Hello everyone!
We seem to be going in circles with our floor plan design!
I’m starting to feel dizzy – the kids are growing up and are actually more excited about a carousel in the garden... Although our ideas are pretty clear, we’re not finding the optimal solution.
We’d really appreciate your general feedback and maybe some suggestions to the questions below.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 670 m2 (7,220 sq ft)
Slope: yes, maximum elevation difference 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Gross floor area ratio: 0.5
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of storeys: 1.5
Roof type: Gable roof, 30–40 degrees
Architectural style: modern
Orientation: free
Maximum height / limits: 10.5 m (34.4 ft)
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern gable roof
Basement, storeys: basement plus 1.5 storeys
Number of occupants, ages: male 38, female 37, one male toddler, one more child planned (female)
Space requirements on ground floor: kitchen (half-open or around the corner), storage pantry, small shower bathroom, wardrobe niche, guest room (min. 12 m2 (130 sq ft)), living/dining room (min. 40 m2 (430 sq ft))
Space requirements on upper floor: 2 children’s bedrooms min. 15 m2 (160 sq ft) each, master bedroom with dressing room, if possible with connection to bathroom, bedroom separated from children’s rooms by hallway or bathroom
Office: as family room / guest room
Guests per year: guest room is a must-have
Open or closed layout: rather closed (kitchen with sliding door or half wall?), staircase definitely separated from living area
Conservative or modern construction: classic with modern elements (windows? light bands, shallow roof pitch, no large roof overhang, color scheme gray/white)
Open kitchen, cooking island: half-open, a small breakfast bar is a must-have
Number of dining seats: table for 6 regularly, up to 17 for celebrations
Fireplace: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: facing north because of great view
Garage, carport: carport with 2 parking spaces
Additional wishes / special features
- Covered entrance (L-shape), front door with narrow side panel
- Platform stairs with risers
- Entrance should be on the east side
- Largest windows (floor-to-ceiling, possibly sliding door) on the ground floor at the northwest corner of the house (despite sun exposure, because of the view)
House Design
Planner: planner from a construction company
What do you like in particular? Why?: All rooms were accommodated in the floor plan
What don’t you like? Why?
On the ground floor: the solution for the pantry, guest bathroom and wardrobe niche.
In addition, the living room feels a bit too small.
On the upper floor: we think the bedroom and dressing room are somewhat too large, and the bathroom is too small (we want a T-shaped layout).
If you had to give up something, on which details / built-ins
- You could give up: bay window, platform stairs
- You could not give up: guest bathroom with shower on ground floor and guest room on ground floor
Why does the current design look the way it does?
We mixed many designs (prefab houses found online)
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
Entrance on the east side, large windows facing north / northwest, all rooms accommodated in the floor plan
What is the most important / fundamental question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
Is the natural light on the upper floor sufficient? Would you consider “loopholes” appropriate? Or are skylights necessary? Is the bathroom too small for a T-layout? Do you find the bedroom and dressing area noticeably too large?
We’d like a small terrace in front of the house to enjoy some sun. Do you think an exit from the kitchen makes sense or is feasible? (The slope is not as steep as shown in the picture.)
How would you solve the area with guest bathroom, wardrobe corner and pantry? Is the shower bathroom too small and pantry too big? (Ideally, guest room, guest bathroom and wardrobe niche would be close together in one “corner” of the house, but that’s not a must.)
How would you enlarge the living room? We might drop the bay window to the northwest and perhaps add one facing north instead. What do you think?
How would you cover the front door? An extension? L-shape canopy? The carport probably won’t be built for a few years...
Thanks so much for your help!
We seem to be going in circles with our floor plan design!
I’m starting to feel dizzy – the kids are growing up and are actually more excited about a carousel in the garden... Although our ideas are pretty clear, we’re not finding the optimal solution.
We’d really appreciate your general feedback and maybe some suggestions to the questions below.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 670 m2 (7,220 sq ft)
Slope: yes, maximum elevation difference 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Gross floor area ratio: 0.5
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of storeys: 1.5
Roof type: Gable roof, 30–40 degrees
Architectural style: modern
Orientation: free
Maximum height / limits: 10.5 m (34.4 ft)
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern gable roof
Basement, storeys: basement plus 1.5 storeys
Number of occupants, ages: male 38, female 37, one male toddler, one more child planned (female)
Space requirements on ground floor: kitchen (half-open or around the corner), storage pantry, small shower bathroom, wardrobe niche, guest room (min. 12 m2 (130 sq ft)), living/dining room (min. 40 m2 (430 sq ft))
Space requirements on upper floor: 2 children’s bedrooms min. 15 m2 (160 sq ft) each, master bedroom with dressing room, if possible with connection to bathroom, bedroom separated from children’s rooms by hallway or bathroom
Office: as family room / guest room
Guests per year: guest room is a must-have
Open or closed layout: rather closed (kitchen with sliding door or half wall?), staircase definitely separated from living area
Conservative or modern construction: classic with modern elements (windows? light bands, shallow roof pitch, no large roof overhang, color scheme gray/white)
Open kitchen, cooking island: half-open, a small breakfast bar is a must-have
Number of dining seats: table for 6 regularly, up to 17 for celebrations
Fireplace: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: facing north because of great view
Garage, carport: carport with 2 parking spaces
Additional wishes / special features
- Covered entrance (L-shape), front door with narrow side panel
- Platform stairs with risers
- Entrance should be on the east side
- Largest windows (floor-to-ceiling, possibly sliding door) on the ground floor at the northwest corner of the house (despite sun exposure, because of the view)
House Design
Planner: planner from a construction company
What do you like in particular? Why?: All rooms were accommodated in the floor plan
What don’t you like? Why?
On the ground floor: the solution for the pantry, guest bathroom and wardrobe niche.
In addition, the living room feels a bit too small.
On the upper floor: we think the bedroom and dressing room are somewhat too large, and the bathroom is too small (we want a T-shaped layout).
If you had to give up something, on which details / built-ins
- You could give up: bay window, platform stairs
- You could not give up: guest bathroom with shower on ground floor and guest room on ground floor
Why does the current design look the way it does?
We mixed many designs (prefab houses found online)
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
Entrance on the east side, large windows facing north / northwest, all rooms accommodated in the floor plan
What is the most important / fundamental question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
Is the natural light on the upper floor sufficient? Would you consider “loopholes” appropriate? Or are skylights necessary? Is the bathroom too small for a T-layout? Do you find the bedroom and dressing area noticeably too large?
We’d like a small terrace in front of the house to enjoy some sun. Do you think an exit from the kitchen makes sense or is feasible? (The slope is not as steep as shown in the picture.)
How would you solve the area with guest bathroom, wardrobe corner and pantry? Is the shower bathroom too small and pantry too big? (Ideally, guest room, guest bathroom and wardrobe niche would be close together in one “corner” of the house, but that’s not a must.)
How would you enlarge the living room? We might drop the bay window to the northwest and perhaps add one facing north instead. What do you think?
How would you cover the front door? An extension? L-shape canopy? The carport probably won’t be built for a few years...
Thanks so much for your help!
Phew,
Although some general contractors (GCs) do offer individual floor plan modifications, it is not guaranteed that these changes will be successful. This design is a good example.
What kind of bedroom is that? Was the balcony requested? What is its purpose? What about the basement on the south side? The photo hints at a basement that should be built into the ground but is presented open on the sunny side? This can’t be serious.
By the way, what is the knee wall height?
11ant schrieb:
The shaded area in the site plan suggests an earlier floor plan design. Would you like to share it? I "fear" it might have been at least somewhat more successful.
Although some general contractors (GCs) do offer individual floor plan modifications, it is not guaranteed that these changes will be successful. This design is a good example.
What kind of bedroom is that? Was the balcony requested? What is its purpose? What about the basement on the south side? The photo hints at a basement that should be built into the ground but is presented open on the sunny side? This can’t be serious.
By the way, what is the knee wall height?
kaho674 schrieb:
Without a detailed site plan, it will be difficult to assess. Do you have something precise with a few elevation points and measurements? Otherwise, I would have expected something like this:
I fully agree with kaho. If I interpret the pictures correctly, the slope seems to descend towards the west. In that case, a house location like kaho's, with finished rooms in the basement facing west, would make sense. The terrace could then be positioned on the south side of the house.
... and in the northwest a nice window for the view.
The view is clearly the main focus here.
Of course, everyone has to decide for themselves how to balance the issue between garden access, sun orientation, and the view. For some, the view is more important than the sunlight entering the living spaces. Here, the priority was explicitly: because of the view!
However, for me, this already represents a challenge for the house and its position on the plot, so I wouldn’t impose extra restrictions like “entrance must be on the east” or the use of a platform staircase (or whatever). The rest will turn out nicely, no doubt. And then there’s the slope... I would also traditionally place the garden to the south, with the basement having a window facing the garden—that really invites you in!
But with this general contractor, it will probably be inevitable to hire an external architect, if the contractor agrees to that.
The view is clearly the main focus here.
Of course, everyone has to decide for themselves how to balance the issue between garden access, sun orientation, and the view. For some, the view is more important than the sunlight entering the living spaces. Here, the priority was explicitly: because of the view!
However, for me, this already represents a challenge for the house and its position on the plot, so I wouldn’t impose extra restrictions like “entrance must be on the east” or the use of a platform staircase (or whatever). The rest will turn out nicely, no doubt. And then there’s the slope... I would also traditionally place the garden to the south, with the basement having a window facing the garden—that really invites you in!
But with this general contractor, it will probably be inevitable to hire an external architect, if the contractor agrees to that.
By the way, the house location on a slope reminds me of a thread here where I still have the design on my computer: south-facing slope, access from the south, grandfather was supposed to be in the basement...
Unfortunately, it’s always difficult to accurately assess the slope… is it as steep within the building plot as it is across the entire property, or how is the slope distributed? I like to see photos of the property and some elevation measurements, then you can also evaluate the view.
Unfortunately, it’s always difficult to accurately assess the slope… is it as steep within the building plot as it is across the entire property, or how is the slope distributed? I like to see photos of the property and some elevation measurements, then you can also evaluate the view.
J
Jule-250130 Jan 2019 14:31Hello everyone,
wow! So much feedback already in such a short time. You’re amazing.
We can see most of the issues you mentioned as well!
A shower bathroom is a no-go.
I’ve uploaded the site plan with elevation levels again for you.
Kaoh674 and RomeoZwo YPEG, we like the idea of positioning the house sideways at the back.
Unfortunately, this is not possible due to the zoning/building regulations (building permit/planning permission).
On the plan, the house now basically touches the building boundary.
11ant, the floor plan with elevations shown on the plan is the architect’s latest version. I’m curious whether you find this one more successful.
We find the living room too narrow at 3 m (10 feet). And the entire building would be about 15 m (49 feet) long, which is actually too large for us :-(
Especially considering you pay per square meter (square foot). Unfortunately, our budget is limited as well.
hayden, what do you mean by 3.5? We would basically like to keep the basement open for living space. Prepare everything accordingly, but not actually use it right now.
Nicola, we haven’t done any concrete kitchen planning yet, and we don’t need as many cabinets as currently shown there. Possibly there should also be an exit here. Knee wall height 1.5 m (5 feet).
YPEG, the entrance really must be from the east or south, because to the north there is only a field path. And we are very convinced of this: view before sunlight *embarrassed* The slope is indeed much steeper on the north side. See elevations. We would be interested in the plan with grandpa if you find it.
wow! So much feedback already in such a short time. You’re amazing.
We can see most of the issues you mentioned as well!
A shower bathroom is a no-go.
I’ve uploaded the site plan with elevation levels again for you.
Kaoh674 and RomeoZwo YPEG, we like the idea of positioning the house sideways at the back.
Unfortunately, this is not possible due to the zoning/building regulations (building permit/planning permission).
On the plan, the house now basically touches the building boundary.
11ant, the floor plan with elevations shown on the plan is the architect’s latest version. I’m curious whether you find this one more successful.
We find the living room too narrow at 3 m (10 feet). And the entire building would be about 15 m (49 feet) long, which is actually too large for us :-(
Especially considering you pay per square meter (square foot). Unfortunately, our budget is limited as well.
hayden, what do you mean by 3.5? We would basically like to keep the basement open for living space. Prepare everything accordingly, but not actually use it right now.
Nicola, we haven’t done any concrete kitchen planning yet, and we don’t need as many cabinets as currently shown there. Possibly there should also be an exit here. Knee wall height 1.5 m (5 feet).
YPEG, the entrance really must be from the east or south, because to the north there is only a field path. And we are very convinced of this: view before sunlight *embarrassed* The slope is indeed much steeper on the north side. See elevations. We would be interested in the plan with grandpa if you find it.
Jule-2501 schrieb:
Shower bathroom is a no-go. Nothing against a shower bathroom, but a toilet without a bowl and without a sink doesn’t really get improved just by adding a shower – an essential element is still missing.
Jule-2501 schrieb:
11ant, the floor plan with heights is now the architect’s layout. I’m curious whether you find it better. I would have kept that architect; they are more competent than the one from the general contractor.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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