.
One change not yet included in the plan is a vestibule, which we want to add to prevent drafts caused by the open staircase access to the upper floor through the atrium. To keep the hallway feeling spacious, we plan to install the front door flush with the façade and add a canopy above the entrance.
Because of the generous basement, we will probably forgo an attic. We generally like exposed roof trusses and the resulting ceiling height. However, there might be an attic above the children's rooms.
The roof section above the atrium is flat. We want to keep the option open to create a rooftop terrace here later. Access would be via an external staircase between the garage roof and the upper floor; from the upper floor, this area would be accessible.
Since we have already posted in a smaller forum, we have already received two valuable tips:
- The kitchen window will be shifted slightly toward the dining table, as it currently takes up space needed for wall cabinets.
- The roof structure will be challenging due to the open atrium and walls that are not aligned vertically. A 12 m (39 ft) long steel beam as a purlin will likely need to be installed above the gallery railing.
We would like to ask for opinions, especially regarding the following: The best view is actually facing west, toward the sunset. The western corner of the living room is currently reserved for the TV, so we initially removed the window there. We are now considering expanding the window front so that a window is placed in the corner with a wider wall section in between, where the TV would be centered in the living room. This would provide a "west view" from the sofa as well. The original corner placement of the TV was intended to allow it to be positioned so it could be viewed from the dining table as well. How would you arrange it?
Checklist:
Development plan / restrictions
Lot size including rear land / former agricultural area overall 2800 sqm (30,139 sq ft)
Slope: street at front is nearly level with garage floor, right side is 1 m (3.3 ft) lower, land levels out toward the back but drops off again at the end, so that the neighbor about 80 m (262 ft) away is around one floor lower
Floor space ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary: marked on ground floor plan at left
Surrounding buildings: bungalow on left, 1.5 storeys on right
Number of storeys: 2 full storeys
Roof style: any
Architectural style: any
Garden orientation: northwest
Owners’ requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: preferably classic "old-fashioned"; we love old castles but unfortunately that’s no longer how people build today
Number of people, ages: 41 + 42 + 1.5 years (possible 2nd child / foster child)
Office: for family use or home office including storage for private documents, books, etc.
Guests staying overnight per year: up to about 10 nights per year so far
Open or closed architecture: preferably open
Traditional or modern construction: both have pros and cons; a mix is welcome
Open kitchen, kitchen island: preferably open with option to close it later; kitchen island not required
Number of dining seats: usually 4, but up to 12-18 for guests
Fireplace: not required
Music/speaker wall: not required
Balcony, rooftop terrace: rooftop terrace as a possible addition later
Garage, carport: at least one double garage
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why certain things are or are not wanted: -
House design
Planner: Architect based on a DIY rough draft
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: approximately 620,000 € including additional costs
Personal budget for the house including fittings: preferably less; we have some saving potentials through professional contacts in the construction industry / partial DIY and friends who are tradespeople
Preferred heating system: ground source heat pump, deep drilling
M
Mottenhausen29 Oct 2018 09:50Sure, you’re confident about your house; most of the time, you’ve done everything right, and others just don’t understand. On the road, everyone else drives foolishly—too fast or too slow. Only you always drive just right.
However, when it comes to shading, reality tells a different story. You might not even notice how often you darken your rooms; you simply don’t realize it because you’re used to the view, even when it’s not there. I can only recommend taking a walk through new housing developments on weekend afternoons during autumn or winter: the south-facing sides of most houses will be shaded. Windows act like radiators when the sun shines on them—you quickly get 25°C (77°F) or more in the living room. By the time the underfloor heating is turned down and the floor actually cools down, the sun is already gone again.
However, when it comes to shading, reality tells a different story. You might not even notice how often you darken your rooms; you simply don’t realize it because you’re used to the view, even when it’s not there. I can only recommend taking a walk through new housing developments on weekend afternoons during autumn or winter: the south-facing sides of most houses will be shaded. Windows act like radiators when the sun shines on them—you quickly get 25°C (77°F) or more in the living room. By the time the underfloor heating is turned down and the floor actually cools down, the sun is already gone again.
Mottenhausen schrieb:
The reality when it comes to shading tells a different story. You might not even notice how often you darken your space; you just don’t realize it because you’re familiar with the view, even when it’s not there. I can only advise everyone to take an afternoon walk through new residential developments during autumn or winter weekends: on the south-facing sides, the vast majority of houses will have their windows shaded. Then your situation is different from that of 90% of other villages and small towns. In our village, everyone is glad that we get wonderful light and sun on the south side now, and also in summer, in the rooms and on the terrace. No one voluntarily builds their terrace facing north. And no one, absolutely no one here, has darkened or obstructed the west or south side of their house in any way.
Mottenhausen schrieb:
ypg of course you are confident about your house, you usually did everything right yourself and others have no clue.You have completely misunderstood.
What do you mean by confident? After five years, I would certainly do some things differently, but that is not the point. This is about experiences, for example the open space and the resulting noise level on the upper floor. With two people it is not a big issue for us, but with children, it should be solved differently, for example with a separate children’s corridor.
That would be a constructive suggestion if you consider an open space.
Mottenhausen schrieb:
The reality regarding shading unfortunately tells a different story. You might not even notice how often you darken the space, you don’t perceive it, you know the view anyway, even when it’s not currently there. Yes, I do notice that. I am probably the last person in this forum to deceive myself or others.
J
j.bautsch29 Oct 2018 11:30My parents-in-law have an open space above, and of course the feeling in that room is great, but the children didn’t like it when they had to sleep while the parents were having their game night. You can hear every word from the upper floor. The doors and walls are not bad, though. They didn’t build the house themselves and would never build it that way on their own. Now that the children have moved out, it’s not a problem anymore. But for 15 years, it was.
M
Mottenhausen29 Oct 2018 14:33kaho674 schrieb:
Then your situation is different from 90% of other villages and small towns. In our village, everyone is happy that we now have wonderful light and sun on the south side in the rooms and on the terrace, even during summer. No one willingly builds their terrace facing north. And no one, really no one, has darkened or blocked the west or south side here.No, the terrace belongs in the sun, I never said anything about a terrace otherwise. Although, a south-facing terrace means a sunshade or awning is needed… because shade is required, but never mind, let’s drop this now. So the terrace just needs to be placed differently on the property.
I’m not talking about permanent blocking, but temporary shading. But I give up. Keep your arguments, for example, for the next KNX thread when it comes to lowering blinds automatically based on light sensors, temperature, and time of day. Because... according to you, shading is never needed anyway. So it’s all pointless. Wow!
Mottenhausen schrieb:
Because... in your opinion, shading is never necessary anyway. So you can save yourself all of that. Wow! Exactly. We have cooling.
Similar topics