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
You can hear it too.
Give the children the garden and give yourselves a second living area with a distant view, open up to the roof beams.
The downside of open living spaces is that there is no room to retreat to.
A Tupperware party and watching football don’t work, just like lively children and a quiet chat.
Give the children the garden and give yourselves a second living area with a distant view, open up to the roof beams.
The downside of open living spaces is that there is no room to retreat to.
A Tupperware party and watching football don’t work, just like lively children and a quiet chat.
If your plumbing company does not chase into the exterior wall and there is no interior wall available, in addition to the soundproofing issue, you also need to consider that a pipe will have to be routed down in front of the exterior wall. This creates an attractive boxing-in...
ltenzer schrieb:
By the way, I take the comment about the old village school as a compliment. You’re entitled to that, but I meant it differently: the building looks repurposed rather than originally designed as a single-family home.
ltenzer schrieb:
I often appreciate older architecture much more in terms of aesthetics and comfort than many modern, 'cool-functional' purpose-built residential buildings. You don’t really see that here, though.
ltenzer schrieb:
PS: you’re mistaken about Westphalia No: I’m not referring to your construction location, but to the style. It resembles that of long-established large landowners from Münster.
ltenzer schrieb:
Do you still clearly hear that in modern new buildings? Can there be ‘nicer’ resonant spaces than drywall enclosures around downspouts?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
kaho674 schrieb:
To be honest, Thies, what are the poor homeowners supposed to think now? Is there any recommendation from you? A bit more constructive input would be appreciated. The recommendations are actually easy to derive, namely just two decisions:
1. To standardize the roof shape(s) and ridge direction(s) (main house – garage);
2. To choose between folklore-style OR postmodern design.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
2. between folklore OR postmodernism.Folklore – is that an architectural style, a lifestyle, or perhaps an art movement? Never heard of it in the construction industry.kaho674 schrieb:
Folklore – is that a building style or a way of life? Or maybe an art movement? Never heard of it in the industry.Folklore is marketed, commercialized tradition... we are currently operating in the same category as the original poster, who wanted to incorporate archaeological columns, structures, and frescoes here.
My take is this: On Sundays, I go to museums; on vacation, I explore ruins; and in everyday life, I admire old houses that are carefully preserved at high costs because they belong to the community.
There are some beautiful homes among them. At the beginning, I wrote that these houses certainly have their place. English manor houses in miniature or manors in the German countryside can be built differently than in new housing developments, where everything is heavily regulated.
If the project fits the site where it is to be built, that’s fine.
The “eye-sore window” in this example is only visible from the garden... but to me, it’s an internal design flaw, especially since the view while bathing is supposed to be great. Anyway:
The flat roof is the highlight: not particularly striking from the outside, but inside it is a bulky block over one’s head. And that’s because at some point, an external staircase was planned to the roof (6 meters (20 feet) high) for a rooftop terrace.
To me, there is far too much wishful and overly ambitious planning involved. After reading posts like this, I always want to shake the future homeowners and shout “Wake up.”
You’re not living a different life in a different house than before: A window with a nice view doesn’t replace a TV; a bathroom is not a home theater; a house is not a mountain or a climbing aid to reach a better vantage point; having the means doesn’t automatically mean you have good taste.
Going to the toilet upstairs is not a stage and never will be; going downstairs is not for showing yourself off. A house is not a museum, not a stage. A void space is not a place for stained glass windows. Having long rooms and corridors does not automatically give you more time.
A house is a family’s retreat and should provide individuals with peace and relaxation—simply a place to withdraw. The resident should ideally be able to pursue their interests freely. Okay, there’s a basement too. But living spaces must simply function in daily life and offer a retreat. I see none of that here. I see no sense of well-being here anywhere.
Similar topics